Rapid identification of UCA1 as a very sensitive and specific unique marker for human bladder carcinoma

A meta-analysis of UCA1 accuracy in the detection of bladder cancer

INTRODUCTION

Bladder cancer (BCa) exhibits a relatively high prevalence, yet convenient tools for its early detection are lacking. Our study aims to assess the diagnostic value of Urothelial Carcinoma-Associated 1 (UCA1) in the early detection of BCa.

METHODS

Systematic searches were performed in electronic databases (PubMed, Web of Science, Science Direct, CNKI, Wanfang, and VIP) until 20 July 2023. QUADAS-2 was used for quality assessment, while Meta-DiSc 1.4 and STATA 14.0 were employed for statistical analysis.

RESULTS

A total of 1252 BCa patients and 779 controls, from 12 identified articles, were included. UCA1 showed strong discriminatory ability in BCa detection, with an overall sensitivity of 0.84 specificity of 0.91, and a 0.91 area under the curve (AUC). Strikingly, UCA1 expressed in urine and tissue exhibited higher diagnostic value (0.92 AUC) compared to that in blood (0.86 AUC). Furthermore, urine UCA1 demonstrated remarkable diagnostic performance with 91% sensitivity and 98% specificity. Deeks' funnel plot detected no substantial publication bias.

CONCLUSION

UCA1 could serve as a potential biomarker for BCa detection with good diagnostic performance. Besides, compared to UCA1 in blood, urine and tissue UCA1 exhibited higher diagnostic value. Further prospective clinical research is needed to corroborate the conclusion.

PROSPERO REGISTRATION

CRD42023463210.

The long noncoding RNA SUMO1P3 as urinary biomarker for monitoring bladder cancer progression

Introduction

Urothelial Bladder Cancer (BC) is the ninth most common cancer worldwide. It is classified into Non Muscle Invasive (NMIBC) and Muscle Invasive Bladder Cancer (MIBC), which are characterized by frequent recurrences and progression rate, respectively. The diagnosis and monitoring are obtained through invasive methods as cystoscopy and post-surgery biopsies. Thus, a panel of biomarkers able to discriminate BC based on grading or staging represents a significant step forward in the patients' workup. In this perspective, long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) are emerged as reliable candidates as potential biomarker given their specific and regulated expression. In the present work we propose two lncRNAs, the Small Ubiquitin Modifier 1 pseudogene 3 (SUMO1P3), a poorly characterized pseudogene, and the Urothelial Carcinoma Associated 1 (UCA1) as candidates to monitor the BC progression.

Methods

This study was a retrospective trial enrolling NMIBC and MIBC patients undergoing surgical intervention: the expression of the lncRNA SUMO1P3 and UCA1 was evaluated in urine from 113 subjects (cases and controls). The receiver operating characteristic curve analysis was used to evaluate the performance of single or combined biomarkers in discriminating cases from controls.

Results

SUMO1P3 and UCA1 expression in urine was able to significantly discriminate low grade NMIBC, healthy control and benign prostatic hyperplasia subjects versus high grade NMIBC and MIBC patients. We also demonstrated that miR-320a, which binds SUMO1P3, was reduced in high grade NMIBC and MIBC patients and the SUMO1P3/miR-320a ratio was used to differentiate cases versus controls, showing a statistically significant power. Finally, we provided an automated method of RNA extraction coupled to ddPCR analysis in a perspective of clinical application.

Discussion

We have shown that the lncRNA SUMO1P3 is increased in urine from patients with high grade NMIBC and MIBC and that it is likely to be good candidate to predict bladder cancer progression if used alone or in combination with UCA1 or with miRNA320a.

Deciphering a GPCR-lncrna-miRNA nexus: Identification of an aberrant therapeutic target in ovarian cancer

Ovarian cancer ranks as a leading cause of mortality among gynecological malignancies, primarily due to the lack of early diagnostic tools, effective targeted therapy, and clear understanding of disease etiology. Previous studies have identified the pivotal role of Lysophosphatidic acid (LPA)-signaling in ovarian cancer pathobiology. Our earlier transcriptomic analysis identified Urothelial Carcinoma Associated-1 (UCA1) as an LPA-stimulated long non-coding RNA (lncRNA). In this study, we elucidate the tripartite interaction between LPA-signaling, UCA1, and let-7 miRNAs in ovarian cancer progression. Results show that the elevated expression of UCA1 enhances cell proliferation, invasive migration, and therapy resistance in high-grade serous ovarian carcinoma cells, whereas silencing UCA1 reverses these oncogenic phenotypes. UCA1 expression inversely correlates with survival outcomes and therapy response in ovarian cancer clinical samples, underscoring its prognostic significance. Mechanistically, UCA1 sequesters let-7 miRNAs, effectively neutralizing their tumor-suppressive functions involving key oncogenes such as Ras and c-Myc. More significantly, intratumoral delivery of UCA1-specific siRNAs inhibits the growth of cisplatin-refractory ovarian cancer xenografts, demonstrating the therapeutic potential of targeting LPAR-UCA1-let-7 axis in ovarian cancer. Thus, our results identify LPAR-UCA1-let-7 axis as a novel avenue for targeted treatment strategies.

Research progress and applications of epigenetic biomarkers in cancer

Epigenetic changes are heritable changes in gene expression without changes in the nucleotide sequence of genes. Epigenetic changes play an important role in the development of cancer and in the process of malignancy metastasis. Previous studies have shown that abnormal epigenetic changes can be used as biomarkers for disease status and disease prediction. The reversibility and controllability of epigenetic modification changes also provide new strategies for early disease prevention and treatment. In addition, corresponding drug development has also reached the clinical stage. In this paper, we will discuss the recent progress and application status of tumor epigenetic biomarkers from three perspectives: DNA methylation, non-coding RNA, and histone modification, in order to provide new opportunities for additional tumor research and applications.

Autophagy flux in bladder cancer: Cell death crosstalk, drug and nanotherapeutics

Autophagy, a self-digestion mechanism, has emerged as a promising target in the realm of cancer therapy, particularly in bladder cancer (BCa), a urological malignancy characterized by dysregulated biological processes contributing to its progression. This highly conserved catabolic mechanism exhibits aberrant activation in pathological events, prominently featured in human cancers. The nuanced role of autophagy in cancer has been unveiled as a double-edged sword, capable of functioning as both a pro-survival and pro-death mechanism in a context-dependent manner. In BCa, dysregulation of autophagy intertwines with cell death mechanisms, wherein pro-survival autophagy impedes apoptosis and ferroptosis, while pro-death autophagy diminishes tumor cell survival. The impact of autophagy on BCa progression is multifaceted, influencing metastasis rates and engaging with the epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) mechanism. Pharmacological modulation of autophagy emerges as a viable strategy to impede BCa progression and augment cell death. Notably, the introduction of nanoparticles for targeted autophagy regulation holds promise as an innovative approach in BCa suppression. This review underscores the intricate interplay of autophagy with cell death pathways and its therapeutic implications in the nuanced landscape of bladder cancer.

