miR-21: a small multi-faceted RNA

Unlocking nature's arsenal: Nanotechnology for targeted delivery of venom toxins in cancer therapy

AIM

The aim of the present review is to shed light on the nanotechnological approaches adopted to overcome the shortcomings associated with the delivery of venom peptides which possess inherent anti-cancer properties.

BACKGROUND

Venom peptides although have been reported to demonstrate anti-cancer effects, they suffer from several disadvantages such as in vivo instability, off-target adverse effects, limited drug loading and low bioavailability. This review presents a comprehensive compilation of different classes of nanocarriers while underscoring their advantages, disadvantages and potential to carry such peptide molecules for in vivo delivery. It also discusses various nanotechnological aspects such as methods of fabrication, analytical tools to assess these nanoparticulate formulations, modulation of nanocarrier polymer properties to enhance loading capacity, stability and improve their suitability to carry toxic peptide drugs.

CONCLUSION

Nanotechnological approaches bear great potential in delivering venom peptide-based molecules as anticancer agents by enhancing their bioavailability, stability, efficacy as well as offering a spatiotemporal delivery approach. However, the challenges associated with toxicity and biocompatibility of nanocarriers must be duly addressed.

PERSPECTIVES

The everlasting quest for new breakthroughs for safer delivery of venom peptides in human subjects is fuelled by unmet clinical needs in the current landscape of chemotherapy. In addition, exhaustive efforts are required in obtaining and purifying the venom peptides followed by designing and optimizing scale up technologies.

Role of MicroRNA-21 in Prostate Cancer Progression and Metastasis: Molecular Mechanisms to Therapeutic Targets

The role of noncoding RNA has made remarkable progress in understanding progression, metastasis, and metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC). A better understanding of the miRNAs has enhanced our knowledge of their targeting mainly at the therapy level in solid tumors, such as prostate cancer (PCa). microRNAs (miRNAs) belong to a class of endogenous RNA that deficit encoded proteins. Therefore, the role of miRNAs has been well-coined in the progression and development of PCa. miR-21 has a dual nature in its work both as a tumor suppressor and oncogenic role, but most of the recent studies showed that miR-21 is a tumor promoter and also is involved in castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC). Upregulation of miR-21 suppresses programmed cell death and inducing metastasis and castration resistant in PCa. miR-21 is involved in the different stages, such as proliferation, angiogenesis, migration, and invasion, and plays an important role in the progression, metastasis, and advanced stages of PCa. Recently, various studies directly linked the role of high levels of miR-21 with a poor therapeutic response in the patient of PCa. In the present review, we have explained the molecular mechanisms/pathways of miR-21 in PCa progression, metastasis, and castration resistant and summarized the role of miR-21 in diagnosis and therapeutic levels in PCa. In addition, we have spotlighted the recent therapeutic strategies for targeting different stages of PCa.

The TGFβ Induced MicroRNAome of the Trabecular Meshwork

Primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG) is a progressive optic neuropathy with a complex, multifactorial aetiology. Raised intraocular pressure (IOP) is the most important clinically modifiable risk factor for POAG. All current pharmacological agents target aqueous humour dynamics to lower IOP. Newer therapeutic agents are required as some patients with POAG show a limited therapeutic response or develop ocular and systemic side effects to topical medication. Elevated IOP in POAG results from cellular and molecular changes in the trabecular meshwork driven by increased levels of transforming growth factor β (TGFβ) in the anterior segment of the eye. Understanding how TGFβ affects both the structural and functional changes in the outflow pathway and IOP is required to develop new glaucoma therapies that target the molecular pathology in the trabecular meshwork. In this study, we evaluated the effects of TGF-β1 and -β2 treatment on miRNA expression in cultured human primary trabecular meshwork cells. Our findings are presented in terms of specific miRNAs (miRNA-centric), but given miRNAs work in networks to control cellular pathways and processes, a pathway-centric view of miRNA action is also reported. Evaluating TGFβ-responsive miRNA expression in trabecular meshwork cells will further our understanding of the important pathways and changes involved in the pathogenesis of glaucoma and could lead to the development of miRNAs as new therapeutic modalities in glaucoma.

miRNAs in radiotherapy resistance of cancer; a comprehensive review

While intensity-modulated radiation therapy-based comprehensive therapy increases outcomes, cancer patients still have a low five-year survival rate and a high recurrence rate. The primary factor contributing to cancer patients' poor prognoses is radiation resistance. A class of endogenous non-coding RNAs, known as microRNAs (miRNAs), controls various biological processes in eukaryotes. These miRNAs influence tumor cell growth, death, migration, invasion, and metastasis, which controls how human carcinoma develops and spreads. The correlation between the unbalanced expression of miRNAs and the prognosis and sensitivity to radiation therapy is well-established. MiRNAs have a significant impact on the regulation of DNA repair, the epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT), and stemness in the tumor radiation response. But because radio resistance is a complicated phenomena, further research is required to fully comprehend these mechanisms. Radiation response rates vary depending on the modality used, which includes the method of delivery, radiation dosage, tumor stage and grade, confounding medical co-morbidities, and intrinsic tumor microenvironment. Here, we summarize the possible mechanisms through which miRNAs contribute to human tumors' resistance to radiation.

G-Clamp Heterocycle Modification Containing Interstrand Photo-Cross-Linker to Capture Intracellular MicroRNA Targets

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) play indispensable roles in post-transcriptional gene regulation. The identification of target mRNAs is essential for dissecting the recognition basis, dynamics, and regulatory mechanism of miRNA-mRNA interactions. However, the lack of an unbiased method for detecting weak miRNA-mRNA interactions remains a long-standing obstacle for miRNA research. Here, we develop and provide proof-of-concept evidence demonstrating a chemical G-clamp-enhanced photo-cross-linking strategy for covalent capture of intracellular miRNA targets in different cell lines. This approach relies on an aryl-diazirine-G-clamp-modified-nucleoside (ARAGON) miRNA probe containing an alkynyl group that improves the thermal stability of miRNA-target mRNA duplex molecules and can rapidly cross-link with the complementary strand upon UV 365 nm activation, enhancing the transient capture of mRNA targets. After validating the accuracy and binding properties of ARAGON-based miRNA probes through the successful enrichment for the known targets of miR-106a, miR-21, and miR-101, we then extend ARAGON's application to screen for previously unknown targets of different miRNAs in various cell lines. Ultimately, results in this study uncover GAB1 as a target of miR-101 in H1299 lung cancer cells and show that miR-101 silencing of GAB1 can promote apoptosis in H1299 cells, suggesting an oncogenic mechanism of GAB1. This study thus provides a powerful and versatile tool for enhanced screening of global miRNA targets in cells to facilitate investigations of miRNA functions in fundamental cellular processes and disease pathogenesis.

The Association of Micro-RNA 21 and Hypertension: A Meta-Analysis

Hypertension is a multifactorial, complex disease with high morbidity and mortality rates. Studies have found that micro-RNA 21 (miR-21) levels are significantly increased in patients with hypertension. However, other studies have reported opposite results. Therefore, the relationship between miR-21 expression and hypertension remains controversial. This meta-analysis was conducted to statistically evaluate the miR-21 levels of patients with hypertension. A literature research was conducted using Web of Science, Embase, PubMed, and CNKI. To search for titles or abstracts, 'hypertension' in combination with the terms 'miR-21,' 'microRNA-21,' or 'miRNA-21' were used as keywords. Standardized mean differences (SMD) with corresponding 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were determined from the results of the meta-analysis. In total, 12 articles were included in this meta-analysis, involving 546 cases and 436 controls. The results of the meta-analysis showed that miR-21 levels in patients with hypertension were significantly higher than those in the controls (SMD: 1.22; 95% CI [0.35, 2.09]). This meta-analysis is the first to evaluate miR-21 in patients with hypertension. MiR-21 may be a new target for the prediction and treatment of hypertension. Further high-quality studies are needed to better support the association between miR-21 and hypertension.

