Long Noncoding RNA ZFAS1 Promotes Progression of NSCLC via Regulating of miR-590-3p

An update on the molecular mechanisms of ZFAS1 as a prognostic, diagnostic, or therapeutic biomarker in cancers

Zinc finger antisense 1 (ZFAS1), a newly discovered long noncoding RNA, is expressed in various tissues and organs and has been introduced an oncogenic gene in human malignancies. In various cancers, ZFAS1 regulates apoptosis, cell proliferation, the cell cycle, migration, translation, rRNA processing, and spliceosomal snRNP assembly; targets signaling cascades; and interacts with transcription factors via binding to key proteins and miRNAs, with conflicting findings on its effect on these processes. ZFAS1 is elevated in different types of cancer, like colorectal, colon, osteosarcoma, and gastric cancer. Considering the ZFAS1 expression pattern, it also has the potential to be a diagnostic or prognostic marker in various cancers. The current review discusses the mode of action of ZFAS1 in various human cancers and its regulation function related to chemoresistance comprehensively, as well as the potential role of ZFAS1 as an effective and noninvasive cancer-specific biomarker in tumor diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment. We expected that the current review could fill the current scientific gaps in the ZFAS1-related cancer causative mechanisms and improve available biomarkers.

TEP RNA: a new frontier for early diagnosis of NSCLC

BACKGROUND

Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is the most common type of lung cancer (LC), which is the leading cause of tumor mortality. In recent years, compared with tissue biopsy, which is the diagnostic gold standard for tumor diagnosis, Liquid biopsy (LB) is considered to be a more minimally invasive, sensitive, and safer alternative or auxiliary diagnostic method. However, the current value of LB in early diagnosis of LC is not ideal, so it is particularly important to study the changes in blood composition during the process of tumorigenesis and find more sensitive biomarkers.

PURPOSE

Platelets are a type of abundant blood cells that carry a large amount of RNA. In the LC regulatory network, activated platelets play an important role in the process of tumorigenesis, development, and metastasis. In order to identify predictive liquid biopsy biomarkers for the diagnosis of NSCLC, we summarized the development and function of platelets, the interaction between platelets and tumors, the value of TEP RNA in diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment of NSCLC, and the method for detecting TEP RNA of NSCLC in this article.

CONCLUSION

The application of platelets in the diagnosis and treatment of NSCLC remains at a nascent stage. In addition to the drawbacks of low platelet count and complex experimental processes, the diagnostic accuracy of TEP RNA-seq for cancer in different populations still needs to be improved and validated. At present, a large number of studies have confirmed significant differences in the expression of TEP RNA in platelets between NSCLC patients and healthy individuals. Continuous exploration of the diagnostic value of TEP RNA in NSCLC is of utmost importance. The integration of NSCLC platelet-related markers with other NSCLC markers can improve current tumor diagnosis and prognostic evaluation systems, providing broad prospects in tumor screening, disease monitoring, and prognosis assessment.

EPN3 plays oncogenic role in non-small cell lung cancer by activating the JAK1/2-STAT3 pathway

The effect of Epsin 3 (EPN3) on non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) has not yet been clearly elucidated. This study identified the exact function of EPN3 on NSCLC progression. EPN3 expression in NSCLC patients were analyzed based on the Cancer Genome Atlas database. Kaplan-Meier analysis was implemented to research the effect of EPN3 on patients' survival. EPN3 expression in clinical tissues of 62 NSCLC cases was monitored by real-time quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction, immunohistochemistry and Western blot. A549 and H1299 cells were transfected with EPN3 shRNA and treated by RO8191 (20 μM). Proliferation was researched by cell counting kit-8 and 5-ethnyl-2 deoxyuridine assays. Apoptosis was monitored by flow cytometry. Migration and invasion was assessed by Transwell experiment. EPN3 effect on A549 cell in vivo growth was researched using nude mice. RO8191 (200 μg) was intratumoral injected into mice. Immunohistochemistry and Western blot was implemented to monitor protein expression in cells and xenograft tumor tissues. EPN3 was abnormally up-regulated in NSCLC patients and cells, indicating a lower overall survival. Loss of EPN3 weakened proliferation, migration and invasion, induced apoptosis, and repressed epithelial-mesenchymal transition in NSCLC cells. Loss of EPN3 inactivated the JAK1/2-STAT3 pathway in NSCLC cells. RO8191 treatment reversed the inhibition of EPN3 knockdown on the malignant phenotype of NSCLC cells. RO8191 intratumoral injection reversed the suppression of EPN3 silencing on NSCLC cell in vivo growth. EPN3 acted as an oncogene in NSCLC via activating the JAK1/2-STAT3 pathway. EPN3 may be a promising target for NSCLC treatment.