Progress in long non-coding RNAs as prognostic factors of papillary thyroid carcinoma

Papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) is generally recognized as a slow-growing tumor. However, a small subset of patients may still experience relapse or metastasis shortly after therapy, leading to a poor prognosis and raising concerns about excessive medical treatment. One major challenge lies in the inadequacy of effective biomarkers for accurate risk stratification. Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs), which are closely related to malignant characteristics and poor prognosis, play a significant role in the genesis and development of PTC through various pathways. The objective of this review is to provide a comprehensive summary of the biological functions of lncRNAs in PTC, identify prognosis-relevant lncRNAs, and explore their potential mechanisms in drug resistance to BRAF kinase inhibitors, tumor dedifferentiation, and lymph node metastasis. By doing so, this review aims to offer valuable references for both basic research and the prediction of PTC prognosis.

lncRNA UCA1 promotes tumor progression by targeting SMARCD3 in cervical cancer

Long noncoding RNA urothelial carcinoma associated 1 (UCA1) has been identified as a key molecule in human cancers. However, its functional implications remain unspecified in the context of cervical cancer (CC). This research aims to identify the regulatory mechanism of UCA1 in CC. UCA1 was identified through microarray and confirmed through a quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction. Proteins that bind with UCA1 were recognized using RNA pull-down assays along with RNA immunoprecipitation. Ubiquitination assays and coimmunoprecipitation were performed to explore the molecular mechanisms of the SWI/SNF-related, matrix-associated, actin-dependent regulator of chromatin, subfamily d, member 3 (SMARCD3) downregulated in CC. The effects of UCA1 and SMARCD3 on the progression of CC were investigated through gain- and loss-of-function assays and xenograft tumor formation in vivo. In this study, UCA1 was found to be upregulated in CC cells as well as in human plasma exosomes for the first time. Functional studies indicated that UCA1 promotes CC progression. Mechanically, UCA1 downregulated the SMARCD3 protein stabilization by promoting SMARCD3 ubiquitination. Taken together, we revealed that the UCA1/SMARCD3 axis promoted CC progression, which could provide a new therapeutic target for CC.

Targeting long non-coding RNAs in cancer therapy using CRISPR-Cas9 technology: A novel paradigm for precision oncology

Cancer is the second leading cause of death worldwide, despite recent advances in its identification and management. To improve cancer patient diagnosis and care, it is necessary to identify new biomarkers and molecular targets. In recent years, long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) have surfaced as important contributors to various cellular activities, with growing proof indicating their substantial role in the genesis, development, and spread of cancer. Their unique expression profiles within specific tissues and their wide-ranging functionalities make lncRNAs excellent candidates for potential therapeutic intervention in cancer management. They are implicated in multiple hallmarks of cancer, such as uncontrolled proliferation, angiogenesis, and immune evasion. This review article explores the innovative application of CRISPR-Cas9 technology in targeting lncRNAs as a cancer therapeutic strategy. The CRISPR-Cas9 system has been widely applied in functional genomics, gene therapy, and cancer research, offering a versatile platform for lncRNA targeting. CRISPR-Cas9-mediated targeting of lncRNAs can be achieved through CRISPR interference, activation or the complete knockout of lncRNA loci. Combining CRISPR-Cas9 technology with high-throughput functional genomics makes it possible to identify lncRNAs critical for the survival of specific cancer subtypes, opening the door for tailored treatments and personalised cancer therapies. CRISPR-Cas9-mediated lncRNA targeting with other cutting-edge cancer therapies, such as immunotherapy and targeted molecular therapeutics can be used to overcome the drug resistance in cancer. The synergy of lncRNA research and CRISPR-Cas9 technology presents immense potential for individualized cancer treatment, offering renewed hope in the battle against this disease.

From carcinogenesis to therapeutic avenues: lncRNAs and mTOR crosstalk in lung cancer

Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) have been demonstrated to have a crucial function in the modulation of the activity of genes, impacting a variety of homeostatic processes involving growth, survival, movement, and genomic consistency. Certain lncRNAs' aberrant expression has been linked to carcinogenesis, tumor growth, and therapeutic resistance. They are beneficial for the management of malignancies since they can function as cancer-causing or cancer-suppressing genes and behave as screening or prognosis indicators. The modulation of the tumor microenvironment, metabolic modification, and spread have all been linked to lncRNAs in lung cancer. Recent research has indicated that lncRNAs may interact with various mTOR signalling systems to control expression in lung cancer. Furthermore, the route can affect how lncRNAs are expressed. Emphasizing the function of lncRNAs as crucial participants in the mTOR pathway, the current review intends to examine the interactions between the mTOR cascade and the advancement of lung cancer. The article will shed light on the roles and processes of a few lncRNAs associated with the development of lung cancer, as well as their therapeutic prospects.

SLED1 Promoting Cell Proliferation and Inhibiting Apoptosis in Acute Myeloid Leukemia: a Study

In this study, we aimed to explore long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) sustained low-efficiency dialysis (SLED1) correlated with Bcl-2 apoptosis pathway in acute myeloid leukemia (AML). This study further aimed to determine its role in the regulation of AML progression and its action as a potential biomarker for better prognosis. AML microarray profiles GSE97485 and probe annotation from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database from the National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI) were detected using the GEO2R tool ( http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/geo/geo2r/ ). The expression of AML was downloaded from the TCGA database ( http://cancergenome.nih.gov/ ). The statistical analysis of the database was processed with R software. Bioinformatic analysis found that lncRNA SLED1 is highly expressed in AML patients and is associated with poor prognosis. We found that the increased SLED1 expression levels in AML were significantly correlated with FAB classification, human race, and age. Our study has shown that upregulation of SLED1 promoted AML cell proliferation and inhibited cell apoptosis in vitro; RNA sequencing showed increased expression of BCL-2 and indicated that SLED1 might promote the development of AML by regulating BCL-2. Our results showed that SLED1 could promote the proliferation and inhibit the apoptosis of AML cells. SLED1 might promote the development of AML by regulating BCL-2, but the mechanism involved in the progression of AML is unclear. SLED1 plays an important role in AML progression, may be applied as a rapid and economical AML prognostic indicator to predict the survival of AML patients, and help guide experiments for potential clinical drag targets.

Apoptosis and long non-coding RNAs: Focus on their roles in Heart diseases

Heart disease is one of the principal death reasons around the world and there is a growing requirement to discover novel healing targets that have the potential to avert or manage these illnesses. On the other hand, apoptosis is a strongly controlled, cell removal procedure that has a crucial part in numerous cardiac problems, such as reperfusion injury, MI (myocardial infarction), consecutive heart failure, and inflammation of myocardium. Completely comprehending the managing procedures of cell death signaling is critical as it is the primary factor that influences patient mortality and morbidity, owing to cardiomyocyte damage. Indeed, the prevention of heart cell death appears to be a viable treatment approach for heart illnesses. According to current researches, a number of long non-coding RNAs cause the heart cells death via different methods that are embroiled in controlling the activity of transcription elements, the pathways that signals transmission within cells, small miRNAs, and the constancy of proteins. When there is too much cell death in the heart, it can cause problems like reduced blood flow, heart damage after restoring blood flow, heart disease in diabetics, and changes in the heart after reduced blood flow. Therefore, studying how lncRNAs control apoptosis could help us find new treatments for heart diseases. In this review, we present recent discoveries about how lncRNAs are involved in causing cell death in different cardiovascular diseases.

LncRNA UCA1 promotes pancreatic cancer cell migration by regulating mitochondrial dynamics via the MAPK pathway

PURPOSE

Long non-coding RNA urothelial cancer associated 1 (UCA1) serves as an oncogene in various cancers. However, the mechanism underlying the role of UCA1 in pancreatic cancer remains unclear. This study aimed to explore the role of UCA1 in pancreatic cancer.

METHODS

The expression and prognosis of UCA1 were analyzed using The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) and Genotype-Tissue Expression (GTEx) databases. The results were validated by immunohistochemistry (IHC) and qRT-PCR. The biofunctions of UCA1 were analyzed using Gene Ontology (GO), Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG), and Gene Set Enrichment Analysis (GSEA). The migration abilities and mitochondrial dynamics of PC cells were examined using the Transwell assay, mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP), and fluorescence. The mitochondrial-related protein and MAPK/ERK pathway markers were evaluated using western blotting.

RESULTS

UCA1 expression was significantly higher in pancreatic cancer tissues than in normal tissues. High UCA1 expression indicated poor clinical outcomes and was associated with clinical features in patients with pancreatic cancer. Additionally, high UCA1 expression is a potential independent marker for poor prognosis. Subsequently, we demonstrated that UCA1 enhanced the migration capability, increased MMP, enhanced mitochondrial fusion, and inhibited mitochondrial autophagy in pancreatic cancer cells via the MAPK/ERK pathway.