Critical role of miR-21/exosomal miR-21 in autophagy pathway

Activation of autophagy, a process of cellular stress response, leads to the breakdown of proteins, organelles, and other parts of the cell in lysosomes, and can be linked to several ailments, such as cancer, neurological diseases, and rare hereditary syndromes. Thus, its regulation is very carefully monitored. Transcriptional and post-translational mechanisms domestically or in whole organisms utilized to control the autophagic activity, have been heavily researched. In modern times, microRNAs (miRNAs) are being considered to have a part in post-translational orchestration of the autophagic activity, with miR-21 as one of the best studied miRNAs, it is often more than expressed in cancer cells. This regulatory RNA is thought to play a major role in a plethora of processes and illnesses including growth, cancer, cardiovascular disease, and inflammation. Different studies have suggested that a few autophagy-oriented genes, such as PTEN, Rab11a, Atg12, SIPA1L2, and ATG5, are all targeted by miR-21, indicating its essential role in the regulation.

Heterobifunctional small molecules to modulate RNA function

RNA has diverse cellular functionality, including regulating gene expression, protein translation, and cellular response to stimuli, due to its intricate structures. Over the past decade, small molecules have been discovered that target functional structures within cellular RNAs and modulate their function. Simple binding, however, is often insufficient, resulting in low or even no biological activity. To overcome this challenge, heterobifunctional compounds have been developed that can covalently bind to the RNA target, alter RNA sequence, or induce its cleavage. Herein, we review the recent progress in the field of RNA-targeted heterobifunctional compounds using representative case studies. We identify critical gaps and limitations and propose a strategic pathway for future developments of RNA-targeted molecules with augmented functionalities.

Enhancing RECK Expression Through miR-21 Inhibition: A Promising Strategy for Bladder Carcinoma Control

Bladder carcinoma (BC) is the tenth most frequent malignancy worldwide, with high morbidity and mortality rates. Despite recent treatment advances, high-grade BC and muscle-invasive BC present with significant progression and recurrence rates, urging the need for alternative treatments. The microRNA-21 (miR-21) has superexpression in many malignancies and is associated with cellular invasion and progression. One of its mechanisms of action is the regulation of RECK, a tumor suppressor gene responsible for inhibiting metalloproteinases, including MMP9. In a high-grade urothelial cancer cell line, we aimed to assess if miR-21 downregulation would promote RECK expression and decrease MMP9 expression. We also evaluated cellular migration and proliferation potential by inhibition of this pathway. In a T24 cell line, we inhibited miR-21 expression by transfection of a specific microRNA inhibitor (anti-miR-21). There were also control and scramble groups, the last with a negative microRNA transfected. After the procedure, we performed a genetic expression analysis of miR-21, RECK, and MMP9 through qPCR. Migration, proliferation, and protein expression were evaluated via wound healing assay, colony formation assay, flow cytometry, and immunofluorescence.After anti-miR-21 transfection, miR-21 expression decreased with RECK upregulation and MMP9 downregulation. The immunofluorescence assay showed a significant increase in RECK protein expression (p < 0.0001) and a decrease in MMP9 protein expression (p = 0.0101). The anti-miR-21 transfection significantly reduced cellular migration in the wound healing assay (p < 0.0001). Furthermore, in the colony formation assay, the anti-miR-21 group demonstrated reduced cellular proliferation (p = 0.0008), also revealed in the cell cycle analysis by flow cytometry (p = 0.0038). Our results corroborate the hypothesis that miR-21 is associated with BC cellular migration and proliferation, revealing its potential as a new effective treatment for this pathology.

The role of telocytes and miR-21-5p in tumorigenicity and metastasis of breast cancer stem cells

BACKGROUND

This study aims to investigate the roles of telocytes on the metastatic properties of breast cancer stem cells (CSCs), and to re-evaluate the effect of miR-21-5p expression on CSCs following the addition of telocytes.

METHODS AND RESULTS

Telocytes from human bone marrow mononuclear cells were isolated/characterised. This was followed by the isolation/characterisation of CSCs from the MDA-MB-231. miR-21-5p was both overexpressed/inhibited in CSCs. Through co-culture studies, EMT transition and oncogenic properties of CSCs were investigated by analysing changes in ALDH1 and vimentin protein levels as well as changes in the ABCC11, SNAI1, LZTFL1, Oct 3/4, E- and N-cadherin gene expression levels. With the inhibition of miR-21-5p, significant increases in LZTFL and ABCC11 were observed with the addition of telocytes. The expression of the LZTFL gene, which decreased with the overexpression of miR-21-5p, increased in CSCs after co-culture with telocytes. While an increase expression of ABCC11, SNAI1, N-Cadherin, vimentin and ALDH was observed in CSCs after overexpression of miR-21-5p, significant decreases in these expressions were observed after co-culture with telocyte.

CONCLUSIONS

In our study, by gene/protein level analysis we demonstrated that telocytes may have the potential to reduce cancer metastasis through miR-21-5p in breast cancer progression and reduce EMT transition.

Evaluation of miRNA Expression in Patients with Gestational Diabetes Mellitus: Investigating Diagnostic Potential and Clinical Implications

Purpose

Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is common pregnancy complication (8%), characterized by hyperglycemia resulting from pathological homeostatic mechanisms. There's a concerning trend of increasing GDM prevalence. New markers, particularly epigenetic ones, are sought for early detection and enhanced care. miRNA are small non-coding RNA molecules. The main goal was to investigate the potential role of miRNA (miR-16-5p, miR-222-3p, miR-21-5p) in GDM and their association with clinical features.

Patients and Methods

The study included 72 pregnant patients, with 42 having GDM and 30 in the control group. miRNA expression was measured using ELISA.

Results

There were no significant differences in miR-222-3p expression between GDM patients and the control group. The GDM group exhibited a positive correlation between miR-16-5p expression and miR-21-5p expression as well as between miR-16-5p expression and insulin resistance. In the GDM group, a positive correlation was observed between miR-21-5p expression and fasting glucose levels.

Conclusion

Results do not confirm the role of miR-222-3p in GDM pathogenesis or as a diagnostic marker. Additionally, a role for miR-16-5p in GDM pathogenesis was observed. Furthermore, a potential role for miR-21-5p in monitoring GDM treatment is indicated.

The cross-talk between miRNAs and JAK/STAT pathway in cutaneous T cell lymphoma: Emphasis on therapeutic opportunities

Mycosis Fungoides (MF) and Sézary Syndrome (SS) belong to a wide spectrum of T cell lymphoproliferative disorders collectively termed cutaneous T cell lymphomas (CTCL). CTCLs represent an archetype of heterogeneous and dynamically variable lymphoproliferative neoplasms typified by distinct clinical, histological, immunophenotypic, and genetic features. Owing to its complex dynamics, the pathogenesis of CTCL remains elusive. However, in recent years, progress in CTCL classification combined with next-generation sequencing analyses has broadened the genetic and epigenetic spectrum of clearly defined CTCL entities such as MF and SS. Several large-scale genome studies have identified the polygenic nature of CTCL and unveiled an idiosyncratic mutational landscape involving genetic aberrations, epigenetic alterations, cell cycle dysregulation, apoptosis, and the constitutive activation of T cell/NF-κB/JAK-STAT signaling pathways. In this review, we summarize the evolving insights on how the intrinsic epigenetic events driven by dysregulated miRNAs, including the oncogenic and tumor-suppressive miRNAs, influence the pathogenesis of MF and SS. We also focus on the interplay between the JAK/STAT pathway and miRNAs in CTCL as well as the significance of the miRNA/STAT axis as a relevant pathogenetic mechanism underlying CTCL initiation and progression. Based on these biologic insights, the current status and recent progress on novel therapies with a strong biological rationale, including miRNA-targeted molecules and JAK/STAT-targeted therapy for CTCL management, are discussed.

