Long noncoding RNA NEAT1 promotes the growth of cervical cancer cells via sponging miR-9-5p

The role of the peripheral system dysfunction in the pathogenesis of sepsis-associated encephalopathy

Sepsis is a condition that greatly impacts the brain, leading to neurological dysfunction and heightened mortality rates, making it one of the primary organs affected. Injury to the central nervous system can be attributed to dysfunction of various organs throughout the entire body and imbalances within the peripheral immune system. Furthermore, central nervous system injury can create a vicious circle with infection-induced peripheral immune disorders. We collate the pathogenesis of septic encephalopathy, which involves microglial activation, programmed cell death, mitochondrial dysfunction, endoplasmic reticulum stress, neurotransmitter imbalance, and blood-brain barrier disruption. We also spotlight the effects of intestinal flora and its metabolites, enterocyte-derived exosomes, cholinergic anti-inflammatory pathway, peripheral T cells and their cytokines on septic encephalopathy.

Ferroptosis: a promising candidate for exosome-mediated regulation in different diseases

Ferroptosis is a newly discovered form of cell death that is featured in a wide range of diseases. Exosome therapy is a promising therapeutic option that has attracted much attention due to its low immunogenicity, low toxicity, and ability to penetrate biological barriers. In addition, emerging evidence indicates that exosomes possess the ability to modulate the progression of diverse diseases by regulating ferroptosis in damaged cells. Hence, the mechanism by which cell-derived and noncellular-derived exosomes target ferroptosis in different diseases through the system Xc-/GSH/GPX4 axis, NAD(P)H/FSP1/CoQ10 axis, iron metabolism pathway and lipid metabolism pathway associated with ferroptosis, as well as its applications in liver disease, neurological diseases, lung injury, heart injury, cancer and other diseases, are summarized here. Additionally, the role of exosome-regulated ferroptosis as an emerging repair mechanism for damaged tissues and cells is also discussed, and this is expected to be a promising treatment direction for various diseases in the future. Video Abstract.

Exploring the role of lncrna neat1 knockdown in regulating apoptosis across multiple cancer types: A review

Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) have emerged as pivotal regulators of gene expression, contributing significantly to a diverse range of cellular processes, including apoptosis. One such lncRNA is NEAT1, which is elevated in several types of cancer and aid in cancer growth. However, recent studies have also demonstrated that the knockdown of NEAT1 can inhibit cancer cells proliferation, movement, and infiltration while enhancing apoptosis. This article explores the function of lncRNA NEAT1 knockdown in regulating apoptosis across multiple cancer types. We explore the existing understanding of NEAT1's involvement in the progression of malignant conditions, including its structure and functions. Additionally, we investigate the molecular mechanisms by which NEAT1 modulates the cell cycle, cellular proliferation, apoptosis, movement, and infiltration in diverse cancer types, including acute myeloid leukemia, breast cancer, cervical cancer, colorectal cancer, esophageal squamous cell carcinoma, glioma, non-small cell lung cancer, ovarian cancer, prostate cancer, and retinoblastoma. Furthermore, we review the recent studies investigating the therapeutic potential of NEAT1 knockdown in cancer treatment. Targeting the lncRNA NEAT1 presents a promising therapeutic approach for treating cancer. It has shown the ability to suppress cancer cell proliferation, migration, and invasion while promoting apoptosis in various cancer types.

PTEN, PTENP1, microRNAs, and ceRNA Networks: Precision Targeting in Cancer Therapeutics

The phosphatase and tensin homolog deleted on chromosome 10 (PTEN) is a well characterised tumour suppressor, playing a critical role in the maintenance of fundamental cellular processes including cell proliferation, migration, metabolism, and survival. Subtle decreases in cellular levels of PTEN result in the development and progression of cancer, hence there is tight regulation of the expression, activity, and cellular half-life of PTEN at the transcriptional, post-transcriptional, and post-translational levels. PTENP1, the processed pseudogene of PTEN, is an important transcriptional and post-transcriptional regulator of PTEN. PTENP1 expression produces sense and antisense transcripts modulating PTEN expression, in conjunction with miRNAs. Due to the high sequence similarity between PTEN and the PTENP1 sense transcript, the transcripts possess common miRNA binding sites with the potential for PTENP1 to compete for the binding, or 'sponging', of miRNAs that would otherwise target the PTEN transcript. PTENP1 therefore acts as a competitive endogenous RNA (ceRNA), competing with PTEN for the binding of specific miRNAs to alter the abundance of PTEN. Transcription from the antisense strand produces two functionally independent isoforms (PTENP1-AS-α and PTENP1-AS-β), which can regulate PTEN transcription. In this review, we provide an overview of the post-transcriptional regulation of PTEN through interaction with its pseudogene, the cellular miRNA milieu and operation of the ceRNA network. Furthermore, its importance in maintaining cellular integrity and how disruption of this PTEN-miRNA-PTENP1 axis may lead to cancer but also provide novel therapeutic opportunities, is discussed. Precision targeting of PTENP1-miRNA mediated regulation of PTEN may present as a viable alternative therapy.

Noncoding RNA as an influential epigenetic modulator with promising roles in cancer therapeutics

The epigenetic landscape has an important role in cellular homeostasis and its deregulation leads to cancer. Noncoding (nc)RNA networks function as major regulators of cellular epigenetic hallmarks via regulation of vital processes, such as histone modification and DNA methylation. They are integral intracellular components affecting multiple oncogenic pathways. Thus, it is important to elucidate the effects of ncRNA networks on epigenetic programming that lead to the initiation and progression of cancer. In this review, we summarize the effects of epigenetic modification influenced by ncRNA networks and crosstalk between diverse classes of ncRNA, which could aid the development of patient-specific cancer therapeutics targeting ncRNAs, thereby altering cellular epigenetics.

Long non-coding RNAs as critical regulators and novel targets in cervical cancer: current status and future perspectives

Cervical cancer is among the leading causes of cancer-associated mortality in women. In spite of vaccine availability, improved screening procedures, and chemoradiation therapy, cervical cancer remains the most commonly diagnosed cancer in 23 countries and the leading cause of cancer deaths in 36 countries. There is, therefore, a need to come up with novel diagnostic and therapeutic targets. Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) play a remarkable role in genome regulation and contribute significantly to several developmental and disease pathways. The deregulation of lncRNAs is often observed in cancer patients, where they are shown to affect multiple cellular processes, including cell cycle, apoptosis, angiogenesis, and invasion. Many lncRNAs are found to be involved in the pathogenesis as well as progression of cervical cancer and have shown potency to track metastatic events. This review provides an overview of lncRNA mediated regulation of cervical carcinogenesis and highlights their potential as diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers as well as therapeutic targets for cervical cancer. In addition, it also discusses the challenges associated with the clinical implication of lncRNAs in cervical cancer.

Advances in epigenetic modifications and cervical cancer research

Cervical cancer (CC) is an important public health problem for women, and perspectives and information regarding its prevention and treatment are quickly evolving. Human papilloma virus (HPV) has been recognized as a major contributor to CC development; however, HPV infection is not the only cause of CC. Epigenetics refers to changes in gene expression levels caused by non-gene sequence changes. Growing evidence suggests that the disruption of gene expression patterns which were governed by epigenetic modifications can result in cancer, autoimmune diseases, and various other maladies. This article mainly reviews the current research status of epigenetic modifications in CC based on four aspects, respectively DNA methylation, histone modification, noncoding RNA regulation and chromatin regulation, and we also discuss their functions and molecular mechanisms in the occurrence and progression of CC. This review provides new ideas for early screening, risk assessment, molecular targeted therapy and prognostic prediction of CC.