CONCLUSION

UCA1 promotes the migration by regulating the mitochondrial dynamics of pancreatic cancer cells via the MAPK/ERK pathway. Our findings suggest that UCA1 may serve as a potential biomarker in pancreatic cancer prognosis.

MiRNA-related metastasis in oral cancer: moving and shaking

Across the world, oral cancer is a prevalent tumor. Over the years, both its mortality and incidence have grown. Oral cancer metastasis is a complex process involving cell invasion, migration, proliferation, and egress from cancer tissue either by lymphatic vessels or blood vessels. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are essential short non-coding RNAs, which can act either as tumor suppressors or as oncogenes to control cancer development. Cancer metastasis is a multi-step process, in which miRNAs can inhibit or stimulate metastasis at all stages, including epithelial-mesenchymal transition, migration, invasion, and colonization, by targeting critical genes in these pathways. On the other hand, long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) and circular RNAs (circRNAs), two different types of non-coding RNAs, can regulate cancer metastasis by affecting gene expression through cross-talk with miRNAs. We reviewed the scientific literature (Google Scholar, Scopus, and PubMed) for the period 2000-2023 to find reports concerning miRNAs and lncRNA/circRNA-miRNA-mRNA networks, which control the spread of oral cancer cells by affecting invasion, migration, and metastasis. According to these reports, miRNAs are involved in the regulation of metastasis pathways either by directly or indirectly targeting genes associated with metastasis. Moreover, circRNAs and lncRNAs can induce or suppress oral cancer metastasis by acting as competing endogenous RNAs to inhibit the effect of miRNA suppression on specific mRNAs. Overall, non-coding RNAs (especially miRNAs) could help to create innovative therapeutic methods for the control of oral cancer metastases.

Long Non-Coding RNAs, Cell Cycle, and Human Breast Cancer

The long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) constitute an important class of the human transcriptome. The discovery of lncRNAs provided one of many unexpected results of the post-genomic era and uncovered a huge number of previously ignored transcriptional events. In recent years, lncRNAs are known to be linked with human diseases, with particular focus on cancer. Growing evidence has indicated that dysregulation of lncRNAs in breast cancer (BC) is strongly associated with the occurrence, development, and progress. Increasing numbers of lncRNAs have been found to interact with cell cycle progression and tumorigenesis in BC. The lncRNAs can exert their effect as a tumor suppressor or oncogene and regulate tumor development through direct or indirect regulation of cancer-related modulators and signaling pathways. What is more, lncRNAs are excellent candidates for promising therapeutic targets in BC due to the features of high tissue and cell-type specific expression. However, the underlying mechanisms of lncRNAs in BC still remain largely undefined. Here, we concisely summarize and sort out the current understanding of research progress in relationships of the roles for lncRNA in regulating the cell cycle. We also summarize the evidence for aberrant lncRNA expression in BC, and the potential for lncRNA to improve BC therapy is also discussed. Together, lncRNAs can be considered as exciting therapeutic candidates whose expression can be altered to impede BC progression.

HERVs and Cancer-A Comprehensive Review of the Relationship of Human Endogenous Retroviruses and Human Cancers

Genomic instability and genetic mutations can lead to exhibition of several cancer hallmarks in affected cells such as sustained proliferative signaling, evasion of growth suppression, activated invasion, deregulation of cellular energetics, and avoidance of immune destruction. Similar biological changes have been observed to be a result of pathogenic viruses and, in some cases, have been linked to virus-induced cancers. Human endogenous retroviruses (HERVs), once external pathogens, now occupy more than 8% of the human genome, representing the merge of genomic and external factors. In this review, we outline all reported effects of HERVs on cancer development and discuss the HERV targets most suitable for cancer treatments as well as ongoing clinical trials for HERV-targeting drugs. We reviewed all currently available reports of the effects of HERVs on human cancers including solid tumors, lymphomas, and leukemias. Our review highlights the central roles of HERV genes, such as gag, env, pol, np9, and rec in immune regulation, checkpoint blockade, cell differentiation, cell fusion, proliferation, metastasis, and cell transformation. In addition, we summarize the involvement of HERV long terminal repeat (LTR) regions in transcriptional regulation, creation of fusion proteins, expression of long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs), and promotion of genome instability through recombination.

The Common LncRNAs of Neuroinflammation-Related Diseases

Spatio-temporal specific long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) play important regulatory roles not only in the growth and development of the brain but also in the occurrence and development of neurologic diseases. Generally, the occurrence of neurologic diseases is accompanied by neuroinflammation. Elucidation of the regulatory mechanisms of lncRNAs on neuroinflammation is helpful for the clinical treatment of neurologic diseases. This paper focuses on recent findings on the regulatory effect of lncRNAs on neuroinflammatory diseases and selects 10 lncRNAs that have been intensively studied to analyze their mechanism action. The clinical treatment status of lncRNAs as drug targets is also reviewed. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT: Gene therapies such as clustered regularly interspaced short palindrome repeats technology, antisense RNA technology, and RNAi technology are gradually applied in clinical treatment, and the development of technology is based on a large number of basic research investigations. This paper focuses on the mechanisms of lncRNAs regulation of neuroinflammation, elucidates the beneficial or harmful effects of lncRNAs in neurosystemic diseases, and provides theoretical bases for lncRNAs as drug targets.

Emerging role of oncogenic long noncoding RNA as cancer biomarkers

The view of long noncoding RNAs as nonfunctional "garbage" has been definitely outdated by the large body of evidence indicating this class of ncRNAs as "golden junk", especially in precision oncology. Indeed, in light of their oncogenic role and the higher expression in multiple cancer types compared with paired adjacent tissues, the clinical interest for lncRNAs as diagnostic and/or prognostic biomarkers has been rapidly increasing. The emergence of large-scale sequencing technologies, their subsequent diffusion even in small research and clinical centers, the technological advances for the detection of low-copy lncRNAs in body fluids, coupled to the huge reduction of operating costs, have nowadays made possible to rapidly and comprehensively profile them in multiple tumors and large cohorts. In this review, we first summarize some relevant data about the oncogenic role of well-studied lncRNAs having a clinical relevance. Then, we focus on the description of their potential use as diagnostic/prognostic biomarkers, including an updated overview about licensed patents or clinical trials on lncRNAs in oncology.

Regulation of cisplatin resistance in bladder cancer by epigenetic mechanisms

Bladder cancer is one of the most common malignancies in the world. Cisplatin is one of the most potent and widely used anticancer drugs and has been employed in several malignancies. Cisplatin-based combination chemotherapies have become important adjuvant therapies for bladder cancer patients. Cisplatin-based treatment often results in the development of chemoresistance, leading to therapeutic failure and limiting its application and effectiveness in bladder cancer. To develop improved and more effective cancer therapy, research has been conducted to elucidate the underlying mechanism of cisplatin resistance. Epigenetic modifications have been demonstrated involved in drug resistance to chemotherapy, and epigenetic biomarkers, such as urine tumor DNA methylation assay, have been applied in patients screening or monitoring. Here, we provide a systematic description of epigenetic mechanisms, including DNA methylation, noncoding RNA regulation, m6A modification and posttranslational modifications, related to cisplatin resistance in bladder cancer.

Long Non-Coding RNA and Chemoresistance in Bladder Cancer - A Mini Review

Bladder cancer is the 10th most common cancer worldwide. It is a heterogeneous disease, comprising several tumor subtypes with differences in histology, genomic aberrations, prognosis and sensitivity to anti-cancer treatments. Although the treatment of bladder cancer is based tumor classifications and gradings, patients have different clinical response. In recent years, long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) were associated with bladder cancer chemoresistance. Thus, lncRNAs seem to be promising targets in treatment of bladder cancer. This review highlights the recent findings concerning lncRNAs and their relevance to the chemoresistance of bladder cancer. This may provide a basis for exploiting more robust therapeutic approaches in the future.