MicroRNAs: Key modulators of inflammation-associated diseases

Inflammation is a multifaceted biological and pathophysiological response to injuries, infections, toxins, and inflammatory mechanisms that plays a central role in the progression of various diseases. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are tiny, 19-25 nucleotides long, non-coding RNAs that regulate gene expression via post-transcriptional repression. In this review, we highlight the recent findings related to the significant roles of miRNAs in regulating various inflammatory cascades and immunological processes in the context of many lifestyle-related diseases such as diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, cancer, etc. We also converse on how miRNAs can have a dual impact on inflammatory responses, suggesting that regulation of their functions for therapeutic purposes may be disease-specific.

Surface-modified titanium and titanium-based alloys for improved osteogenesis: A critical review

As implantable materials, titanium, and its alloys have garnered enormous interest from researchers for dental and orthopedic procedures. Despite their success in wide clinical applications, titanium, and its alloys fail to stimulate osteogenesis, resulting in poor bonding strength with surrounding bone tissue. Optimizing the surface topology and altered compositions of titanium and titanium-based alloys substantially promotes peri-implant bone regeneration. This review summarizes the utilization and importance of various osteogenesis components loaded onto titanium and its alloys. Further, different surface-modification methods and the release efficacy of loaded substances are emphasized. Finally, we summarize the article with prospects. We believe that further investigation studies must focus on identifying novel loading components, exploring various innovative, optimized surface-modification methods, and developing a sustained-release system on implant surfaces to improve peri-implant bone formation.

Potential of Modulating Aldosterone Signaling and Mineralocorticoid Receptor with microRNAs to Attenuate Diabetic Kidney Disease

Diabetic Kidney Disease (DKD) is a significant complication of diabetes and primary cause of end-stage renal disease globally. The exact mechanisms underlying DKD remain poorly understood, but multiple factors, including the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS), play a key role in its progression. Aldosterone, a mineralocorticoid steroid hormone, is one of the key components of RAAS and a potential mediator of renal damage and inflammation in DKD. miRNAs, small noncoding RNA molecules, have attracted interest due to their regulatory roles in numerous biological processes. These processes include aldosterone signaling and mineralocorticoid receptor (MR) expression. Numerous miRNAs have been recognized as crucial regulators of aldosterone signaling and MR expression. These miRNAs affect different aspects of the RAAS pathway and subsequent molecular processes, which impact sodium balance, ion transport, and fibrosis regulation. This review investigates the regulatory roles of particular miRNAs in modulating aldosterone signaling and MR activation, focusing on their impact on kidney injury, inflammation, and fibrosis. Understanding the complex interaction between miRNAs and the RAAS could lead to a new strategy to target aldosterone signaling and MR activation using miRNAs. This highlights the potential of miRNA-based interventions for DKD, with the aim of enhancing kidney outcomes in individuals with diabetes.

miRNA dosage control in development and human disease

In mammals, miRNAs recognize target mRNAs via base pairing, which leads to a complex 'multiple-to-multiple' regulatory network. Previous studies have focused on the regulatory mechanisms and functions of individual miRNAs, but alterations of many individual miRNAs do not strongly disturb the miRNA regulatory network. Recent studies revealed the important roles of global miRNA dosage control events in physiological processes and pathogenesis, suggesting that miRNAs can be considered as a 'cellular buffer' that controls cell fate. Here, we review the current state of research on how global miRNA dosage is tightly controlled to regulate development, tumorigenesis, neurophysiology, and immunity. We propose that methods of controlling global miRNA dosage may serve as effective therapeutic tools to cure human diseases.

Kinetic and functional analysis of abundant microRNAs in extracellular vesicles from normal and stressed cultures of Chinese hamster ovary cells

Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells release and exchange large quantities of extracellular vesicles (EVs). EVs are highly enriched in microRNAs (miRs, or miRNAs), which are responsible for most of their biological effects. We have recently shown that the miR content of CHO EVs varies significantly under culture stress conditions. Here, we provide a novel stoichiometric ("per-EV") quantification of miR and protein levels in large CHO EVs produced under ammonia, lactate, osmotic, and age-related stress. Each stress resulted in distinct EV miR levels, with selective miR loading by parent cells. Our data provide a proof of concept for the use of CHO EV cargo as a diagnostic tool for identifying culture stress. We also tested the impact of three select miRs (let-7a, miR-21, and miR-92a) on CHO cell growth and viability. Let-7a-abundant in CHO EVs from stressed cultures-reduced CHO cell viability, while miR-92a-abundant in CHO EVs from unstressed cultures-promoted cell survival. Overexpression of miR-21 had a slight detrimental impact on CHO cell growth and viability during late exponential-phase culture, an unexpected result based on the reported antiapoptotic role of miR-21 in other mammalian cell lines. These findings provide novel relationships between CHO EV cargo and cell phenotype, suggesting that CHO EVs may exert both pro- and antiapoptotic effects on target cells, depending on the conditions under which they were produced.

Proximity-Enhanced Electrochemiluminescence Sensing Platform for Effective Capturing of Exosomes and Probing Internal MicroRNAs Involved in Cancer Cell Apoptosis

Exosomal microRNAs (miRNAs) play critical regulatory roles in many cellular processes, and so how to probe them has attracted increasing interest. Here we propose an aptamer-functionalized dimeric framework nucleic acid (FNA) nanoplatform for effective capture of exosomes and directly probing internal miRNAs with electrochemiluminescence (ECL) detection, not requiring RNA extraction in conventional counterparts. A CD63 protein-binding aptamer is tethered to one of the FNA structures, allowing exosomes to be immobilized there and release internal miRNAs after lysis. The target miRNA induces the formation of a Y-shaped junction on another FNA structure in a close proximity state, which benefits the loading of covalently hemin-modified spherical nucleic acid enzymes for enhanced ECL readout in the luminol-H2O2 system. In this facile way, the ultrasensitive detection of exosomal miR-21 from cancer cells is accomplished and then used for cell apoptosis analysis, indicating that the oncogene miR-21 negatively participates in the regulation of the apoptotic process; namely, downregulating the miR-21 level is unbeneficial for cancer cell growth.

Prospects of microRNAs as therapeutic biomarkers in non-small cell lung cancer

Lung Cancer, the second most common cancer worldwide, remains the leading cause of cancer-related deaths, contemporarily. More than 85% of identified lung cancer cases are comprised of non-small-cell lung carcinoma (NSCLC). Despite the best advancements in the realm of NSCLC therapy, the five-year survival period of NSCLC patients remains unchanged. Underlying complex molecular heterogeneity, delay in early detection resulting in progression of the disease to its advanced stage and acquired resistance of NSCLC cells during therapy have posed additional challenges for circumventing the discrepancies in treatment strategy. microRNAs (miRNAs) are a class of non-coding RNAs, identified as molecules playing an indispensable role in tumorigenesis & progression and metastasis of several cancers, including NSCLC, either by possessing tumor suppressor or by oncogenic functions. As observed across several studies, miRNA dysregulation has been recognised as a causative mechanism behind NSCLC tumorigenesis. In this review, we discuss the role of miRNAs in NSCLC tumor progression caused by their dysregulation, thereby stating their potential therapeutic application in NSCLC as therapeutic biomarkers. We have also highlighted the recent findings of some of the most widely studied tumor suppressor (miR-486, miR-7 miR-34), and oncogene miRNAs (miR-21, miR-224, miR-135b) that can be further explored for its therapeutic potentialities in the management of NSCLC.