RBM10 regulates alternative splicing of lncRNA Neat1 to inhibit the invasion and metastasis of NSCLC

Background

Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) accounts for more than 85% of the total cases with lung cancer. NSCLC is characterized by easy metastasis, which often spreads to bones, brains and livers. RNA-binding motif protein 10 (RBM10) is an alternative splicing (AS) regulator frequently mutated in NSCLC. We found that there were multiple peak binding sites between RBM10 and long non-coding RNA nuclear enriched abundant transcript 1 (LncRNA Neat1) by crosslinking-immunprecipitation and high-throughput sequencing (Clip-Seq). LncRNA Neat1 plays an indispensable role in promoting cancer in a variety of tumors and produces two splicing variants: Neat1_1 and Neat1_2. This study aims to explore the mechanism of RBM10 and LncRNA Neat1 in invasion and metastasis of NSCLC.

Methods

Through histological and cytological experiments, we assessed the expression level of RBM10 protein expression. The interaction between RBM10 and Neat1 was evaluated via Clip-Seq and RNA immunoprecipitation assay. The effect of RBM10 on Neat1 and its splicing variants was identified by RT-qPCR. The effect of RBM10 and Neat1 on invasive and metastasis phenotypes of NSCLC was analyzed using transwell invasion assay and scratch test. Additionally, downstream signaling pathway of RBM10 were identified by immunofluorescence and western blot.

Results

RBM10 exhibited low levels of expression in NSCLC tissues and cells. RBM10 inhibited the invasion and metastasis of NSCLC and recruited Neat1 and Neat1_2. Overexpression of RBM10 simultaneously inhibited Neat1 and Neat1_2, and promoted the expression of Neat1_1. On the other hand, silencing RBM10 promoted Neat1 and Neat1_2, and inhibited the expression of Neat1_1. From this, we concluded that RBM10 regulated AS of Neat1, and the tumor-promoting effect of Neat1 was mainly attributed to Neat1_2. RBM10 had a negative correlation with Neat1_2. In addition, RBM10 upregulated the expression of PTEN and downregulated the phosphorylation of PI3K/AKT/mTOR through Neat1_2, which ultimately inhibited the invasion and metastasis of NSCLC.

Conclusion

The RBM10 regulated AS of Neat1 to cause the imbalance of Neat1_1 and Neat1_2, and RBM10 suppressed the activation of the PTEN/PI3K/AKT/mTOR signal by downregulating Neat1_2, finally affected the invasion and metastasis of NSCLC.

Long non-coding RNA nuclear enriched abundant transcript 1 (NEAT1) modulates inhibitor of DNA binding 1 (ID1) to facilitate papillary thyroid carcinoma development by sponging microRNA-524-5p

Long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) nuclear-enriched abundant transcript 1 (NEAT1) exerts a pro-oncogenic role in several cancers, whereas its underlying regulatory mechanism in papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) progression remains unknown. This research mainly explored the roles of NEAT1 in PTC development. Quantitative real-time polymerase-chain reaction (qRT-PCR) was applied to measure NEAT1, miR-524-5p, and inhibitor of DNA binding 1 (ID1) expression in PTC tissues and cells. Western blot was conducted for detecting the protein levels. MTT, transwell, and flow cytometry assays were applied to assess cell proliferation, metastasis, and apoptosis in PTC cells in vitro. The PTC xenograft tumor model was used for investigating the role of NEAT1 in vivo. Dual-luciferase reporter assay was utilized for confirming the interaction between miR-524-5p and NEAT1 or ID1. In PTC tissues and cells, NEAT1 was significantly up-regulated. NEAT1 silencing blocked cell proliferation, metastasis, and facilitated apoptosis in vitro and impeded xenograft tumor growth in vivo. Bioinformatics prediction revealed the existence of binding sites between NEAT1 and miR-524-5p. Besides, ID1 was confirmed as a direct target to miR-524-5p, and the enhancement of ID1 reversed the regulation of miR-524-5p upregulation on cell progression. In addition, NEAT1 promoted PTC development by regulating ID1 expression via sponging miR-524-5p in PTC. In summary, we demonstrate that NEAT1 advanced the process of PTC by miR-524-5p/ID1 axis, which may enhance our comprehension of PTC pathogenesis.

The Role of LncRNAs in the Regulation of Radiotherapy Sensitivity in Cervical Cancer

Cervical cancer (CC) is one of the three majors gynecological malignancies, which seriously threatens women’s health and life. Radiotherapy (RT) is one of the most common treatments for cervical cancer, which can reduce local recurrence and prolong survival in patients with cervical cancer. However, the resistance of cancer cells to Radiotherapy are the main cause of treatment failure in patients with cervical cancer. Long non-coding RNAs (LncRNAs) are a group of non-protein-coding RNAs with a length of more than 200 nucleotides, which play an important role in regulating the biological behavior of cervical cancer. Recent studies have shown that LncRNAs play a key role in regulating the sensitivity of radiotherapy for cervical cancer. In this review, we summarize the structure and function of LncRNAs and the molecular mechanism of radiosensitivity in cervical cancer, list the LncRNAs associated with radiosensitivity in cervical cancer, analyze their potential mechanisms, and discuss the potential clinical application of these LncRNAs in regulating radiosensitivity in cervical cancer.

Recent advances of NEAT1-miRNA interactions in cancer

With high incidence rate, cancer is the main cause of death in humans. Non-coding RNAs, as novel master regulators, especially long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) and microRNAs (miRNAs), play important roles in the regulation of tumorigenesis. lncRNA NEAT1 has recently gained much attention, as it is dysregulated in a broad spectrum of cancers, where it acts as either an oncogene or a tumor suppressor gene. Accumulating evidence shows that NEAT1 is correlated with the process of carcinogenesis, including proliferation, invasion, survival, drug resistance, and metastasis. NEAT1 is considered to be a biomarker and a novel therapeutic target for the diagnosis and prognosis of different cancer types. The mechanisms by which NEAT1 plays a critical role in cancers are mainly via interactions with miRNAs. NEAT1-miRNA regulatory networks play significant roles in tumorigenesis, which has attracted much attention from researchers around the world. In this review, we summarize the interaction of NEAT1 with miRNAs in the regulation of protein-coding genes in cancer. A better understanding of the NEAT1-miRNA interactions in cancer will help develop new diagnostic biomarkers and therapeutic approaches.