Long Non-coding RNA UCA1a Promotes Proliferation via PKM2 in Cervical Cancer

Cervical cancer is a common malignancy that affects women worldwide. The long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) urothelial cancer-associated 1a (UCA1a) is reported to be significantly upregulated in cervical cancer. However, the exact role of UCA1a in cervical cancer remains unknown. This study aimed to identify two core promoter regions in UCA1a, which are essential for CEBPA-dependent transcription and FOXL1-, FOXL4-, and FOXL6-dependent activation, respectively. RNA sequencing results showed that overexpression of UCA1a resulted in extensive changes in the gene expression profile of HeLa cells, especially in the signaling pathway that regulates tumorgenesis. Mass spectrometry assay was conducted to show that pyruvate kinase M2 (PKM2) was a UCA1a-interacting protein. The 400 ~ 800 nt long region of UCA1a at the 5' end and the A1B domain of PKM2 were critical for the UCA1a-PKM2 interaction. Functional assays were performed to show that PKM2 was sufficient and necessary for UCA1a-induced proliferation of HeLa cells, which was partly due to the regulating of nuclear translocation and stabilization of PKM2. These findings provide a novel mechanism for UCA1a to regulate Hela cells by ubiquitination degradation of PKM2 and suggest that UCA1a may play a key role in the progression of cervical cancer.

Expression, regulating mechanism and therapeutic target of KIF20A in multiple cancer

Kinesin family member 20A (KIF20A) is a member of the kinesin family. It transports chromosomes during mitosis, plays a key role in cell division. Recently, studies proved that KIF20A was highly expressed in cancer. High expression of KIF20A was correlated with poor overall survival (OS). In this review, we summarized all the cancer that highly expressed KIF20A, described the role of KIF20A in cancer. We also organized phase I and phase II clinical trials of KIF20A peptides vaccine. All results indicated that KIF20A was a promising therapeutic target for multiple cancer.

LncRNA-UCA1 regulates lung adenocarcinoma progression through competitive binding to miR-383

The present study aimed to assess the role of the long non-coding RNA-urothelial cancer associated 1 (lncRNA-UCA1)/microRNA (miR)-383/vascular endothelial growth factor A (VEGFA) axis in regulating lung adenocarcinoma physiology through in vivo and in vitro experiments. The expression profile of lncRNA-UCA1 was analyzed by genome-wide analysis from GSE146459. The cell counting Kit-8, colony formation, wound healing and transwell assays were performed to evaluate the effects of lncRNA-UCA1 in vitro. In addition, luciferase reporter assays were performed to confirm the binding site. The expression levels of miR-383 and VEGFA in tumor cells were measured using reverse transcription-quantitative PCR. HCC-78 was also transfected with miR-383 mimics, inhibitors and siRNA-VEGFA before their viability was also assessed. Xenograft models were established in nude mice to investigate the tumor characteristics in vivo. The expression of lncRNA-UCA1 was significantly increased in tumor tissues and cells compared with adjacent tissues or HBE cells. Silencing lncRNA-UCA1 expression in cells resulted in a reduction in lung cancer cell viability. In addition, lncRNA-UCA1 silencing increased the expression of miR-383. Inhibiting miR-383 expression increased HCC-78 proliferation, migration and invasion, whilst reducing their apoptosis. miR-383 was shown to specifically target VEGFA to inhibit its expression at both the protein and mRNA levels. VEGFA knockdown resulted in a reduction in all aforementioned aspects of HCC-78 cell activity. In addition, inhibiting miR-383 expression led to larger tumor sizes in vivo. To conclude, the results of the study suggest that lncRNA-UCA1 can regulate the expression of miR-383 and, in turn, VEGFA.

Long noncoding RNA UCA1 promotes the expression and function of P-glycoprotein by sponging miR-16-5p in human placental BeWo cells

Investigations on placental P-glycoprotein (P-gp) regulation could provide more therapeutic targets for individualized and safe pharmacotherapy during pregnancy. The role of long noncoding RNA (lncRNA) on placental P-gp regulation is lacking. The present study was carried out to investigate the regulation and underlying mechanisms of lncRNA urothelial carcinoma associated 1 (UCA1) on P-gp in Bewo cells. lncRNA UCA1 inhibition or overexpression could decrease or increase ABCB1 mRNA expression, P-gp expression and its cellular efflux function, respectively. RNA-FISH revealed that lncRNA UCA1 was mainly located in the cytoplasm of Bewo cells. MicroRNA array was applied and 10 significant miRNAs was identified after lncRNA UCA1 inhibition. Databases of LncTarD, LncRNA2Target, and miRcode were further used to search potential target miRNAs of lncRNA UCA1 and miR-16-5p was screened out. Thereafter, we confirmed that miR-16-5p expression was significantly upregulated or reduced after lncRNA UCA1 knockdown or overexpression, respectively. Furthermore, we also proved that ABCB1 mRNA expression, P-gp expression and its cellular efflux function was enhanced or reduced after miR-16-5p inhibition or overexpression, respectively. The rescue experiment further indicated that miR-16-5p was involved in the positive regulation of lncRNA UCA1 on the expression and function of P-gp. Lastly, dual-luciferase reporter system, RNA-binding protein immunoprecipitation and RNA pull-down assays were performed to explore the relationships among lncRNA UCA1, miR-16-5p, and ABCB1. It was found that lncRNA UCA1(1103-1125) could directly interact with miR-16-5p and miR-16-5p could directly target ABCB1 coding DNA sequence region (882-907). In conclusion, LncRNA UCA1 could promote the expression and function of P-gp by sponging miR-16-5p in BeWo cells.

Long non-coding RNA UCA1 regulates MPP+-induced neuronal damage through the miR-671-5p/KPNA4 pathway in SK-N-SH cells

Parkinson's disease (PD) is an age-related neurodegenerative disease. Long non-coding RNA urothelial carcinoma-associated 1 (UCA1) is involved in the pathogenesis of PD. However, the pathogenesis of PD regulated by UCA1 has not been fully explained. We used 1-Methyl-4-phenylpyridinium (MPP⁺)-induced SK-N-SH cells for functional analysis. Expression levels of UCA1, microRNA (miR)-671-5p, and KPNA4 (karyopherin subunit alpha 4) mRNA were detected using quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). Cell viability and apoptosis were analyzed using MTT (3-(4,5-Dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-Diphenyltetrazolium Bromide) or flow cytometry assays. Some protein levels were measured by western blotting. The levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines were tested by ELISA (enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay). The levels of LDH (lactate dehydrogenase), MDA (malondialdehyde), and SOD (superoxide dismutase) were measured using corresponding kits. The relationship between UCA1 or KPNA4 and miR-671-5p was verified by dual-luciferase reporter assay and/or RNA immunoprecipitation (RIP) assay. MPP⁺ induced UCA1 expression in SK-N-SH cells in a concentration-dependent manner or time-dependent manner. UCA1 knockdown reduced MPP⁺-induced apoptosis, inflammation, and oxidative stress in SK-N-SH cells. MiR-671-5p was downregulated while KPNA4 was upregulated in MPP⁺-treated SK-N-SH cells. UCA1 sponged miR-671-5p to regulate KPNA4 expression. MiR-671-5p inhibition counteracted UCA1 knockdown-mediated influence on apoptosis, inflammation, and oxidative stress of MPP⁺-induced SK-N-SH cells. KPNA4 overexpression offset the inhibitory influence of miR-671-5p mimic on apoptosis, inflammation, and oxidative stress of MPP⁺-treated SK-N-SH cells. UCA1 inhibition reduced MPP⁺-induced neuronal damage through the miR-671-5p/KPNA4 pathway in SK-N-SH cells, providing a novel mechanism to understand the pathogenesis of PD.