Amplification-free microRNA profiling with femtomolar sensitivity on a plasmonic enhanced fluorescence nano-chip

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are a class of small, non-coding RNA molecules involved in the regulation of gene expression, thus considered as promising biomarkers for cancer, cardiovascular diseases, neurodegenerative diseases, etc. However, quantitative analysis of miRNAs faces challenges owing to their high homology, small size & ultra-low abundance, and disease occurrence is often related to abnormal expression of multiple miRNAs where method for parallel miRNAs analysis is required. In this work, multiplexed analysis of miRNAs was established on a plasmonic nano-chip capable of fluorescence enhancement in the near-infrared region. Combined with polyadenylation at the hydroxyl terminate of target miRNA to afford abundant sites for fluorophore labeling, our assay achieved amplification-free detection of miRNAs from nM to fM with the limit of detection down to ca. 5 fM. A miRNA panel was constructed to detect 10 miRNAs differentially expressed in MCF-7 and A549 cell lines and validated with qRT-PCR, demonstrating the practical application of this method. This scalable platform can be customized for different miRNA panels, facilitating multiple miRNA profiling for various diseases.

Non-coding RNAs in gynecologic cancer

The term "gynecologic cancer" pertains to neoplasms impacting the reproductive tissues and organs of women encompassing the endometrium, vagina, cervix, uterus, vulva, and ovaries. The progression of gynecologic cancer is linked to various molecular mechanisms. Historically, cancer research primarily focused on protein-coding genes. However, recent years have unveiled the involvement of non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs), including microRNAs, long non-coding RNAs (LncRNAs), and circular RNAs, in modulating cellular functions within gynecological cancer. Substantial evidence suggests that ncRNAs may wield a dual role in gynecological cancer, acting as either oncogenic or tumor-suppressive agents. Numerous clinical trials are presently investigating the roles of ncRNAs as biomarkers and therapeutic agents. These endeavors may introduce a fresh perspective on the diagnosis and treatment of gynecological cancer. In this overview, we highlight some of the ncRNAs associated with gynecological cancers.

Exploring the Relationship between Fusion Genes and MicroRNAs in Cancer

Fusion genes are key cancer driver genes that can be used as potential drug targets in precision therapies, and they can also serve as accurate diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers. The fusion genes can cause microRNA (miRNA/miR) aberrations in many types of cancer. Nevertheless, whether fusion genes incite miRNA aberrations as one of their many critical oncogenic functionalities for driving carcinogenesis needs further investigation. Recent discoveries of miRNA genes that are present within the regions of genomic rearrangements that initiate fusion gene-based intronic miRNA dysregulation have brought the fusion genes into the limelight and revealed their unexplored potential in the field of cancer biology. Fusion gene-based 'promoter-switch' event aberrantly activate the miRNA-related upstream regulatory signals, while fusion-based coding region alterations disrupt the original miRNA coding loci. Fusion genes can potentially regulate the miRNA aberrations regardless of the protein-coding capability of the resultant fusion transcript. Studies on out-of-frame fusion and nonrecurrent fusion genes that cause miRNA dysregulation have attracted the attention of researchers on fusion genes from an oncological perspective and therefore could have potential implications in cancer therapies. This review will provide insights into the role of fusion genes and miRNAs, and their possible interrelationships in cancer.

The role of microRNA in psoriasis: A review

Psoriasis is a chronic immune-mediated inflammatory skin disease that involves a complex interplay between infiltrated immune cells and keratinocytes. Great progress has been made in the research on the molecular mechanism of coding and non-coding genes, which has helped in clinical treatment. However, our understanding of this complex disease is far from clear. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small non-coding RNA molecules that are involved in post-transcriptional regulation, characterised by their role in mediating gene silencing. Recent studies on miRNAs have revealed their important role in the pathogenesis of psoriasis. We reviewed the current advances in the study of miRNAs in psoriasis; the existing research has found that dysregulated miRNAs in psoriasis notably affect keratinocyte proliferation and/or differentiation processes, as well as inflammation progress. In addition, miRNAs also influence the function of immune cells in psoriasis, including CD4+ T cells, dendritic cells, Langerhans cells and so on. In addition, we discuss possible miRNA-based therapy for psoriasis, such as the topical delivery of exogenous miRNAs, miRNA antagonists and miRNA mimics. Our review highlights the potential role of miRNAs in the pathogenesis of psoriasis, and we expect more research progress with miRNAs in the future, which will help us understand this complex skin disease more accurately.

Non-coding RNA-mediated epigenetic alterations in Grave's ophthalmopathy: A scoping systematic review

Background

It is becoming more and more apparent that Grave's Ophthalmopathy (GO) pathogenesis may be aided by epigenetic processes such as DNA methylation modifications, histone tail covalent modifications, and non-coding RNA (ncRNA)-based epigenetic processes. In the present study, we aimed to focus more on the miRNAs rather than lncRNAs due to lack of investigations on these non-coding RNAs and their role in GO's pathogenesis.

Methods

A six-stage methodology framework and the PRISMA recommendation were used to conduct this scoping review. A comprehensive search was conducted across seven databases to discover relevant papers published until February 2022. The data extraction separately, and quantitative and qualitative analyses were conducted.

Results

A total of 20 articles were found to meet inclusion criteria. According to the results, ncRNA were involved in the regulation of inflammation (miR-146a, LPAL2/miR-1287-5p axis, LINC01820:13/hsa miR-27b-3p axis, and ENST00000499452/hsa-miR-27a-3p axis), regulation of T cell functions (miR-146a/miR-183/miR-96), regulation of glycosaminoglycan aggregation and fibrosis (miR-146a/miR-21), glucocorticoid sensitivity (miR-224-5p), lipid accumulation and adipogenesis (miR-27a/miR-27b/miR-130a), oxidative stress and angiogenesis (miR-199a), and orbital fibroblast proliferation (miR-21/miR-146a/miR-155). Eleven miRNAs (miR-146a/miR-224-5p/miR-Let7d-5p/miR-96-5p/miR-301a-3p/miR-21-5p) were also indicated to have the capacity to be used as biomarkers.

Conclusions

Regardless of the fact that there is significant documentation of ncRNA-mediated epigenetic dysfunction in GO, additional study is needed to thoroughly comprehend the epigenetic connections concerned in disease pathogenesis, paving the way for novel diagnostic and prognostic tools for epigenetic therapies among the patients.

MicroRNAs as biomarkers for early diagnosis, targeting and prognosis of prostate cancer

Globally, prostate cancer (PC) is leading cause of cancer-related mortality in men worldwide. Despite significant advances in the treatment and management of this disease, the cure rates for PC remains low, largely due to late detection. PC detection is mostly reliant on prostate-specific antigen (PSA) and digital rectal examination (DRE); however, due to the low positive predictive value of current diagnostics, there is an urgent need to identify new accurate biomarkers. Recent studies support the biological role of microRNAs (miRNAs) in the initiation and progression of PC, as well as their potential as novel biomarkers for patients' diagnosis, prognosis, and disease relapse. In the advanced stages, cancer-cell-derived small extracellular vesicles (SEVs) may constitute a significant part of circulating vesicles and cause detectable changes in the plasma vesicular miRNA profile. Recent computational model for the identification of miRNA biomarkers discussed. In addition, accumulating evidence indicates that miRNAs can be utilized to target PC cells. In this article, the current understanding of the role of microRNAs and exosomes in the pathogenesis and their significance in PC prognosis, early diagnosis, chemoresistance, and treatment are reviewed.