Exosome-Derived lncRNA NEAT1 Exacerbates Sepsis-Associated Encephalopathy by Promoting Ferroptosis Through Regulating miR-9-5p/TFRC and GOT1 Axis

Sepsis can cause sepsis-associated encephalopathy (SAE), but whether SAE was induced or exacerbated by ferroptosis remains unknown. In this study, the rat sepsis model was constructed using the cecal ligation and puncture method. The blood–brain barrier (BBB) permeability was measured by Evans blue dye (EBD) in vivo. The levels of ROS, Fe ion, MDA, GSH, and GPX4 were assessed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The exosomes isolated from serum were cultured with bEnd.3 cells for the in vitro analysis. Moreover, bEnd.3 cells cultured with 100 μM FeCl3 (iron-rich) were to simulate ferroptosis stress. The cell viability was evaluated by Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK-8) assay. A dual-luciferase reporter gene assay was performed to confirm the relationship between miR-9-5p with NEAT1, TFRC, and GOT1. In vivo, it is found that BBB permeability was damaged in model rats. Level of ROS, Fe ion, and MDA was increased, and level of GSH and GPX4 was decreased, which means ferroptosis was induced by sepsis. Exosome-packaged NEAT1 in serum was significantly upregulated in model rats. In vitro, it is found that NEAT1 functions as a ceRNA for miR-9-5p to facilitate TFRC and GOT1 expression. Overexpression of NEAT1 enhanced ferroptosis stress in bEnd.3 cells. Increased miR-9-5p alleviated sepsis-induced ferroptosis by suppressing the expression of TFRC and GOT1 both in vivo and in vitro. In conclusion, these findings suggest that sepsis induced high expression of serous exosome-derived NEAT1, and it might exacerbate SAE by promoting ferroptosis through regulating miR-9-5p/TFRC and GOT1 axis.

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

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

Knockdown of lncRNA NEAT1 suppresses proliferation and migration, and induces apoptosis of cervical cancer cells by regulating the miR‑377/FGFR1 axis

To investigate the role of NEAT1 and the microRNA (miR)-377/fibroblast growth factor receptor 1 (FGFR1) axis in cervical cancer (CC), the expression levels of NEAT1, FGFR1 and miR-377 were detected in CC tissues and cell lines. NEAT1 or FGFR1 was knocked down by transfection with short hairpin RNA (sh)-NEAT1 or sh-FGFR1, and miR-377 was overexpressed by transfection with miR-377 mimics in HeLa and C33A cells. Cell viability and migration were measured using MTT and Transwell assays, respectively. Cell apoptosis was determined by flow cytometry. A dual luciferase reporter assay was performed to confirm the presence of binding sites between miR-377 and FGFR1. The results revealed that the expression levels of NEAT1 and FGFR1 were significantly elevated, whereas miR-377 expression was markedly decreased in CC tissues and cell lines. In HeLa and C33A cells, after NEAT1 knockdown, miR-377 expression was increased, cell viability and migration were inhibited, and apoptosis was induced. Similarly, silencing FGFR1 inhibited cell viability and migration, and induced apoptosis of HeLa and C33A cells. A dual luciferase reporter gene assay verified a targeting relationship between NEAT1 and miR-377. Inhibition of miR-377 or overexpression of FGFR1 reversed the effects of NEAT1 knockdown on cell function in HeLa and C33A cells. Moreover, a dual luciferase reporter assay confirmed that FGFR1 was a direct target of miR-377. In conclusion, suppression of NEAT1 inhibited cell viability and migration, and promoted apoptosis of CC cells, and these effects were achieved through regulation of the miR-377/FGFR1 axis.

The Role of Long Non-coding RNA, Nuclear Enriched Abundant Transcript 1 (NEAT1) in Cancer and Other Pathologies

Nuclear enriched abundant transcript 1 (NEAT1), consisting of two kinds of lncRNAs of 3.7 kB NEAT1-1 and 23 kB NEAT1-2, can be highly expressed in organs and tissues such as the ovary, prostate, colon, and pancreas, and is involved in paraspeckle formation and mRNA editing and gene expression. Therefore, NEAT1 is a potential biomarker for the treatment of a variety of diseases, which may be caused by two factors (isoforms of NEAT1 and NEAT1 sponging miRNA as ceRNA). However, there is still much confusion about the mechanism and downstream effector between the abnormal expression of NEAT1 and various diseases. This review summarizes recent research progress on NEAT1 in cancer and other pathologies and provides a more reliable theoretical basis for the treatment of related diseases.

NEAT1 as a competing endogenous RNA in tumorigenesis of various cancers: Role, mechanism and therapeutic potential

The nuclear paraspeckle assembly transcript 1 (NEAT1) is a long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) that is upregulated in a variety of human cancer types. Increasing evidence has shown that the elevation of NEAT1 in cancer cells promotes cell growth, migration, and invasion and inhibits cell apoptosis. It is also known that lncRNAs act as a competing endogenous RNA (ceRNA) by sponging microRNAs (miRNAs) to alter the expression levels of their target genes in the development of cancers. Therefore, it is important to understand the molecular mechanisms underlying this observation. In this review, specific emphasis was placed on NEAT1's role in tumor development. We also summarize and discuss the feedback roles of NEAT1/miRNA/target network in the progression of various cancers. As our understanding of the role of NEAT1 during tumorigenesis improves, its therapeutic potential as a biomarker and/or target for cancer also becomes clearer.

Role of NEAT1/MiR-9-5p/SLC26A2 Pathway on Human Airway Smooth Muscle Cell

PURPOSE

Asthma is a serious inflammatory disease of the respiratory system in which airway smooth muscle cells (ASMCs) play a key role. This study aimed to investigate the expression of SLC26A2 in human ASMCs (HASMCs) and the regulatory mechanism of SLC26A2 in the proliferation and inflammatory factor production of HASMCs.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We obtained the asthma-associated differential mRNA SLC26A2 by bioinformatics analysis in childhood acute asthma samples. To investigate its role in airway inflammation and airway remodeling, we treated HASMCs with platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) in an in vitro model and determined SLC26A2 expression in cells using western blotting. Cell proliferation was detected by MTT and EdU assays, and cell contractile phenotype marker proteins were measured. Cell migration and production of inflammatory factors were determined by Transwell and ELISA assays. Additionally, the upstream regulatory miRNA and LncRNA of SLC26A2 were identified by bioinformatics, luciferase reporter gene, and RIP analyses.

RESULTS

SLC26A2 was significantly upregulated in bioinformatics analysis of pediatric asthma-related sample. PDGF treatment up-regulated SLC26A2 expression in HASMCs, whereas the knockdown of SLC26A2 inhibited PDGF-stimulated proliferation, migration, and production of inflammatory factors, and enhanced the expression of cell contractile phenotype marker proteins in HASMCs. Luciferase reporter and RIP experiments validated that NEAT1 targeted miR-9-5p to regulate SLC26A2, thereby influencing the biological function of PDGF-induced HASMCs.

CONCLUSION

These findings indicate that NEAT1-mediated miR-9-5p targeting of SLC26A2 inhibits the PDGF-induced proliferation and production of inflammatory factors in HASMCs. These findings highlight potential therapeutic targets for asthma and airway inflammation.