Notch-associated lncRNAs profiling circuiting epigenetic modification in colorectal cancer

Background

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is one of the most prevalent digestive cancers, ranking the 2nd cause of cancer-related fatality worldwide. The worldwide burden of CRC is predicted to rise by 60% by 2030. Environmental factors drive, first, inflammation and hence, cancer incidence increase.

Main

The Notch-signaling system is an evolutionarily conserved cascade, has role in the biological normal developmental processes as well as malignancies. Long non-coding RNAs (LncRNAs) have become major contributors in the advancement of cancer by serving as signal pathways regulators. They can control gene expression through post-translational changes, interactions with micro-RNAs or down-stream effector proteins. Recent emerging evidence has emphasized the role of lncRNAs in controlling Notch-signaling activity, regulating development of several cancers including CRC.

Conclusion

Notch-associated lncRNAs might be useful prognostic biomarkers or promising potential therapeutic targets for CRC treatment.

Therefore, here-in we will focus on the role of “Notch-associated lncRNAs in CRC” highlighting “the impact of Notch-associated lncRNAs as player for cancer induction and/or progression.”

Graphical Abstract

Non-coding RNA and hepatitis B virus-related hepatocellular carcinoma: A bibliometric analysis and systematic review

Objectives

A bibliometric analysis for non-coding RNA and hepatitis B virus (HBV)-related hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) was performed to describe international research status and visualize the research scope and emerging trends over the last two decades on this topic.

Materials and methods

Research data of non-coding RNA and HBV-related HCC were retrieved and extracted from the Web of Science Core Collection (WoSCC) database from 1 January 2003 to 13 June 2022 and then analyzed by means of bibliometric methods. A total of 1,036 articles published in this field were assessed for specific characteristics, including the year of publication, journal, author, institution, country/region, references, and keywords. VOSviewer was employed to perform co-authorship, co-occurrence, and co-citation analyses accompanied by constructing a visual network.

Results

Overall, 1,036 reports on non-coding RNA and HBV-related HCC from 2003 to 2022 were retrieved from WoSCC. The publication has gradually increased during the last two decades with 324 journals involved. Most research records (748 publications and 23,184 citations) were concentrated in China. A co-occurrence cluster analysis for the top 100 keywords was performed and four clusters were generated: (1) non-coding RNA as a molecular marker for the diagnosis and prognosis of HBV-related HCC; (2) dysregulation of non-coding RNA by hepatitis B virus X protein (HBx); (3) non-coding RNA affecting the biological behaviors of HBV-related HCC; and (4) epidemiological study for the effects of non-coding RNA on the risk of HBV-related HCC.

Conclusion

The publications and citations involved in non-coding RNA and HBV-related HCC have increased over the last two decades associated with many countries, institutions, and authors. Our study revealed current development trends, global cooperation models, basic knowledge, research hotspots, and emerging frontiers in this field.

Characteristics of culture-condition stimulated exosomes or their loaded hydrogels in comparison with other extracellular vesicles or MSC lysates

Recently, it has become popular to study the use of extracellular vesicles (EVs) secreted by stem cells to repair damaged tissues or lost cells. Various cell types and physiological fluids release EVs, and they play an important role in cell-to-cell communication. Moreover, EVs have been implicated in important processes, such as immune responses, homeostasis maintenance, coagulation, inflammation, cancer progression, angiogenesis, and antigen presentation. Thus, EVs participate in both physiological and pathological progression. The main classes of EVs include exosomes, microvesicles (MVs), and apoptotic bodies (ApoBDs). Exosomes, which carry a mass of signal molecules such as RNA, DNA, proteins, and lipids, are the most important of these EVs subsets. Currently, exosomes are generating substantial interest in the scientific community. Exosomes loaded hydrogels or under different cultural environments exhibit different properties and functions. Therefore, the exosomes obtained from different sources and conditions are worth reviewing. More importantly, no review article has compared the different EVs, such as exosomes, MVs, ApoBDs, and mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) lysates, which are special soluble substances. The differentiation between EVs and MSC lysates is a logical approach. Accordingly, this review provides an update on the latest progress in studying the roles of culture-condition stimulated exosomes or their loaded hydrogels and the differentiation between exosomes, MVs, ApoBDs, and MSC lysates. Published studies were retrieved from the PubMed® database for review.

Urinary exosomal long non-coding RNAs as noninvasive biomarkers for diagnosis of bladder cancer by RNA sequencing

Introduction

Cystoscopy is the standard methodology for diagnosis of bladder cancer (BC), but it is invasive and relatively expensive. Previous studies have found that urinary exosomal long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) may act as potential noninvasive biomarkers for diagnosis. Here we identified urinary exosomal lncRNAs that are differentially expressed between BC and controls, and established a panel for diagnosis of BC.

Methods

We performed RNA sequencing in urinary exosomes of 7 controls and 7 patients, subsequently the differentially expressed lncRNAs were detected in training cohort (50 controls and 50 patients) and validation cohort (43 controls and 43 patients). The diagnostic power of lncRNAs for BC was calculated by the area under curve (AUC). The panel for diagnosis of BC was calculated by logistic regression.

Results

The results of RNA sequencing in urinary exosomes showed that 240 upregulated lncRNAs and 275 downregulated lncRNAs were differentially expressed. The levels of MKLN1-AS, TALAM1, TTN-AS1 and UCA1 in BC patients were higher than that in controls in the training and validation cohort by real-time PCR. Using logistic regression, with the combination of these four lncRNAs and NMP22, we identified a panel of five parameters capable of classifying BC patients versus controls on the basis of the training cohort (AUC=0.850). Moreover, the performance of the panel exhibited better performance than either single parameter in the validation cohort.

Conclusion

Collectively, this study confirmed the diagnostic value of lncRNAs for BC by high-throughout urinary exosomal RNA sequencing.

Microfluidics-Based Urine Biopsy for Cancer Diagnosis: Recent Advances and Future Trends

Urine biopsy, allowing for the detection, analysis and monitoring of numerous cancer-associated urinary biomarkers to provide insights into cancer occurrence, progression and metastasis, has emerged as an attractive liquid biopsy strategy with enormous advantages over traditional tissue biopsy, such as noninvasiveness, large sample volume, and simple sampling operation. Microfluidics enables precise manipulation of fluids in a tiny chip and exhibits outstanding performance in urine biopsy owing to its minimization, low cost, high integration, high throughput and low sample consumption. Herein, we review recent advances in microfluidic techniques employed in urine biopsy for cancer detection. After briefly summarizing the major urinary biomarkers used for cancer diagnosis, we provide an overview of the typical microfluidic techniques utilized to develop urine biopsy devices. Some prospects along with the major challenges to be addressed for the future of microfluidic-based urine biopsy are also discussed.

Emerging roles of long noncoding RNAs in chemoresistance of pancreatic cancer

Pancreatic cancer is one of the most common causes of cancer death in the world due to the lack of early symptoms, metastasis occurrence and chemoresistance. Therefore, early diagnosis by detection of biomarkers, blockade of metastasis, and overcoming chemoresistance are the effective strategies to improve the survival of pancreatic cancer patients. Accumulating evidence has revealed that long noncoding RNA (lncRNA) and circular RNAs (circRNAs) play essential roles in modulating chemosensitivity in pancreatic cancer. In this review article, we will summarize the role of lncRNAs in drug resistance of pancreatic cancer cells, including HOTTIP, HOTAIR, PVT1, linc-ROR, GAS5, UCA1, DYNC2H1-4, MEG3, TUG1, HOST2, HCP5, SLC7A11-AS1 and CASC2. We also highlight the function of circRNAs, such as circHIPK3 and circ_0000284, in regulation of drug sensitivity of pancreatic cancer cells. Moreover, we describe a number of compounds, including curcumin, genistein, resveratrol, quercetin, and salinomycin, which may modulate the expression of lncRNAs and enhance chemosensitivity in pancreatic cancers. Therefore, targeting specific lncRNAs and cicrRNAs could contribute to reverse chemoresistance of pancreatic cancer cells. We hope this review might stimulate the studies of lncRNAs and cicrRNAs, and develop the new therapeutic strategy via modulating these noncoding RNAs to promote chemosensitivity of pancreatic cancer cells.