Connecting the dots in the associations between diet, obesity, cancer, and microRNAs

The prevalence of obesity has reached pandemic levels worldwide, leading to a lower quality of life and higher health costs. Obesity is a major risk factor for noncommunicable diseases, including cancer, although obesity is one of the major preventable causes of cancer. Lifestyle factors, such as dietary quality and patterns, are also closely related to the onset and development of obesity and cancer. However, the mechanisms underlying the complex association between diet, obesity, and cancer remain unclear. In the past few decades, microRNAs (miRNAs), a class of small non-coding RNAs, have been demonstrated to play critical roles in biological processes such as cell differentiation, proliferation, and metabolism, highlighting their importance in disease development and suppression and as therapeutic targets. miRNA expression levels can be modulated by diet and are involved in cancer and obesity-related diseases. Circulating miRNAs can also mediate cell-to-cell communications. These multiple aspects of miRNAs present challenges in understanding and integrating their mechanism of action. Here, we introduce a general consideration of the associations between diet, obesity, and cancer and review the current knowledge of the molecular functions of miRNA in each context. A comprehensive understanding of the interplay between diet, obesity, and cancer could be valuable for the development of effective preventive and therapeutic strategies in future.

Cascade Amplified Plasmonics Molecular Biosensor for Sensitive Detection of Disease Biomarkers

Recent advances in molecular technologies have provided various assay strategies for monitoring biomarkers, such as miRNAs for early detection of various diseases and cancers. However, there is still an urgent unmet need to develop practical and accurate miRNA analytical tools that could facilitate the incorporation of miRNA biomarkers into clinical practice and management. In this study, we demonstrate the feasibility of using a cascade amplification method, referred to as the "Cascade Amplification by Recycling Trigger Probe" (CARTP) strategy, to improve the detection sensitivity of the inverse Molecular Sentinel (iMS) nanobiosensor. The iMS nanobiosensor developed in our laboratory is a unique homogeneous multiplex bioassay technique based on surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) detection, and was used to successfully detect miRNAs from clinical samples. The CARTP strategy based on the toehold-mediated strand displacement reaction is triggered by a linear DNA strand, called the "Recycling Trigger Probe" (RTP) strand, to amplify the iMS SERS signal. Herein, by using the CARTP strategy, we show a significantly improved detection sensitivity with the limit of detection (LOD) of 45 fM, which is 100-fold more sensitive than the non-amplified iMS assay used in our previous report. We envision that the further development and optimization of this strategy ultimately will allow multiplexed detection of miRNA biomarkers with ultra-high sensitivity for clinical translation and application.

Immune function of colon cancer associated miRNA and target genes

Introduction

Colon cancer is a complex disease that involves intricate interactions between cancer cells and theimmune microenvironment. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) have recently emerged as critical regulators of gene expression in cancer, including colon cancer. There is increasing evidence suggesting that miRNA dysregulation plays a crucial role in modulating the immune microenvironment of intestinal cancer. In particular, miRNAs regulate immune cell activation, differentiation, and function, as well as cytokine and chemokine production in intestinal cancer. It is urgent to fully investigate the potential role of intestinal cancer-related miRNAs in shaping the immune microenvironment.

Methods

Therefore, this paper aims to identify miRNAs that are potentially associated with colon cancer and regulate a large number of genes related to immune function. We explored the role of these genes in colon cancer patient prognosis, immune infiltration, and tumor purity based on data of 174 colon cancer patients though convolutional neural network, survival analysis and multiple analysis tools.

Results

Our findings suggest that miRNA regulated genes play important roles in CD4 memory resting cells, macrophages.M2, and Mast cell activated cells, and they are concentrated in the cytokinecytokine receptor interaction pathway.

Discussion

Our study enhances our understanding of the underlying mechanisms of intestinal cancer and provides new insights into the development of effective therapies. Additionally, identification of miRNA biomarkers could aid in diagnosis and prognosis, as well as guide personalized treatment strategies for patients with intestinal cancer.

Loss of microRNA-21 protects against acetaminophen-induced hepatotoxicity in mice

Acetaminophen (APAP)-induced Acute Liver Failure (ALF) is recognized as the most common cause of ALF in Western societies. APAP-induced ALF is characterized by coagulopathy, hepatic encephalopathy, multi-organ failure, and death. MicroRNAs are small, non-coding RNAs that regulate gene expression at the post-transcriptional level. MicroRNA-21 (miR-21) is dynamically expressed in the liver and is involved in the pathophysiology of both acute and chronic liver injury models. We hypothesize that miR-21genetic ablation attenuates hepatotoxicity following acetaminophen intoxication. Eight-week old miR-21knockout (miR21KO) or wild-type (WT) C57BL/6N male mice were injected with acetaminophen (APAP, 300 mg/kg BW) or saline. Mice were sacrificed 6 or 24 h post-injection. MiR21KO mice presented attenuation of liver enzymes ALT, AST, LDH compared with WT mice 24 h post-APAP treatment. Moreover, miR21KO mice had decreased hepatic DNA fragmentation and necrosis than WT mice after 24 h of APAP treatment. APAP-treated miR21KO mice showed increased levels of cell cycle regulators CYCLIN D1 and PCNA, increased autophagy markers expression (Map1LC3a, Sqstm1) and protein (LC3AB II/I, p62), and an attenuation of the APAP-induced hypofibrinolytic state via (PAI-1) compared with WT mice 24 post-APAP treatment. MiR-21 inhibition could be a novel therapeutic approach to mitigate APAP-induced hepatotoxicity and enhance survival during the regenerative phase, particularly to alter regeneration, autophagy, and fibrinolysis. Specifically, miR-21 inhibition could be particularly useful when APAP intoxication is detected at its late stages and the only available therapy is minimally effective.

Can Dietary Actives Affect miRNAs and Alter the Course or Prevent Colorectal Cancer?

Colorectal cancer is a diet-related cancer. There is much research into the effects of nutrients on the prevention, modulation, and treatment of colorectal cancer. Researchers are trying to find a correlation between epidemiological observations indicating certain dietary components as the originator in the process of developing colorectal cancer, such as a diet rich in saturated animal fats, and dietary components that could eliminate the impact of harmful elements of the daily nutritional routine, i.e., substances such as polyunsaturated fatty acids, curcumin, or resveratrol. Nevertheless, it is very important to understand the mechanisms underlying how food works on cancer cells. In this case, microRNA (miRNA) seems to be a very significant research target. MiRNAs participate in many biological processes connected to carcinogenesis, progression, and metastasis. However, this is a field with development prospects ahead. In this paper, we review the most significant and well-studied food ingredients and their effects on various miRNAs involved in colorectal cancer.