POU2F1 Promotes Cell Viability and Tumor Growth in Gastric Cancer through Transcriptional Activation of lncRNA TTC3-AS1

POU domain, class 2, transcription factor 1 (POU2F1) is involved in the development of gastric cancer (GC). However, the molecular mechanism has not been fully elucidated. Here, we identified a novel lncRNA named TTC3-AS1 that was potentially regulated by POU2F1 and investigated their roles in GC progression. Bioinformatics analysis suggested that high expression of POU2F1 predicted poor prognosis in patients with GC. We further screened out an lncRNA TTC3-AS1 that may be transcriptionally activated by POU2F1 according to the JASPAR database, and POU2F1 and TTC3-AS1 were highly expressed in GC cells and tissues compared with normal controls (NCs). Function analysis revealed that both POU2F1 and TTC3-AS1 played oncogenic roles by promoting cell viability, migration, and invasion in GC. qRT-PCR analysis showed that POU2F1 improved the expression of TTC3-AS1 in GC cells, while TTC3-AS1 knockdown or overexpression had no effect on POU2F1 expression. The results of chromatin immunoprecipitation and DNA-affinity precipitation assays indicated that POU2F1 directly bound to the promoter region of TTC3-AS1 and activated its transcription. TTC3-AS1 knockdown neutralized the protumor effects of POU2F1 overexpression in GC cell lines as well as mouse models of GC, which suggested that TTC3-AS1 mediates the oncogenic function of POU2F1. In summary, POU2F1 promoted GC progression by transcriptionally activating TTC3-AS1; thus, this study provided a new perspective for the mechanism of GC progression.

Competing Endogenous RNAs in Cervical Carcinogenesis: A New Layer of Complexity

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) regulate gene expression by binding to complementary sequences within target mRNAs. Apart from working ‘solo’, miRNAs may interact in important molecular networks such as competing endogenous RNA (ceRNA) axes. By competing for a limited pool of miRNAs, transcripts such as long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) and mRNAs can regulate each other, fine-tuning gene expression. Several ceRNA networks led by different lncRNAs—described here as lncRNA-mediated ceRNAs—seem to play essential roles in cervical cancer (CC). By conducting an extensive search, we summarized networks involved in CC, highlighting the major impacts of such dynamic molecular changes over multiple cellular processes. Through the sponging of distinct miRNAs, some lncRNAs as HOTAIR, MALAT1, NEAT1, OIP5-AS1, and XIST trigger crucial molecular changes, ultimately increasing cell proliferation, migration, invasion, and inhibiting apoptosis. Likewise, several lncRNAs seem to be a sponge for important tumor-suppressive miRNAs (as miR-140-5p, miR-143-3p, miR-148a-3p, and miR-206), impairing such molecules from exerting a negative post-transcriptional regulation over target mRNAs. Curiously, some of the involved mRNAs code for important proteins such as PTEN, ROCK1, and MAPK1, known to modulate cell growth, proliferation, apoptosis, and adhesion in CC. Overall, we highlight important lncRNA-mediated functional interactions occurring in cervical cells and their closely related impact on cervical carcinogenesis.

Comprehensive analysis of ceRNA networks in HPV16- and HPV18-mediated cervical cancers reveals XIST as a pivotal competing endogenous RNA

Cervical cancer (CC) is one of the most common cancers in women worldwide, being closely related to high-risk human papillomavirus (HR-HPVs). After a particular HR-HPV infects a cervical cell, transcriptional changes in the host cell are expected, including the regulation of lncRNAs, miRNAs, and mRNAs. Such transcripts may work independently or integrated in complex molecular networks - as in competing endogenous RNA (ceRNA) networks. In our research, we gathered transcriptome data from samples of HPV16/HPV18 cervical squamous cell carcinoma and endocervical adenocarcinoma (CESC), from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) project. Using GDCRNATools, we identified ceRNA networks that differentiate HPV16- from HPV18-mediated CESC. For HPV16-CESC, three lncRNA-mRNA co-expressed pairs were reported, all led by the X-inactive specific transcript (XIST): XIST | DLG5, XIST | LGR4, and XIST | ZNF81. The XIST | LGR4 and XIST | ZNF81 pairs shared 11 miRNAs, suggesting an increased impact on their final biological effect. XIST also stood out as an important lncRNA in HPV18-CESC, leading 35 of the 42 co-expressed pairs. Some mRNAs, such as ADAM9 and SLC38A2, emerged as important players in the ceRNA regulatory networks due to sharing a considerable amount of miRNAs with XIST. Furthermore, some XIST-associated axes, namely XIST | miR-23a-3p | LGR4 and XIST | miR-30b-5p or miR-30c-5p or miR-30e-5p I ADAM9, had a significant impact on the overall survival of HPV16- and HPV18-CESC patients, respectively. Together, these data suggest that XIST has an important role in HPV-mediated tumorigenesis, which may implicate different molecular signatures between HPV16 and HPV18-associated tumors.

Long Non-coding RNA NEAT1 as an Emerging Biomarker in Breast and Gynecologic Cancers: a Systematic Overview

Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) are emerging regulators of cellular pathways, especially in cancer development. Among the lncRNAs, nuclear paraspeckle assembly transcript 1 (NEAT1) forms a scaffold for a nuclear body; the paraspeckle and aberrant expression of NEAT1 have been reported in breast and gynecologic cancers (ovarian, cervical, endometrial, and vulvar). Abundantly expressed NEAT1 in breast and gynecologic cancers generally contribute to tumor development by sponging its corresponding tumor-suppressive microRNAs or interacting with various regulatory proteins. The distinct expression of NEAT1 and its contribution to tumorigenic pathways make it a promising therapeutic target in breast and gynecologic cancers. Herein, we summarize the functions and molecular mechanisms of NEAT1 in human breast, ovarian, cervical, endometrial, and vulvar cancers. Furthermore, we emphasize its critical role in the formation of paraspeckle development and its functions. Conclusively, NEAT1 is a considerable biomarker with a bright prospect and can be therapeutically targeted to manage breast and gynecologic cancers.

Integrated bioinformatic analysis of miR-15a/16-1 cluster network in cervical cancer

The miR-15a/16-1 cluster is abnormally expressed in cervical cancer (CC) tissues and plays a vital role in cervical carcinogenesis. We aimed to evaluate the miR-15a/16-1 expression in healthy and cancerous cervical tissues, identify the associated networks, and to test its prognostic significance. miR-15a/16-1-MC expressions were analyzed in TCGA-CESC datasets by UALCAN, GEPIA2, and Datasetviewer. miR-15a/16-1 validated targets were extracted from mirTarBase and in silico functional analysis of the target genes were performed using WebGestalt. The interaction networks were constructed by the miRNet, STRING, and NetworkAnalyst tools. The prognostic significance and metastatic potential of the target genes were predicted using UALCAN and HCMDB. The FDA approved drugs to target miR-15a/16-1 and target gene network in CC were performed using DGIdb, STITCH and PanDrugs. TCGA-CESC and GEO data analysis suggested significant overexpression of miR-15a/16-1 in CC samples. The Kaplan-Meier survival analysis showed that miR-15a and its four target genes (BCL2, CCNE1, NUP50, and RBPJ) influence the overall survival of CC patients. Among the 66 differentially expressed target genes, 12 of them are linked to head, neck, or lung metastasis. Functional enrichment analysis predicted the association of this cluster with p53 signaling, human papillomavirus infection, PI3-AKT signaling pathway, and pathways in cancer. Drug-gene interaction analysis showed 52 potential FDA approved drugs to interact with the miR-15a/16-1 target genes. Nine of the 52 drugs are currently used as a chemotherapeutic agent for the treatment of CC patients. The present study shows that miR-15a/16-1 expression can be used as a clinical marker and target for therapy in CC.