Molecular Characterization of the Tumor Microenvironment in Renal Medullary Carcinoma

Renal medullary carcinoma (RMC) is a highly aggressive disease associated with sickle hemoglobinopathies and universal loss of the tumor suppressor gene SMARCB1. RMC has a relatively low rate of incidence compared with other renal cell carcinomas (RCCs) that has hitherto made molecular profiling difficult. To probe this rare disease in detail we performed an in-depth characterization of the RMC tumor microenvironment using a combination of genomic, metabolic and single-cell RNA-sequencing experiments on tissue from a representative untreated RMC patient, complemented by retrospective analyses of archival tissue and existing published data. Our study of the tumor identifies a heterogenous population of malignant cell states originating from the thick ascending limb of the Loop of Henle within the renal medulla. Transformed RMC cells displayed the hallmarks of increased resistance to cell death by ferroptosis and proteotoxic stress driven by MYC-induced proliferative signals. Specifically, genomic characterization of RMC tumors provides substantiating evidence for the recently proposed dependence of SMARCB1-difficient cancers on proteostasis modulated by an intact CDKN2A-p53 pathway. We also provide evidence that increased cystine-mTORC-GPX4 signaling plays a role in protecting transformed RMC cells against ferroptosis. We further propose that RMC has an immune landscape comparable to that of untreated RCCs, including heterogenous expression of the immune ligand CD70 within a sub-population of tumor cells. The latter could provide an immune-modulatory role that serves as a viable candidate for therapeutic targeting.

A Necroptosis-Related lncRNA to Develop a Signature to Predict the Outcome, Immune Landscape, and Chemotherapeutic Responses in Bladder Urothelial Carcinoma

Objective

Many studies have drawn their attention to the immunotherapy of bladder urothelial carcinoma in terms of immunologic mechanisms of human body. These include immunogenicity of the tumor cells and involvement of long non-coding RNA (lncRNA). We constructed a necroptosis-related long noncoding RNA (nrlncRNA) risk factor model to predict BLCA outcomes and calculate correlations with chemosensitivity and immune infiltration.

Methods

Transcriptomic data from BLCA specimens were accessed from The Cancer Genome Atlas, and nrlncRNAs were identified by performing co-expression analysis. Univariate analysis was performed to identify differentially expressed nrlncRNA pairs. We constructed least absolute contraction and selector operation regression models and drew receiver operating characteristic curves for 1-, 3-, and 5-year survival rates. Akaike information criterion (AIC) values for survival over 1 year were determined as cutoff values in high- and low-risk subgroups. We reassessed the differences between subgroups in terms of survival, clinicopathological characteristics, chemotherapy efficacy, tumor-infiltrating immune cells, and markers of immunosuppression.

Results

We identified a total of 260 necroptosis-related lncRNA pairs, of which we incorporated 13 into the prognostic model. Areas under the curve of 1-, 3-, and 5- year survival time were 0.763, 0.836, and 0.842, respectively. We confirmed the excellent predictive performance of the risk model. Based on AIC values, we confirmed that the high-risk group was susceptible to unfavorable outcomes. The risk scores correlated with survival were age, clinical stage, grade, and tumor node metastases. The risk model was an independent predictor and demonstrated higher predictive power. The risk model can also be utilized to determine immune cell infiltration status, expression levels of immune checkpoint genes, and the sensitivity to cisplatin, doxorubicin, and methotrexate.

Conclusion

We constructed a novel necroptosis-related signature that predicts BLCA outcomes and performs satisfactorily in the immune landscape and chemotherapeutic responses.

LncRNA UCA1 epigenetically suppresses APAF1 expression to mediate the protective effect of sevoflurane against myocardial ischemia-reperfusion injury

Myocardial ischemia-reperfusion injury (MI/RI) is a leading cause of death globally. Whereas some long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) are known to participate in the progression of MI/RI, the role of urothelial carcinoma associated 1 (UCA1) in conjunction with sevoflurane treatment remains largely unknown. H9C2 cardiomyocytes were subjected to hypoxia/reoxygenation (H/R) to establish an in vitro MI/RI model, and sevoflurane was then added. Cell viability, apoptosis, SOD activity, and MDA levels were measured. Levels of inflammatory cytokines and methylation of apoptosis protease-activating factor 1 (APAF1) were determined. Interactions among lncRNA UCA1, enhancer of zeste homologue 2 (EZH2), DNA methyltransferase-1 (DNMT1), and APAF1 were analyzed. After H/R treatment, the viability of H9C2 cardiomyocytes decreased and apoptosis rate, oxidative stress factor levels, inflammatory cytokine levels, and apoptosis-related protein levels all increased. Sevoflurane treatment reversed these changes. LncRNA UCA1 knockdown attenuated the therapeutic effect of sevoflurane on H/R-treated cardiomyocytes, and silencing of APAF1 reversed this role of UCA1 knockdown. Moreover, lncRNA UCA1 recruited DNMT1 through EZH2, thus promoting methylation of the APAF1 promoter region. LncRNA UCA1 recruits DNMT1 to promote methylation of the APAF1 promoter through EZH2, thus strengthening the protective effect of sevoflurane on H/R-induced cardiomyocyte injury.

Crosstalk between lncRNAs in the apoptotic pathway and therapeutic targets in cancer

The assertion that a significant portion of the mammalian genome has not been translated and that non-coding RNA accounts for over half of polyadenylate RNA have received much attention. In recent years, increasing evidence proposes non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) as new regulators of various cellular processes, including cancer progression and nerve damage. Apoptosis is a type of programmed cell death critical for homeostasis and tissue development. Cancer cells often have inhibited apoptotic pathways. It has recently been demonstrated that up/down-regulation of various lncRNAs in certain types of tumors shapes cancer cells' response to apoptotic stimuli. This review discusses the most recent studies on lncRNAs and apoptosis in healthy and cancer cells. In addition, the role of lncRNAs as novel targets for cancer therapy is reviewed here. Finally, since it has been shown that lncRNA expression is associated with specific types of cancer, the potential for using lncRNAs as biomarkers is also discussed.

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.

Diversity of Dysregulated Long Non-Coding RNAs in HBV-Related Hepatocellular Carcinoma

Infection with the hepatitis B virus (HBV) continues to pose a major threat to public health as approximately 292 million people worldwide are currently living with the chronic form of the disease, for which treatment is non-curative. Chronic HBV infections often progress to hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) which is one of the world’s leading causes of cancer-related deaths. Although the process of hepatocarcinogenesis is multifaceted and has yet to be fully elucidated, several studies have implicated numerous long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) as contributors to the development of HCC. These host-derived lncRNAs, which are often dysregulated as a consequence of viral infection, have been shown to function as signals, decoys, guides, or scaffolds, to modulate gene expression at epigenetic, transcriptional, post-transcriptional and even post-translational levels. These lncRNAs mainly function to promote HBV replication and oncogene expression or downregulate tumor suppressors. Very few lncRNAs are known to suppress tumorigenesis and these are often downregulated in HCC. In this review, we describe the mechanisms by which lncRNA dysregulation in HBV-related HCC promotes tumorigenesis and cancer progression.