Deregulated microRNAs Involved in Prostate Cancer Aggressiveness and Treatment Resistance Mechanisms

Prostate cancer (PCa) is the most frequently diagnosed cancer and the second leading cause of cancer deaths among American men. Complex genetic and epigenetic mechanisms are involved in the development and progression of PCa. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are short noncoding RNAs that regulate protein expression at the post-transcriptional level by targeting mRNAs for degradation or inhibiting protein translation. In the past two decades, the field of miRNA research has rapidly expanded, and emerging evidence has revealed miRNA dysfunction to be an important epigenetic mechanism underlying a wide range of diseases, including cancers. This review article focuses on understanding the functional roles and molecular mechanisms of deregulated miRNAs in PCa aggressiveness and drug resistance based on the existing literature. Specifically, the miRNAs differentially expressed (upregulated or downregulated) in PCa vs. normal tissues, advanced vs. low-grade PCa, and treatment-responsive vs. non-responsive PCa are discussed. In particular, the oncogenic and tumor-suppressive miRNAs involved in the regulation of (1) the synthesis of the androgen receptor (AR) and its AR-V7 splice variant, (2) PTEN expression and PTEN-mediated signaling, (3) RNA splicing mechanisms, (4) chemo- and hormone-therapy resistance, and (5) racial disparities in PCa are discussed and summarized. We further provide an overview of the current advances and challenges of miRNA-based biomarkers and therapeutics in clinical practice for PCa diagnosis/prognosis and treatment.

Mir-21 and Mir-125b as theranostic biomarkers for epithelial ovarian cancer in Tunisian women

Background

Ovarian cancer (OC) is the third most common cancer in women and the leading cause of death associated with gynecologic tumors. Because this disease is asymptomatic in the early stages, most patients are not diagnosed until the late stages. This highlights the need for the development of diagnostic biomarkers. MicroRNAs (miRNAs), small non-coding RNAs, are currently being explored as potential biomarkers for the early detection of various malignancies in humans. However, their expression and diagnostic value in OC have not been well studied.

Materials and Methods

the plasma levels of miR-21, miR-200a, miR-200b, miR-200c, miR-205 and miR-125b were determined in epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC) patients and healthy controls by Reverse Transcription Quantitative Realtime Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-qPCR). The expression levels of the deregulated microRNAs were analysed according to clinical characteristics.

Results

It was found that miR-21 and miR-125b were upregulated in EOC compared with healthy controls. Moreover, decreased miR-125b was associated with resistance to platinum-based chemotherapy.

Conclusions

Our data suggest that miR-21 and miR-125b in plasma may serve as potential circulating biomarkers for the early detection of EOC. MiR-125b may also be useful for predicting chemosensitivity in EOC patients.

Fragment-Based Approaches to Identify RNA Binders

Although fragment-based drug discovery (FBDD) has been successfully implemented and well-explored for protein targets, its feasibility for RNA targets is emerging. Despite the challenges associated with the selective targeting of RNA, efforts to integrate known methods of RNA binder discovery with fragment-based approaches have been fruitful, as a few bioactive ligands have been identified. Here, we review various fragment-based approaches implemented for RNA targets and provide insights into experimental design and outcomes to guide future work in the area. Indeed, investigations surrounding the molecular recognition of RNA by fragments address rather important questions such as the limits of molecular weight that confer selective binding and the physicochemical properties favorable for RNA binding and bioactivity.

Rab3A/Rab27A System Silencing Ameliorates High Glucose-Induced Injury in Podocytes

Diabetic nephropathy is a major complication in diabetic patients. Podocytes undergo loss and detachment from the basal membrane. Intra- and intercellular communication through exosomes are key processes for maintaining function, and the Rab3A/Rab27A system is an important counterpart. Previously, we observed significant changes in the Rab3A/Rab27A system in podocytes under glucose overload, demonstrating its important role in podocyte injury. We investigated the implication of silencing the Rab3A/Rab27A system in high glucose-treated podocytes and analysed the effect on differentiation, apoptosis, cytoskeletal organisation, vesicle distribution, and microRNA expression in cells and exosomes. For this, we subjected podocytes to high glucose and transfection through siRNAs, and we isolated extracellular vesicles and performed western blotting, transmission electron microscopy, RT-qPCR, immunofluorescence and flow cytometry assays. We found that silencing RAB3A and RAB27A generally leads to a decrease in podocyte differentiation and cytoskeleton organization and an increase in apoptosis. Moreover, CD63-positive vesicles experienced a pattern distribution change. Under high glucose, Rab3A/Rab27A silencing ameliorates some of these detrimental processes, suggesting a differential influence depending on the presence or absence of cellular stress. We also observed substantial expression changes in miRNAs that were relevant in diabetic nephropathy upon silencing and glucose treatment. Our findings highlight the Rab3A/Rab27A system as a key participant in podocyte injury and vesicular traffic regulation in diabetic nephropathy.

Encoded Fusion-Mediated MicroRNA Signature Profiling of Tumor-Derived Extracellular Vesicles for Pancreatic Cancer Diagnosis

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) in tumor-derived extracellular vesicles (tEVs) are important cancer biomarkers for cancer screening and early diagnosis. Multiplex detection of miRNAs in tEVs facilitates accurate diagnosis but remains a challenge. Herein, we propose an encoded fusion strategy to profile the miRNA signature in tEVs for pancreatic cancer diagnosis. A panel of encoded-targeted-fusion beads was fabricated for the selective recognition and fusion of tEVs, with the turn-on fluorescence signals of molecule beacons for miRNA quantification and barcode signals for miRNA identification using readily accessible flow cytometers. Using this strategy, six types of pancreatic-cancer-associated miRNAs can be profiled in tEVs from 2 μL plasma samples (n = 36) in an isolation-free and lysis-free manner with only 2 h of processing, offering a high accuracy (98%) to discriminate pancreatic cancer, pancreatitis, and healthy donors. This encoded fusion strategy exhibits great potential for multiplex profiling of miRNA in tEVs, offering new avenues for cancer diagnosis and screening.

miR-21-5p prevents doxorubicin-induced cardiomyopathy by downregulating BTG2

Cardiomyocyte apoptosis has been characterized as one of the major mechanisms underlying doxorubicin (DOX)-induced cardiomyopathy. MicroRNA-21-5p (miR-21-5p) was reported to mitigate ischemia-induced cardiomyocyte apoptosis and cardiac injury. However, to our knowledge, the functional role of miR-21-5p in DOX-induced cardiomyopathy is unclear. In this study, we explored the role of miR-21-5p in DOX-induced cardiac injury. The expression level of miR-21-5p was detected by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). Dual luciferase reporter assay was used to verify the potential target gene of miR-21-5p. The apoptosis rate of NRCMs was detected by TUNEL staining assay. Western blot analysis was used to detect the protein expression levels of Bax, Bcl-2, Caspase3, cleaved-Caspase3 and BTG2. For animal studies, mice were injected with AAV9-miR-21-5p or AAV9-Empty viruses, and treated with DOX at a dose of 5 mg/kg per week through intraperitoneally administration. After 4 weeks of DOX treatment, mice were subjected to echocardiography to measure the left ventricular ejection fraction (EF) and fractional shortening (FS). Results showed that miR-21-5p was upregulated in both DOX-treated primary cardiomyocytes and mouse heart tissues. Interestingly, enhanced miR-21-5p expression inhibited DOX-induced cardiomyocyte apoptosis and oxidative stress, while decreased miR-21-5p expression promoted cardiomyocyte apoptosis and oxidative stress. Furthermore, cardiac overexpression of miR-21-5p protected against DOX-induced cardiac injury. The mechanistic study indicated that BTG2 was a target gene of miR-21-5p. The anti-apoptotic effect of miR-21-5p could be inhibited by BTG2 overexpression. Conversely, inhibition of BTG2 rescued the pro-apoptotic effect of miR-21-5p inhibitor. Taken together, our study showed that miR-21-5p could prevent DOX-induced cardiomyopathy by downregulating BTG2.