Circular RNA circNFATC3 acts as a miR-9-5p sponge to promote cervical cancer development by upregulating SDC2

PURPOSE

Circular RNAs (circRNAs) constitute a class of regulatory RNAs that are thought to play important roles in tumor initiation and progression. Several studies have reported that circRNAs may be involved in various biological processes via networks of competing endogenous RNAs (ceRNAs). However, the regulatory roles and underlying mechanisms of circRNAs in cervical cancer (CC) still largely remain to be resolved.

METHODS

CircNFATC3 (hsa_circ_0005615) expression was assessed in CC cell lines (SiHa, H8) using circRNA microarray analysis, whereas qRT-PCR was used to detect circNFATC3 and miR-9-5p expression in primary human CC tissues and cell lines. The tumor promoting role of circNFATC3 was verified in CC cells using a series of functional assays, and interactions between circNFATC3, miR-9-5p and syndecan-2 (SDC2) were investigated using dual-luciferase reporter assays. SDC2 protein expression was detected using Western blotting and immunohistochemistry. The tumor promoting role of circNFATC3 was confirmed in vivo using a CC xenograft model.

RESULTS

We found that circNFATC3 expression was upregulated in primary CC tissues and positively correlated with CC tumor size and stromal invasion. In addition, we found that exogenous circNFATC3 overexpression enhanced the proliferation, migration and invasion of HeLa cells, while its knockdown reduced the malignancy of SiHa cells. We also found that circNFATC3 may act directly as a miR-9-5p sponge to regulate SDC2 expression and its downstream signaling pathways, thereby enhancing CC development.

CONCLUSION

Our data indicate that circNFATC3 sponges miR-9-5p to regulate SDC2 expression and, thereby, to promote CC tumor development.

Silencing of long non‑coding RNA NEAT1 inhibits hepatocellular carcinoma progression by downregulating SMO by sponging microRNA‑503

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) poses an increasing threat to humans, due to its poor prognosis. Nuclear‑enriched abundant transcript 1 (NEAT1), a type of long non‑coding (lnc)RNA, has been found to function in a variety of cancer types. However, the role of NEAT1 in HCC is poorly understood. Reverse transcription‑quantitative PCR was used to detect the expression levels of NEAT1, microRNA (miR)‑503 and Smoothened (SMO) mRNA in HCC tissues and cells. MTT and flow cytometry assays were used to investigate cell viability and apoptosis, respectively, while Transwell assays were performed to investigate cell invasion and migration. StarBase and TargetScan were utilized to predict the target sequence between miR‑503 and NEAT1 or SMO, the results of which were verified using a dual‑luciferase reporter assay. The protein expression level of SMO was measured using western blot. The RNA expression level of NEAT1 and SMO was significantly elevated in HCC tissues and cells compared with that in the corresponding healthy tissues and cells, which was contrary to miR‑503 expression level. NEAT1 silencing was found to restrict the viability, migration and invasion of the cells, while simultaneously induced apoptosis in the HCC cell line. Further studies found that miR‑503 expression was negatively correlated with NEAT1 or SMO. It was also confirmed that NEAT1 directly interacted with miR‑503 and miR‑503 could bind to the 3'‑untranslated region of SMO. Furthermore, overexpression of NEAT1 or SMO could reverse the effects of miR‑503‑mediated inhibition on cell viability, invasion, migration and promotion of apoptosis in the HCC cell lines. These results demonstrated that downregulation of NEAT1 impeded the viability, migration, invasion and induced apoptosis through the NEAT1/miR‑503/SMO axis in the HCC cell line.

Long non‑coding RNA NEAT1 promotes ovarian cancer cell invasion and migration by interacting with miR‑1321 and regulating tight junction protein 3 expression

Previous studies have reported that long non‑coding RNAs (lncRNAs) have a significant role in the metastasis of tumors, including ovarian cancer (OC). The aim of the present study was to demonstrate the function and working mechanism of lncRNA nuclear enriched abundant transcript 1 (NEAT1) in OC. The expressions of NEAT1 in OC were measured by reverse transcription‑quantitativePCR (RT‑qPCR). The effects of NEAT1 on cell proliferation, invasion, migration and epithelial‑mesenchymal transition (EMT) were detected by Cell Counting Kit‑8, transwell and wound healing assays, and western blotting. Dual‑luciferase reporter assays were performed to confirm the correlated between NEAT and miR‑1321, miR‑1321 and TJP3. The effect of NEAT1 on miR‑1321 and TJP3 was confirmed by RT‑qPCR and western blotting. Elevated expression of NEAT1 was observed in OC cell lines, and NEAT1 expression was found to be positively related to the expression of tight junction protein 3 (TJP3), which is important in cancer development. Moreover, the present results indicated that NEAT1 and TJP3 expression levels were negatively correlated with microRNA (miR)‑1321 expression in OC. Knockdown of NEAT1 attenuated the migration and invasion of OC cells, as well as increased miR‑1321 expression and in turn led to the reduction of TJP3. Thus, the present study demonstrated that NEAT1 regulates TJP3 expression by sponging miR‑1321 and enhances the epithelial‑mesenchymal transition, invasion and migration of OC cells. Overall, the present study identified the function and mechanism of NEAT1 in OC, suggesting that NEAT1 may be a promising therapeutic target for OC metastasis.

Expression level of NEAT1 differentiates benign and malignant thyroid nodules by regulating NEAT1/miR‑9/PTEN and NEAT1/miR‑124/PDCD6 signalling

The incidence of thyroid nodules has been increasing worldwide; however, there are currently no feasible and robust methods to differentiate malignant thyroid nodules from benign thyroid nodules. The present study aimed to establish a practical method to determine the malignancy of thyroid nodules. Reverse transcription-quantitative PCR and western blot analyses were performed to compare the levels of long non-coding RNA nuclear enriched abundant transcript 1 (NEAT1), microRNA (miR)-9, miR-124, PTEN and programmed cell death protein 6 (PDCD6) in the peripheral blood and thyroid tissue samples between patients with malignant and benign thyroid nodules. Additionally, a regulatory relationship between NEAT1, miR-124, miR-9, PTEN and PDCD6 was established in the present study. The diagnostic value of NEAT1, miR-124 and miR-9 was determined using a ROC analysis. The expression levels of NEAT1, PTEN and PDCD6 in peripheral blood and thyroid tissue samples collected from the benign group were higher compared with those in the malignant group, whereas the expression levels of miR-124 and miR-9 were lower in the benign group. In the peripheral blood, NEAT1 expression exhibited an area under the curve (AUC) value of 0.8546, whereas miR-124 and miR-9 expression had AUC values of 0.7657 and 0.7019, respectively. In the thyroid tissue, NEAT1, miR-124, and miR-9 had AUC values of 0.9304, 0.8221 and 0.7757, respectively. Additionally, miR-9 and miR-124 expression levels in BCPaP and SW579 cells was decreased after transfection with a NEAT1 expression vector compared with those in cells transfected with the control vector, whereas the expression of PTEN and PDCD6 was upregulated. By contrast, transfection with short hairpin RNA targeting NEAT1 notably increased the expression of miR-9 and miR-124 while downregulating the expression of PTEN and PDCD6 compared with that in the control cells. In conclusion, the results of the present study demonstrated that the dysregulation of NEAT1 expression may be used to differentiate benign and malignant thyroid nodules.