Roles of Long Non-coding RNAs in the Development of Aging-Related Neurodegenerative Diseases

Aging-related neurodegenerative diseases, including Alzheimer’s disease (AD), Parkinson’s disease (PD), Huntington’s disease (HD), and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), are gradually becoming the primary burden of society and cause significant health-care concerns. Aging is a critical independent risk factor for neurodegenerative diseases. The pathological alterations of neurodegenerative diseases are tightly associated with mitochondrial dysfunction, inflammation, and oxidative stress, which in turn stimulates the further progression of neurodegenerative diseases. Given the potential research value, lncRNAs have attracted considerable attention. LncRNAs play complex and dynamic roles in multiple signal transduction axis of neurodegeneration. Emerging evidence indicates that lncRNAs exert crucial regulatory effects in the initiation and development of aging-related neurodegenerative diseases. This review compiles the underlying pathological mechanisms of aging and related neurodegenerative diseases. Besides, we discuss the roles of lncRNAs in aging. In addition, the crosstalk and network of lncRNAs in neurodegenerative diseases are also explored.

Serum-Based lncRNA ANRIL, TUG1, UCA1, and HIT Expressions in Breast Cancer Patients

Breast cancer is a heterogeneous disease and is the most common and prevalent form of malignancy diagnosed in women. lncRNAs are found to be frequently dysregulated in cancer, and its expression plays a critical role in tumorigenesis. The study included 100 histopathologically confirmed, newly diagnosed untreated patients of invasive ductal carcinoma (IDC) of breast cancer patients and 100 healthy subjects. After blood collection, the serum was separated and total RNA was extracted, cDNA was synthesized using 100 ng of total RNA, and lncRNA (ANRIL, TUG1, UCA1, and HIT) expression was analyzed. Increased ANRIL (3.83-fold), TUG1 (7.64-fold), UCA1 (7.82-fold), and HIT (3.31-fold) expressions were observed in breast cancer patients compared to healthy controls. Relative expression of lncRNAs UCA-1 (p = 0.010) and HIT-1 (p < 0.0001) was significantly elevated in patients with advanced breast cancer stage compared to those with early-stage disease. While lncRNA TUG-1 expression was found to be higher in patients with early-stage tumors than those with advanced-stage tumors (p = 0.06), lncRNA ANRIL showed increased expression in patients with PR positive status (p = 0.04). However, we found a significant difference in lncRNA HIT expression in HER-2 positive breast cancer patients compared to HER-2 negative breast cancer patients (p = 0.005). An increase in the expression of serum lncRNAs ANRIL (p < 0.0001), UCA-1 (p = 0.004), and HIT (p < 0.0001) was observed in the distant organ metastatic breast cancer patients. In the ROC curve concerning lymph node involvement, the sensitivity and specificity of lncRNA HIT were 68% and 58%, respectively (p value = 0.007). In the ROC curve w.r.t. stages of disease, the sensitivity and specificity of lncRNA HIT were 80% and 50%, respectively (p value < 0.0001). Better sensitivity and specificity were observed for lncRNA HIT (sensitivity 91% and specificity 78%; p value < 0.0001) and ANRIL (sensitivity 70% and specificity 60%; p value < 0.0001) w.r.t distant organ metastases.

Diagnostic, prognostic and therapeutic potential of long noncoding RNAs in cancer

Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) are longer than 200 nucleotides in length and undergo splicing, capping, polyadenylation, and editing just like mRNA. Evidence is growing that they regulate transcription, splicing, RNA degradation, and translation of genes and that their expression has been linked to a variety of illnesses, including cancer. The advancement of next-generation and high-throughput sequencing has changed the way lncRNAs are identified and characterized, revealing a relationship between lncRNAs and several tumor types. Since then, they have gained a significant attraction as a promising candidate in cancer diagnosis, prognosis, and therapy. Furthermore, they are a good candidate for consideration as tumor biomarkers due to their high stability, better tissue/cell selectivity, aberrant expression in certain malignancies, and easy and noninvasive detection. In addition, lncRNAs are being examined as therapeutic targets in clinical trials for a variety of malignancies. This review highlights the potential of lncRNAs as biomarkers or therapeutic targets in light of the current progress, clinical investigations, and patents filed so far.

The UCA1 and microRNA-18a signaling pathway mediates the irisin-lowering effect of metformin in the management of polycystic ovary syndrome

INTRODUCTION

The present study aimed to clarify the underlying mechanism of metformin (met) in the management of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and to explore the role of the UCA1/microRNA-18a signaling pathway in the control of PCOS.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Real-time PCR was performed to compare the levels of irisin, blood glucose, UCA1 and miR-18a among PCOS, PCOS + Met, and control groups using area under curve (AUC) values. In-silicon analysis and luciferase assay were performed to explore the regulatory relationship among UCA1, miR-18a and irisin. Real-time PCR and Western blot analysis were carried out to detect the effect of met on the expression of UCA1, miR-18a and irisin.

RESULTS

AUC of UCA1 was the highest while AUC of irisin was the lowest. Also, irisin and UCA1 levels in the PCOS group were much higher than those in the PCOS + Met group, while miR-18a level in the PCOS group was much lower than in the PCOS + Met group. Through the luciferase assay, miR-18a was proved to directly bind to the irisin 3'UTR. Additionally, irisin was identified to be a target gene of miR-18a. Finally, treatment with met at an increasing concentration reduced the level of UCA1 and irisin but increased the level of miR-18a in a dose-dependent manner.

CONCLUSIONS

In the management of PCOS, the irisin-lowering effect of met is regulated by the UCA1/miR-18a/RhoB signaling pathway.

Tumor immune microenvironment lncRNAs

Long non-coding ribonucleic acids (RNAs) (lncRNAs) are key players in tumorigenesis and immune responses. The nature of their cell type-specific gene expression and other functional evidence support the idea that lncRNAs have distinct cellular functions in the tumor immune microenvironment (TIME). To date, the majority of lncRNA studies have heavily relied on bulk RNA-sequencing data in which various cell types contribute to an averaged signal, limiting the discovery of cell type-specific lncRNA functions. Single-cell RNA-sequencing (scRNA-seq) is a potential solution for tackling this limitation despite the lack of annotations for low abundance yet cell type-specific lncRNAs. Hence, updated annotations and further understanding of the cellular expression of lncRNAs will be necessary for characterizing cell type-specific functions of lncRNA genes in the TIME. In this review, we discuss lncRNAs that are specifically expressed in tumor and immune cells, summarize the regulatory functions of the lncRNAs at the cell type level and highlight how a scRNA-seq approach can help to study the cell type-specific functions of TIME lncRNAs.

Autophagy and gastrointestinal cancers: the behind the scenes role of long non-coding RNAs in initiation, progression, and treatment resistance

Gastrointestinal (GI) cancers comprise a heterogeneous group of complex disorders that affect different organs, including esophagus, stomach, gallbladder, liver, biliary tract, pancreas, small intestine, colon, rectum, and anus. Recently, an explosion in nucleic acid-based technologies has led to the discovery of long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) that have been found to possess unique regulatory functions. This class of RNAs is >200 nucleotides in length, and is characterized by their lack of protein coding. LncRNAs exert regulatory effects in GI cancer development by affecting different functions such as the proliferation and metastasis of cancer cells, apoptosis, glycolysis and angiogenesis. Over the past few decades, considerable evidence has revealed the important role of autophagy in both GI cancer progression and suppression. In addition, recent studies have confirmed a significant correlation between lncRNAs and the regulation of autophagy. In this review, we summarize how lncRNAs play a behind the scenes role in the pathogenesis of GI cancers through regulation of autophagy.

Stabilization of UCA1 by N6-methyladenosine RNA methylation modification promotes colorectal cancer progression

Background

UCA1 is frequently upregulated in a variety of cancers, including CRC, and it can play an oncogenic role by various mechanisms. However, how UCA1 is regulated in cancer is largely unknown. In this study, we aimed to determine whether RNA methylation at N6-methyladenosine (m6A) can impact UCA1 expression in colorectal cancer (CRC).