Endothelial plasticity across PTEN and Hippo pathways: A complex hormetic rheostat modulated by extracellular vesicles

Vascularization is a multifactorial and spatiotemporally regulated process, essential for cell and tissue survival. Vascular alterations have repercussions on the development and progression of diseases such as cancer, cardiovascular diseases, and diabetes, which are the leading causes of death worldwide. Additionally, vascularization continues to be a challenge for tissue engineering and regenerative medicine. Hence, vascularization is the center of interest for physiology, pathophysiology, and therapeutic processes. Within vascularization, phosphatase and tensin homolog deleted on chromosome 10 (PTEN) and Hippo signaling have pivotal roles in the development and homeostasis of the vascular system. Their suppression is related to several pathologies, including developmental defects and cancer. Non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) are among the regulators of PTEN and/or Hippo pathways during development and disease. The purpose of this paper is to review and discuss the mechanisms by which exosome-derived ncRNAs modulate endothelial cell plasticity during physiological and pathological angiogenesis, through the regulation of PTEN and Hippo pathways, aiming to establish new perspectives on cellular communication during tumoral and regenerative vascularization.

miRNA implication in the pathogenesis and the outcome of Tunisian endemic pemphigus foliaceous

Pemphigus foliaceous (PF) is a bullous autoimmune skin disease diagnosed through sera and skin analyses. PF severity is associated with maintained anti-Dsg1 sera levels and its prognosis is unpredictable. MicroRNA (miRNA), dynamic regulators of immune function, have been identified as potential biomarkers for some autoimmune diseases. This study aimed to assess the miRNA expression of miR-17-5p, miR-21-5p, miR-146a-5p, miR-155-5p and miR-338-3p using quantitative real-time PCR in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) and lesional skin samples from untreated and treated PF patients (both remittent and chronic) over 3 months. Overall, miRNA expression was significantly higher in PBMC than in biopsy samples. Blood miR-21 expression was increased in untreated patients compared to controls and had a diagnostic value with an AUC of 0.78. After 6 weeks, it decreased significantly, similar to anti-Dsg1 antibodies and the PDAI score. In addition, a positive correlation was observed between cutaneous miR-21 expression and the disease activity score. Conversely, cutaneous expressions of miR-17, miR-146a and miR-155 were significantly higher in treated chronic patients compared to remittent ones. The cutaneous level of miR-155 positively correlated with pemphigus activity, making it a potential predictive marker for patients' clinical stratification with an AUC of 0.86.These findings suggest that blood miR-21 and cutaneous miR-155 can be used as supplemental markers for PF diagnosis and activity, respectively in addition to classical parameters.

MicroRNA-21: A critical underestimated molecule in diabetic retinopathy

Diabetes mellitus (DM) has grown in attention in recent years as a result of its debilitating complications and chronic disabilities. Diabetic retinopathy (DR) is a chronic microvascular complication of DM and is considered as the primary reason for blindness in adults. Early diagnosis of diabetes complications along with targeted therapy options are critical in avoiding morbidity and mortality associated with complications of diabetes. miR-21 is an important and widely studied non-coding-RNA (ncRNA) with considerable roles in various pathologic conditions including diabetic complications. miR-21 is one of the most elevated miRNAs in response to hyperglycemia and its role in angiogenesis is a major culprit of a wide range of disorders including DR. The main role of miR-21 in DR pathophysiology is believed to be through regulating angiogenesis in retina. This article aims to outline miR-21 biogenesis and distribution in human body along with discussions about its role in DR pathogenesis and its biomarker value in order to facilitate understanding of the new characteristics of miR-21 in DR management.

Key events in cancer: Dysregulation of SREBPs

Lipid metabolism reprogramming is an important hallmark of tumor progression. Cancer cells require high levels of lipid synthesis and uptake not only to support their continued replication, invasion, metastasis, and survival but also to participate in the formation of biological membranes and signaling molecules. Sterol regulatory element binding proteins (SREBPs) are core transcription factors that control lipid metabolism and the expression of important genes for lipid synthesis and uptake. A growing number of studies have shown that SREBPs are significantly upregulated in human cancers and serve as intermediaries providing a mechanistic link between lipid metabolism reprogramming and malignancy. Different subcellular localizations, including endoplasmic reticulum, Golgi, and nucleus, play an indispensable role in regulating the cleavage maturation and activity of SREBPs. In this review, we focus on the relationship between aberrant regulation of SREBPs activity in three organelles and tumor progression. Because blocking the regulation of lipid synthesis by SREBPs has gradually become an important part of tumor therapy, this review also summarizes and analyzes several current mainstream strategies.

miRNA dysregulation in traumatic brain injury and epilepsy: a systematic review to identify putative biomarkers for post-traumatic epilepsy

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) leads to post-traumatic epilepsy (PTE); hence, both TBI and PTE share various similar molecular mechanisms. MicroRNA (miRNA) is a small noncoding RNA that acts as a gene-silencing molecule. Notably, the dysregulation of miRNAs in various neurological diseases, including TBI and epilepsy, has been reported in several studies. However, studies on commonly dysregulated miRNAs and the regulation of shared pathways in both TBI and epilepsy that can identify potential biomarkers of PTE are still lacking. This systematic review covers the peer-review publications of TBI and database studies of epilepsy-dysregulated miRNAs of clinical studies. For TBI, 290 research articles were identified after screening, and 12 provided data for dysregulated miRNAs in humans. The compiled data suggest that 85 and 222 miRNAs are consecutively dysregulated in TBI and epilepsy. In both, 10 miRNAs were found to be commonly dysregulated, implying that they are potentially dysregulated miRNAs for PTE. Furthermore, the targets and involvement of each putative miRNA in different pathways were identified and evaluated. Additionally, clusters of predicted miRNAs were analyzed. Each miRNA's regulatory role was linked with apoptosis, inflammation, and cell cycle regulation pathways. Hence, these findings provide insight for future diagnostic biomarkers.

Lactobacillus casei condition medium downregulates miR-21 relative expression in HT-29 colorectal cancer cell line

Previous research has demonstrated promising outcomes regarding the advantageous impact of probiotics in both cancer prevention and treatment. Nevertheless, the precise molecular mechanisms underpinning these effects remain elusive. Recent investigations have proposed a potential involvement of micro ribonucleic acids (miRNAs) in mediating the favorable influence of probiotics on cancerous cells. This study was designed to evaluate the effect of Lactobacillus casei condition medium on miR-21 relative expression in HT-29 colorectal cancer cells. Lactobacillus casei condition medium mixed with RPMI in different proportions (1:1, 1:3, and 1:7) and utilized to treat HT-29 cells for 24 and 48 h. Subsequently, percentage of early and late apoptotic cells were identified using a flow cytometry instrument. A real-time polymerase chain reaction was carried out to determine the relative expression of miR-21. Our findings revealed that L. casei condition medium induces apoptosis in a time- and dose-dependent manner in HT-29 cells. Furthermore, we found a significantly downregulated miR-21 after treatment with high doses of L. casei condition medium after 48 h. Overall, our results provide valuable insights into a potential mechanism through which L. casei condition medium mediates its apoptotic effect in colorectal cancer cells through downregulation of miR-21. However, further investigations are required to unravel its therapeutic, diagnostic, and treatment monitoring potential.

Effects of microRNAs on angiogenesis in diabetic wounds

Diabetes mellitus is a morbid condition affecting a growing number of the world population, and approximately one third of diabetic patients are afflicted with diabetic foot ulcers (DFU), which are chronic non-healing wounds that frequently progress to require amputation. The treatments currently used for DFU focus on reducing pressure on the wound, staving off infection, and maintaining a moist environment, but the impaired wound healing that occurs in diabetes is a constant obstacle that must be faced. Aberrant angiogenesis is a major contributor to poor wound healing in diabetes and surgical intervention is often necessary to establish peripheral blood flow necessary for healing wounds. Over recent years, microRNAs (miRNAs) have been implicated in the dysregulation of angiogenesis in multiple pathologies including diabetes. This review explores the pathways of angiogenesis that become dysregulated in diabetes, focusing on miRNAs that have been identified and the mechanisms by which they affect angiogenesis.