LINC00665/miR-9-5p/ATF1 is a novel axis involved in the progression of colorectal cancer

Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) are abnormally expressed in many malignant tumors and involved in regulating the malignant phenotypes of cancer cells. However, the role of LINC00665 in colorectal cancer (CRC) and its regulatory mechanism remain unclear. In this study, real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) was used to detect the expressions of LINC00665, miR-9-5p and activating transcription factor 1 (ATF1) mRNA in CRC tissues. The expression of ATF1 in CRC tissues was also detected by immunohistochemistry and Western blot. CCK-8 and colony formation assays were employed to detect cell proliferation. Cell cycle and apoptosis were detected by flow cytometry analysis. Scratch healing assay and Transwell test were exploited to detect cell migration and invasion. The targeting relationships between LINC00665 and miR-9-5p, and miR-9-5p and ATF1 were validated by dual luciferase reporter assay. We found that LINC00665 was significantly overexpressed in CRC tissues, and it was also negatively correlated with the expression of miR-9-5p and positively associated with the expression of ATF1. Besides, LINC00665 promoted the proliferation, migration and invasion of CRC cells, and inhibited cell apoptosis by sponging miR-9-5p. ATF1 was proved to be the downstream target of miR-9-5p and was indirectly regulated by LINC00665. Collectively, it is concluded that LINC00665 contributes to the progression of CRC by regulating miR-9-5p/ATF1 axis.

LINC00441 promotes cervical cancer progression by modulating miR-450b-5p/RAB10 axis

Background

As one of the most common gynaecological malignant tumors, cervical cancer (CC) has become an important public health issue. Emerging evidence has revealed long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) are crucial regulators of biological functions in cancers, including CC. And the oncogenic role of LINC00441 has been verified in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). But the molecular mechanism and biological functions of LINC00441 in CC remain unknown.

Methods

qRT-PCR analysis detected the expression of genes in CC tissues or cells. CCK-8, colony formation, flow cytometry, transwell, western blot assays as well as animal studies were conducted to analyze the function of LINC00441 in CC. Luciferase reporter, RIP and RNA pull down assays were applied to verify the binding relations among the indicated genes.

Results

LINC00441 was upregulated in CC tissues and cells. Further, LINC00441 depletion repressed cell proliferation and motility in vitro as well as tumor growth in vivo. LINC00441 could sponge miR-450b-5p to upregulate RAB10 expression. Finally, miR-450b-5p inhibitor or RAB10 upregulation counteracted LINC00441 knockdown-mediated function on the development of CC.

Conclusions

LINC00441 drives CC progression by targeting miR-450b-5p/RAB10 axis, which might provide new idea for researching CC-related molecular mechanism.

The Complex Landscape of PTEN mRNA Regulation

Phosphatase and tensin homolog deleted on chromosome 10 (PTEN) is a key tumor suppressor in the development and progression of different tumor types. Emerging data indicate that small reductions in PTEN protein levels can promote cancer. PTEN protein levels are tightly controlled by a plethora of mechanisms beginning with epigenetic and transcriptional regulation and ending with control of protein synthesis and stability. PTEN messenger RNA (mRNA) is also subject to exquisite regulation by microRNAs, coding and long noncoding RNAs, and RNA-binding proteins. Additionally, PTEN mRNA is markedly influenced by alternative splicing and variable polyadenylation. Herein we provide a synoptic description of the current understanding of the complex regulatory landscape of PTEN mRNA regulation including several specific processes that modulate its stability and expression, in the context of PTEN loss-associated cancers.

Long noncoding RNA NEAT1 sponges miR-129 to modulate renal fibrosis by regulation of collagen type I

The long noncoding RNA nuclear enriched abundant transcript 1 (NEAT1) has been reported to promote liver fibrosis progression. However, its molecular mechanism in renal fibrosis was not elucidated. In the present study, an in vitro model of renal fibrosis was established with HK-2 and HKC-8 cells treated with transforming growth factor-β1. C57BL/6 mice were used for the in vivo model with unilateral ureteral obstruction. Our results indicated that NEAT1 and collagen type I levels were significantly upregulated, whereas miR-129 was obviously downregulated, in the progression of renal fibrosis. Meanwhile, NEAT1 knockdown or miR-129 overexpression inhibited collagen type I deposition, the epithelial-mesenchymal transition process, and the inflammation response to suppress renal fibrosis. NEAT1 directly targeted miR-129, and miR-129 directly bound to collagen type I. Downregulation of miR-129 reversed inhibition of renal fibrosis induced by NEAT1 silencing, and upregulation of collagen type I also reversed inhibition of renal fibrosis caused by miR-129 overexpression. NEAT1 knockdown alleviated renal fibrosis in mice subjected to unilateral ureteral obstruction. In conclusion, NEAT1 sponged miR-129 to modulate the epithelial-mesenchymal transition process and inflammation response of renal fibrosis by regulation of collagen type I. Our study indicates a novel role in the regulation of renal fibrosis and provides a new potential treatment target for renal fibrosis.

Long non-coding RNA NEAT1 promotes human glioma tumor progression via miR-152-3p/CCT6A pathway

BACKGROUND

Long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) nuclear enriched abundant transcript 1 (NEAT1) has been documented to implicate in diverse tumor progression. However, the mechanism of NEAT1 in glioma was rarely reported.

METHODS

The levels of NEAT1, microRNA-152-3p (miR-152-3p) and chaperonin containing TCP1 subunit 6A (CCT6A) in glioma tissues and cells were measured by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). The cell viability, apoptotic rate, the migrated and invaded abilities of A172 and U251 cells were evaluated via cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8), flow cytometry and Transwell assay, respectively. The mice xenograft model was constructed to further verify the effect of NEAT1. The interactions between miR-152-3p and NEAT1 or CCT6A were predicted by starBase v2.0 or TargetScan, then luciferase reporter assay, RNA immunoprecipitation (RIP) and RNA pull-down assay were performed to validate the interaction. The protein level of CCT6A was detected by Western blot assay.

RESULTS

The levels of NEAT1, CCT6A were highly expressed, but miR-152-3p was decreased in glioma tissues and cells. NEAT1 depletion or miR-152-3p mimics suppressed cell viability, migrated and invaded abilities but induced apoptotic rate in A172 and U251 cells, while the introduction of CCT6A partly counteracted these impacts. In addition, NEAT1 silencing impeded xenograft tumor growth in vivo. MiR-152-3p was verified as a direct target of NEAT1 and directly targeted CCT6A. CCT6A expression was upregulated by NEAT1 and reversed by miR-152-3p.

CONCLUSION

NEAT1 enhanced glioma progression, partially through miR-152-3p/CCT6A pathway. The novel regulatory network might contribute to the diagnosis and treatment of glioma.

Long Non-Coding RNA 691 Regulated PTEN/PI3K/AKT Signaling Pathway in Osteosarcoma Through miRNA-9-5p

Background

Large amounts of researches indicate that non-coding RNAs play a crucial role in many malignancies. However, the potential mechanisms of non-coding RNAs involved in osteosarcoma tumorigenesis remain elusive.

Materials and Methods

The expression of long non-protein coding RNA 691 (lncRNA 691) in cell lines and paired osteosarcoma tissues was compared by qRT-PCR assay. Then, we explored the tumor suppressor function of lncRNA 691 with MTS and colony formation assay. Flow cytometry results showed lncRNA 691 can enhance cell apoptosis. Then, we predicted and verified the negative regulation relationship with miRNA and the miRNA’s target gene. Lastly, we revealed the tumorigenesis function of lncRNA-691/miRNA/target gene axis in osteosarcoma.