Methods

qRT-PCR was performed to detect the level of UCA1 and IGF2BP2 in CRC samples. CRISPR/Cas9 was employed to knockout (KO) UCA1, METTL3 and WTAP in DLD-1 and HCT-116 cells, while rescue experiments were carried out to re-express METTL3 and WTAP in KO cells. Immunoprecipitation using m6A antibody was performed to determine the m6A modification of UCA1. In vivo pulldown assays using S1m tagging combined with site-direct mutagenesis was carried out to confirm the recognition of m6A-modified UCA1 by IGF2BP2. Cell viability was measured by MTT and colony formation assays. The expression of UCA1 and IGF2BP2 in TCGA CRC database was obtained from GEPIA (http://gepia.cancer-pku.cn).

Results

Our results revealed that IGF2BP2 serves as a reader for m6A modified UCA1 and that adenosine at 1038 of UCA1 is critical to the recognition by IGF2BP2. Importantly, we showed that m6A writers, METTL3 and WTAP positively regulate UCA1 expression. Mechanically, IGF2BP2 increases the stability of m6A-modified UCA1. Clinically, IGF2BP2 is upregulated in CRC tissues compared with normal tissues.

Conclusion

These results suggest that m6A modification is an important factor contributing to upregulation of UCA1 in CRC tissues.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12935-021-02288-x.

Identification of Potential Novel Prognosis-Related Genes Through Transcriptome Sequencing, Bioinformatics Analysis, and Clinical Validation in Acute Myeloid Leukemia

Background: Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML) is a complex and heterogeneous hematologic malignancy. However, the function of prognosis-related signature genes in AML remains unclear. Methods: In the current study, transcriptome sequencing was performed on 15 clinical samples, differentially expressed RNAs were identified using R software. The potential interactions network was constructed by using the common genes between target genes of differentially expressed miRNAs with transcriptome sequencing results. Functional and pathway enrichment analysis was performed to identify candidate gene-mediated aberrant signaling pathways. Hub genes were identified by the cytohubba plugin in Cytoscape software, which then expanded the potential interactions regulatory module for hub genes. TCGA-LAML clinical data were used for the prognostic analysis of the hub genes in the regulatory network, and GVSA analysis was used to identify the immune signature of prognosis-related hub genes. qRT-PCR was used to verify the expression of hub genes in independent clinical samples. Results: We obtained 1,610 differentially expressed lncRNAs, 233 differentially expressed miRNAs, and 2,217 differentially expressed mRNAs from transcriptome sequencing. The potential interactions network is constructed by 12 lncRNAs, 25 miRNAs, and 692 mRNAs. Subsequently, a sub-network including 15 miRNAs as well as 12 lncRNAs was created based on the expanded regulatory modules of 25 key genes. The prognostic analysis results show that CCL5 and lncRNA UCA1 was a significant impact on the prognosis of AML. Besides, we found three potential interactions networks such as lncRNA UCA1/hsa-miR-16-5p/COL4A5, lncRNA UCA1/hsa-miR-16-5p/SPARC, and lncRNA SNORA27/hsa-miR-17-5p/CCL5 may play an important role in AML. Furthermore, the evaluation of the immune infiltration shows that CCL5 is positively correlated with various immune signatures, and lncRNA UCA1 is negatively correlated with the immune signatures. Finally, the result of qRT-PCR showed that CCL5 is down-regulated and lncRNA UCA1 is up-regulated in AML samples separately. Conclusions: In conclusion, we propose that CCL5 and lncRNA UCA1 could be recognized biomarkers for predicting survival prognosis based on constructing competing endogenous RNAs in AML, which will provide us novel insight into developing novel prognostic, diagnostic, and therapeutic for AML.

Long non-coding RNA UCA1 enhances cervical cancer cell proliferation and invasion by regulating microRNA-299-3p expression

The long non-coding RNA, urothelial cancer-associated 1 (UCA1) is an important regulator in several tumors. However, to the best of our knowledge, the clinical roles of UCA1 in cervical cancer remain unclear. Thus, the present study aimed to investigate the function and mechanism of UCA1 in cervical cancer. Reverse transcription-quantitative PCR analysis was performed to detect UCA1 and microRNA (miR)-299-3p expression in cervical cancer tissues and cell lines. The Cell Counting Kit-8 and Transwell assays were performed to assess cell proliferation and invasion, respectively. Furthermore, the dual-luciferase reporter assay was performed to confirm the association between UCA1 and miR-299-3p. Rescue experiments were performed to determine the mechanism of the UCA1/miR-299-3p axis. The results demonstrated that UCA1 expression was upregulated in cervical cancer tissues and cell lines. Furthermore, overexpression of UCA1 enhanced the proliferation and invasion of cervical cancer cells, the effects of which were reversed following UCA1 knockdown. Notably, UCA1 interacted with miR-299-3p and negatively regulated miR-299-3p expression. In addition, miR-299-3p expression was downregulated in cervical cancer tissues and cell lines. Overexpression of miR-299-3p suppressed the proliferation and invasion of cervical cancer cells, reversing the effects of UCA1 knockdown on cervical cancer cell proliferation. Taken together, the results of the present study suggest that UCA1 promotes cell proliferation and invasion by regulating miR-299-3p expression in cervical cancer.

Mechanistic study of lncRNA UCA1 promoting growth and cisplatin resistance in lung adenocarcinoma

Aim

This study aimed to explore the mechanism of LncRNA urothelial carcinoma-associated 1 (UCA1) promoting cisplatin resistance in lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD).

Method

The UCA1 expression level in LUAD cell lines was detected by reverse transcription‑quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT‑qPCR). We overexpressed UCA1 in A549 cells and downregulated UCA1 in A549/DDP cells by the lentivirus‑mediated technique. Subsequently, in vitro, and in vivo functional experiments were performed to investigate the functional roles of UCA1 in the growth and metastasis of LUAD cell lines. Furthermore, RNA pulldown, mass spectrometry, and RNA immunoprecipitation technique were performed to analyze various downstream target factors regulated by UCA1.

Results

The results revealed a higher UCA1 expression level in A549/DDP cells and LUAD tissues than in A549 cells and adjacent cancer tissues. UCA1 expression was significantly associated with distant metastasis, clinical stage, and survival time of patients with LUAD. UCA1 overexpression significantly increased the proliferation, invasion, clone formation, and cisplatin resistance ability and enhanced the expression levels of proliferating cell nuclear antigen and excision repair cross-complementing gene 1 in A549 cells. However, these trends were mostly reversed after the knockdown of UCA1 in A549/DDP cells. Tumorigenic assays in nude mice showed that UCA1 knockdown significantly inhibited tumor growth and reduced cisplatin resistance. Enolase 1 was the RNA-binding protein (RBP) of UCA1.

Conclusion

Based on the results, we concluded that UCA1 promoted LUAD progression and cisplatin resistance and hence could be a potential diagnostic marker and therapeutic target in patients with LUAD.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12935-021-02207-0.

Metastasis associated long noncoding RNAs in glioblastoma: Biomarkers and therapeutic targets

Glioblastoma (GBM) is the most aggressive, malignant, and therapeutically challenging Grade IV tumor of the brain. Although the possibility of distant metastasis is extremely rare, GBM is known to cause intracranial metastasis forming aggressive secondary lesions resulting in a dismal prognosis. Metastasis also plays an important role in tumor dissemination and recurrence making GBM largely incurable. Recent studies have indicated the importance of long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) in GBM metastasis. lncRNAs are a class of regulatory noncoding RNAs (>200 nt) that interact with DNA, RNA, and proteins to regulate various biological processes. This is the first comprehensive review summarizing the lncRNAs associated with GBM metastasis and the underlying molecular mechanism involved in migration/invasion. We also highlight the complex network of lncRNA/miRNA/protein that collaborate/compete to regulate metastasis-associated genes. Many of these lncRNAs also show attractive potential as diagnostic/prognostic biomarkers. Finally, we discuss various therapeutic strategies and potential applications of lncRNAs as therapeutic targets for the treatment of GBM.