Expression profile of microRNAs related with viral infectivity, inflammatory response, and immune activation in people living with HIV

Objective

To evaluate the serum expression of microRNAs (miRNAs) with ability to modulate the human immunodeficiency (HIV) replication or inflammatory status in people living with HIV (PLWH).

Methods

Forty healthy controls and two groups of PLWH were evaluated: (a) Group 1 (n = 30), patients with detectable viral load at inclusion, analyzed before receiving antiretroviral therapy (ART) and 12 months after initiating it; (b) Group 2 (n = 55), PLWH with prolonged undetectable viral load. Intestinal barrier disruption (I-FABP) and bacterial translocation (16S rDNA) markers, inflammatory markers such as interleukin (IL)-6 and sCD163, immune activation and expression of specific miRNAs were evaluated.

Results

Serum concentrations of I-FABP, 16S rDNA, IL-6, sCD163 and activated T lymphocytes were increased in PLWH. Serum miR-34a was overexpressed at inclusion and remained elevated after ART. The expression of the remaining miRNAs that modulate HIV infectivity (miR-7, mir-29a, miR-150, and miR-223) was similar in PLWH and controls. Related to miRNAs implicated in inflammation (miR-21, miR-155, and miR-210), significant overexpression were observed in miR-21 and miR-210 levels in untreated PLWH, but levels were restored in those patients treated for a long period.

Conclusion

A sustained overexpression of miR-34a was detected even after prolonged HIV controlled replication. miR-21 and miR-210 can be considered new markers of inflammation with high sensitivity to its modifications.

Nanotechnology‐based electrochemical biosensors for monitoring breast cancer biomarkers

Breast cancer is categorized as the most widespread cancer type among women globally. On-time diagnosis can decrease the mortality rate by making the right decision in the therapy procedure. These features lead to a reduction in medication time and socioeconomic burden. The current review article provides a comprehensive assessment for breast cancer diagnosis using nanomaterials and related technologies. Growing use of the nano/biotechnology domain in terms of electrochemical nanobiosensor designing was discussed in detail. In this regard, recent advances in nanomaterial applied for amplified biosensing methodologies were assessed for breast cancer diagnosis by focusing on the advantages and disadvantages of these approaches. We also monitored designing methods, advantages, and the necessity of suitable (nano) materials from a statistical standpoint. The main objective of this review is to classify the applicable biosensors based on breast cancer biomarkers. With numerous nano-sized platforms published for breast cancer diagnosis, this review tried to collect the most suitable methodologies for detecting biomarkers and certain breast cancer cell types.

DNA-Encoded Library Screening To Inform Design of a Ribonuclease Targeting Chimera (RiboTAC)

Ribonuclease targeting chimeras (RiboTACs) induce degradation of an RNA target by facilitating an interaction between an RNA and a ribonuclease (RNase). We describe the screening of a DNA-encoded library (DEL) to identify binders of monomeric RNase L to provide a compound that induced dimerization of RNase L, activating its ribonuclease activity. This compound was incorporated into the design of a next-generation RiboTAC that targeted the microRNA-21 (miR-21) precursor and alleviated a miR-21-associated cellular phenotype in triple-negative breast cancer cells. The RNA-binding module in the RiboTAC is Dovitinib, a known receptor tyrosine kinase (RTK) inhibitor, which was previously identified to bind miR-21 as an off-target. Conversion of Dovitinib into this RiboTAC reprograms the known drug to selectively affect the RNA target. This work demonstrates that DEL can be used to identify compounds that bind and recruit proteins with effector functions in heterobifunctional compounds.

G-wire-based self-quenched fluorescence probe combining with target-activated isothermal cascade amplification for ultrasensitive microRNA detection

Herein, we reported the G-wire-based self-quenched fluorescence probe and its application in ultrasensitive microRNA (miRNA) detection by combining with target-activated isothermal cascade amplification. The terminal-single-fluorescein (FAM)-labeled G-rich oligonucletides self-assembled into G-wire nanostructures (G-wires) with K⁺ and Mg²⁺. Thereafter, the G-wires brought terminal-labeled FAM into close proximity, as a result, the self-quenched signal probe formed. Besides, when there was the target miRNA, target-activated isothermal cascade amplification converted miRNA into the copious trigger DNA. After hybridization between trigger DNA and the self-quenched probe, the G-wires were splited and forced the apart of proximate FAM, and then the self-quenched probe displayed an "on" mechanism. Therefore, the approach gave a limit of detection (LOM) of 0.82 aM to miRNA-21 and could be implemented within a wide linear range of 2 aM to 2 nM. This approach was able to distinguish the single-mismatched miRNA-21, which was selective and sensitive in detecting human spiked serum samples.

The Versatile Role of miR-21 in Renal Homeostasis and Diseases

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small, non-coding RNA species that control gene expression and confer robustness to biological processes. Over the last two decades, their important roles during kidney development, homeostasis and the treatment of diseases have been established, in particular during the onset and progression of various forms of acute and chronic renal disorders. In recent years, miR-21, one of the best-characterized miRNAs to date, has received much attention in renal physiology in particular given its high degree of conservation and expression in kidneys, as well as its potent pathogenic role in various debilitating renal diseases. This review summarizes the current knowledge on miR-21’s involvement in both renal homeostasis and diseases, in particular its double-edged-sword role in acute versus chronic kidney injuries. Finally, we also discuss the potential of miR-21 as a biomarker and therapeutic target in renal diseases.

Therapies Based on Adipose-Derived Stem Cells for Lower Urinary Tract Dysfunction: A Narrative Review

Lower urinary tract dysfunction often requires tissue repair or replacement to restore physiological functions. Current clinical treatments involving autologous tissues or synthetic materials inevitably bring in situ complications and immune rejection. Advances in therapies using stem cells offer new insights into treating lower urinary tract dysfunction. One of the most frequently used stem cell sources is adipose tissue because of its easy access, abundant source, low risk of severe complications, and lack of ethical issues. The regenerative capabilities of adipose-derived stem cells (ASCs) in vivo are primarily orchestrated by their paracrine activities, strong regenerative potential, multi-differentiation potential, and cell–matrix interactions. Moreover, biomaterial scaffolds conjugated with ASCs result in an extremely effective tissue engineering modality for replacing or repairing diseased or damaged tissues. Thus, ASC-based therapy holds promise as having a tremendous impact on reconstructive urology of the lower urinary tract.

Polyphenols target miRNAs as a therapeutic strategy for diabetic complications

MiRNAs are a large group of non-coding RNAs which participate in different cellular pathways like inflammation and oxidation through transcriptional, post-transcriptional, and epigenetic regulation. In the post-transcriptional regulation, miRNA interacts with the 3'-UTR of mRNAs and prevents their translation. This prevention or dysregulation can be a cause of pathological conditions like diabetic complications. A huge number of studies have revealed the association between miRNAs and diabetic complications, including diabetic nephropathy, cardiomyopathy, neuropathy, retinopathy, and delayed wound healing. To address this issue, recent studies have focused on the use of polyphenols as selective and safe drugs in the treatment of diabetes complications. In this article, we will review the involvement of miRNAs in diabetic complications' occurrence or development. Finally, we will review the latest findings on targeting miRNAs by polyphenols like curcumin, resveratrol, and quercetin for diabetic complications therapy.