Results

In our study, we disclosed that lncRNA 691 had low expression levels in osteosarcoma cell lines and tissues. Overexpression of lncRNA 691 could suppress the cell proliferation and induce cell apoptosis in MG-63 cell line. Then, bioinformatics analyses were performed and miR-9-5p was found to negatively regulate the lncRNA 691 expression and promote the osteosarcoma tumorigenesis in vitro. PTEN was predicted as the target gene of miR-9-5p. Luciferase reporter assay and RIP assay demonstrated the regulatory network of lncRNA 691/miR-9-5p/PTEN. We revealed that PTEN was downregulated by the overexpression of miR-9-5p and upregulated by the overexpression of lncRNA 691. At last, the apoptosis-associated protein of the lncRNA 691/miR-9-5p/PTEN/PI3K/AKT was further demonstrated.

Conclusion

LncRNA 691/miR-9-5p could regulate the tumorigenesis by regulating the PTEN/PI3K/AKT signal pathway in osteosarcoma.

MicroRNA-9 Fine-Tunes Dendritic Cell Function by Suppressing Negative Regulators in a Cell-Type-Specific Manner

Dendritic cells, cells of the innate immune system, are found in a steady state poised to respond to activating stimuli. Once stimulated, they rapidly undergo dynamic changes in gene expression to adopt an activated phenotype capable of stimulating immune responses. We find that the microRNA miR-9 is upregulated in both bone marrow-derived DCs and conventional DC1s but not in conventional DC2s following stimulation. miR-9 expression in BMDCs and conventional DC1s promotes enhanced DC activation and function, including the ability to stimulate T cell activation and control tumor growth. We find that miR-9 regulated the expression of several negative regulators of transcription, including the transcriptional repressor Polycomb group factor 6 (Pcgf6). These findings demonstrate that miR-9 facilitates the transition of DCs from steady state to mature state by regulating the expression of several negative regulators of DC function in a cell-type-specific manner.

lncRNA NEAT1 Facilitates Cell Proliferation, Invasion and Migration by Regulating CBX7 and RTCB in Breast Cancer

Purpose

To investigate the association between the lncRNA NEAT1 and breast cancer, and to determine the influence of NEAT1 on regulation of other signaling molecules in breast cancer.

Methods

In the present study, we measured levels of the lncRNA NEAT1 in 106 breast cancer patients and in a human breast cancer cell line by qRT-PCR. The correlation between NEAT1 expression and patients’ clinical characteristics was analyzed with in-house and TCGA data. We used cellular functioning assays and cell immunofluorescence assay to evaluate the role of NEAT1 and its target molecules in proliferation, invasion and migration in breast cancer. We used Western blotting to explore possible targets of NEAT1 and a subcellular fractionation assay to locate NEAT1 expression.

Results

NEAT1 was overexpressed in breast cancer tissue and also closely related to advanced clinical stages and positive lymph node metastases. NEAT1 levels were also tightly correlated to prognosis for breast cancer patients in survival analyses. Cellular function assays revealed that downregulation of NEAT1 could inhibit breast cancer cell viability, invasion and migration. Western blotting revealed down-regulation of CBX7 and up-regulation of RTCB following NEAT1 inhibition. Based on the cytoplasmic and nuclear expression of NEAT1, we investigated the possible regulation of CBX7 and RTCB by NEAT1. Results showed that NEAT1 regulated the expression of CBX7 and RTCB, possibly by binding of NEAT1 to DNA in the nucleus, which facilitates cell proliferation, invasion and migration.

Conclusion

The current results suggest that the lncRNA NEAT1 is upregulated in breast cancer and facilitates tumor cell viability, invasion and migration via CBX7 and RTCB.

MicroRNA-361-Mediated Inhibition of HSP90 Expression and EMT in Cervical Cancer Is Counteracted by Oncogenic lncRNA NEAT1

Epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) is a key process contributing to cervical cancer (CC) metastasis, and microRNAs (miRNAs) modulate the expression of genes implicated in EMT. However, the accurate role of miR-361 in CC-associated EMT and the mechanisms underlying its function in CC remains largely unknown. The functional roles of miR-361 in CC cells were explored by a series of cell functional assays. Luciferase reporter assays were used to demonstrate the potential interaction between miR-361, HSP90, and long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) NEAT1. We detected a reduction of miR-361 expression in CC tissues compared with normal tissues, and miR-361 overexpression inhibited invasion and EMT phenotypes of CC cells by directly targeting a key EMT activator HSP90. Additionally, we detected significantly higher levels of HSP90 in CC tissues compared with normal tissues, and high expression of HSP90 predicted a poorer prognosis. We further identified NEAT1 as a significantly upregulated lncRNA in CC tissues and high expression of NEAT1 was associated with worse survival in CC patients. NEAT1 directly repressed miR-361 expression and played an oncogenic role in CC cell invasion and sphere formation. Conclusions: These results demonstrated that miR-361 directly targets HSP90 to inhibit the invasion and EMT features, and NEAT1 functions as an oncogenic lncRNA that suppresses miR-361 expression and induces EMT and sphere formation in CC cells, thus providing critical insights into the molecular pathways operating in this malignancy.

miR-9 Does Not Regulate Lamin A Expression in Metastatic Cells from Lung Adenocarcinoma

In lung adenocarcinoma, low lamin A expression in pleural metastatic cells has been proposed as a pejorative factor. miR-9 physiologically inhibits the expression of lamin A in neural cells and seems to be a central actor in the carcinogenesis and the metastatic process in lung cancer. Thus, it could be a good candidate to explain the reduction of lamin A expression in lung adenocarcinoma cells. miR-9 expression was analyzed in 16 pleural effusions containing metastatic cells from lung adenocarcinoma and was significantly reduced in patients from the 'Low lamin A expression' group compared to patients from the 'High lamin A expression' group. Then, carcinoma cells selection by fluorescence-activated cell sorting (FACS) was performed according to epithelial membrane antigen (EMA) expression, reflecting lamin A expression. miR-9 was underexpressed in lamin A- carcinoma cells compared to lamin A+ carcinoma cells in patients from the 'Low lamin A expression' group, whereas there was no difference of miR-9 expression between lamin A+ and lamin A- carcinoma cells in patients from the 'High lamin A expression' group. These results suggest that miR-9 does not regulate lamin A expression in metastatic cells from lung adenocarcinoma. On the contrary, miR-9 expression was shown to be reduced in lamin A-negative carcinoma cells.

Transthyretin Upregulates Long Non-Coding RNA MEG3 by Affecting PABPC1 in Diabetic Retinopathy

The aim of the study was to demonstrate how transthyretin (TTR) could affect long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) of maternally expressed gene 3 (MEG3) and play important roles in diabetic retinopathy (DR). A DR model in C57BL/6 mice was established after intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin (STZ). After intravitreal injection with TTR pAAV vector, MEG3 short hairpin RNA (shRNA), scrambled shRNA, or MEG3, retinal imaging, retinal trypsin digestion, and fundus vascular permeability tests were performed. Cell counting kit-8 (CCK8), transwell, and Matrigel assays were employed to detect the proliferation and migration of human retinal microvascular endothelial cells (hRECs). The binding between long non-coding RNA of maternally expressed gene 3 (lncRNA-MEG3) and microRNA-223-3p (miR-223-3p) was observed by using luciferase reporter assays, while co-immunoprecipitation (co-IP) was employed to confirm the interaction between TTR and the target. In the DR mice model, retinal vascular leakage and angiogenesis were repressed by overexpressing TTR. In vitro, the added TTR promoted the level of lncRNA-MEG3 by interacting with poly (A) binding protein cytoplasmic 1 (PABPC1), and then repressed proliferation and angiogenesis of hRECs. In vivo, silencing or overexpressing lncRNA-MEG3 significantly affected retinal vascular phenotypes. Additionally, the interaction between lncRNA-MEG3 and miR-223-3p was confirmed, and silencing of miR-223-3p revealed similar effects on hRECs as overexpression of lncRNA-MEG3. In summary, in the DR environment, TTR might affect the lncRNA MEG3/miR-223-3p axis by the direct binding with PABPC1, and finally repress retinal vessel proliferation.

LINC00958 facilitates cervical cancer cell proliferation and metastasis by sponging miR-625-5p to upregulate LRRC8E expression

Accepted as a malignant tumor worldwide, cervical cancer (CC) has attracted much attention for its high incidence and mortality rates. Previous studies have elucidated the critical regulatory function that long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) exert on the tumorigenesis and progression of diverse tumors. Although multiple investigations have depicted that LINC00958 has a great impact on the complex biological process of many cancers, knowledge concerning the regulatory role of LINC00958 in CC remains limited and needs to be further explored. In our study, LINC00958 expression was evidently overexpressed in CC tissues and cells. Besides this, LINC00958 negatively regulated miR-625-5p expression and was verified to bind with miR-625-5p in CC. Subsequently, it was testified by a series of experiments that LINC00958 promotes CC cell proliferation and metastasis by sponging miR-625-5p. Furthermore, the leucine-rich repeat containing the eight family member E (LRRC8E) could bind with miR-625-5p, and its expression was negatively modulated by miR-625-5p, whereas positively regulated by LINC00958 in CC. Final rescue assays verified the effects of LINC0095/LRRC8E interaction and miR-625-5p/LRRC8E interaction on CC cell proliferation and metastasis. Collectively, LINC00958 facilitates CC cell proliferation and metastasis via the miR-625-5p/LRRC8E axis.

LncRNA NEAT1 enhances the resistance of anaplastic thyroid carcinoma cells to cisplatin by sponging miR‑9‑5p and regulating SPAG9 expression

Anaplastic thyroid carcinoma (ATC) has a poor prognosis due to its resistance to all conventional treatments. The long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) nuclear paraspeckle assembly transcript 1 (NEAT1) serves a critical role in cancer chemoresistance; however, whether NEAT1 is associated with chemoresistance of ATC remains unclear. In the present study, reverse transcription-quantitative PCR assays were performed to detect the expression levels of NEAT1, microRNA (miR)-9-5p and sperm-associated antigen 9 (SPAG9). Western blot analysis was conducted to assess the protein expression levels of p62, microtubule-associated proteins 1A/1B light chain 3B and SPAG9. Cell proliferation was detected using the Cell Counting kit-8 assay, and cell apoptosis was determined by flow cytometry. Dual-luciferase reporter and RNA immunoprecipitation assays were performed to verify the interaction between NEAT1 and miR-9-5p, or miR-9-5p and SPAG9. Furthermore, an animal model was used to investigate the regulatory effects of NEAT1 on cisplatin (DDP)-resistance in tumors in vivo. The present results demonstrated that NEAT1 was upregulated in ATC tissues and cell lines, and NEAT1 silencing resulted in decreased DDP-resistance of ATC cells. In addition, NEAT1 suppressed miR-9-5p expression by binding to miR-9-5p and SPAG9 was a direct target of miR-9-5p. miR-9-5p overexpression sensitized ATC cells to DDP. Notably, NEAT1 silencing exerted its inhibitory effect on DDP-resistance of ATC via the miR-9-5p/SPAG9 axis in vitro and in vivo. In conclusion, the present study demonstrated that NEAT1 silencing ameliorated DDP-resistance of ATC, at least in part by reducing miR-9-5p sponging and regulating SPAG5 expression; therefore, NEAT1 may be considered a potential therapeutic target of ATC.

Recent Advances in Understanding FOXN3 in Breast Cancer, and Other Malignancies

FOXN3 (forkhead box N3; CHES1: check point suppressor 1) belongs to the forkhead box (FOX) protein family. FOXN3 displays transcriptional inhibitory activity, and is involved in cell cycle regulation and tumorigenesis. FOXN3 is a tumor suppresser and alterations in FOXN3 are found in of a variety of cancers including melanoma, osteosarcoma, and hepatocellular carcinoma. While the roles of FOXN3 role in some cancers have been explored, its role in breast cancer remains unclear. Here we describe current state of knowledge of FOXN3 functions, and focus on its roles (known and potential) in breast cancer.

NEAT1 promotes retinoblastoma progression via modulating miR-124

The long noncoding RNA nuclear-enriched abundant transcript 1 (NEAT1) is reportedly involved in the initiation and progression of cancers of several types. However, the role, expression status, and the detailed mechanism of NEAT1 in retinoblastoma (RB) yet need to be unraveled. We explored the role and the mechanism of NEAT1 activity in RB. Our data show enhanced NEAT1 expression in RB-affected tissues compared with the corresponding control. Functional experiments reveal that a NEAT1 knockdown in RB cells significantly inhibits proliferation, cycle progression, and facilitates apoptosis and caspase-3 and -9 activities. Besides that, miR-124 was predicted to be a target of NEAT1 and its reduced expression, as well as the inverse correlation of NEAT1 with miR-124, was observed in RB-affected tissues. Further, luciferase and RNA immunoprecipitation (RIP) assays confirmed the interaction between NEAT1 and miR-124. Rescue experiments confirmed that the inhibition of miR-124 could reverse the effect of NEAT1 on RB cell proliferation, cycle arrest, apoptosis, and caspase-3 and -9 activities. Thus, NEAT1 promotes RB progression by sponging miR-124, providing a therapeutic target for RB.

Epitranscriptomic Signatures in lncRNAs and Their Possible Roles in Cancer

In contrast to the amazing exponential growth in knowledge related to long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) involved in cell homeostasis or dysregulated pathological states, little is known so far about the links between the chemical modifications occurring in lncRNAs and their function. Generally, ncRNAs are post-transcriptional regulators of gene expression, but RNA modifications occurring in lncRNAs generate an additional layer of gene expression control. Chemical modifications that have been reported in correlation with lncRNAs include m⁶A, m⁵C and pseudouridylation. Up to date, several chemically modified long non-coding transcripts have been identified and associated with different pathologies, including cancers. This review presents the current level of knowledge on the most studied cancer-related lncRNAs, such as the metastasis associated lung adenocarcinoma transcript 1 (MALAT1), the Hox transcript antisense intergenic RNA (HOTAIR), or the X-inactive specific transcript (XIST), as well as more recently discovered forms, and their potential roles in different types of cancer. Understanding how these RNA modifications occur, and the correlation between lncRNA changes in structure and function, may open up new therapeutic possibilities in cancer.