Long non-coding RNAs: an overview on miRNA sponging and its co-regulation in lung cancer

Lung cancer is the most devastating cause of death among all cancers worldwide, and non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) accounts for 80% of all the lung cancer cases. Beyond common genetic research and epigenomic studies, the extraordinary investigations of non-coding RNAs have provided insights into the molecular basis of cancer. Existing evidence from various cancer models highlights that the regulation of non-coding RNAs is crucial and that their deregulation may be a common reason for the development and progression of cancer, and competition of cancer therapeutics. Non-coding RNAs, such as long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) and microRNAs (miRNAs), are increasingly recognized as potential cancer biomarkers for early detection and application of therapeutic strategies. The miRNAs have gained importance as master regulators of target mRNAs by negatively regulating their expression. The lncRNAs function as both tumor suppressors and oncogenes, and also compete with miRNAs that influence the translational inhibition processes. This review addresses the role of lncRNAs in lung cancer development, highlights their mechanisms of action, and provides an overview of the impact of lncRNAs on lung cancer survival and progression via miRNA sponging. The improved understanding of lung cancer mechanisms has opened opportunities to analyze molecular markers and their potential therapeutics.

Resveratrol regulates PINK1/Parkin-mediated mitophagy via the lncRNA ZFAS1-miR-150-5p-PINK1 axis, and enhances the antitumor activity of paclitaxel against non-small cell lung cancer

Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is a common malignant subtype of lung cancer with high mortality. Resveratrol (RSV) is a natural molecule that regulates mitochondrial metabolism. Here, we explored the effect of RSV on NSCLC cell mitophagy and paclitaxel (PTX) resistance. LncRNA ZFAS1, miR-150-5p, and PTEN-induced putative kinase 1 (PINK1) expressions in NSCLC cells were analyzed by RT-qPCR. Levels of PINK1, Parkin and autophagy related molecules LC3I and LC3II were assessed by western blot. Mitophagy was demonstrated by transmission electron microscopy. Luciferase reporter assay revealed that miR-150-5p directly interacted with ZFAS1 or PINK1. MTT was performed to test the IC50 of NSCLC cells. Cell proliferation and apoptosis were measured with CCK-8, EdU, and TUNEL assays. A549/PTX cells exhibited a higher mitophagy activity, and chemoresistance, whereas RSV suppressed PTX resistance and mitophagy in NSCLC cells. Furthermore, ZFAS1 was found to be a downstream effector of RSV in NSCLC cells. We next found ZFAS1 directly interacted with miR-150-5p and regulated the expression of a key mitophagy regulator PINK1. In addition, RSV modulated PTX resistance and mitophagy in NSCLC via ZFAS1/miR-150-5p/PINK1 axis. We validate that RSV influences mitophagy and PTX resistance in NSCLC via ZFAS1/miR-150-5p mediated PINK1/Parkin pathway. Combining these 2 drugs may be a new option of NSCLC therapy.

The miR-590-3p/CFHR3/STAT3 signaling pathway promotes cell proliferation and metastasis in hepatocellular carcinoma

Accumulating evidence has indicated that Complement factor H-related 3 (CFHR3) plays an essential role in various diseases. However, the biological functions of CFHR3 in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) remain largely unclear. Therefore, we perform a further study on CFHR3 in HCC. In this article, we report the suppressive role of CFHR3 in the proliferation and metastasis of HCC cells. CFHR3 downregulation is closely associated with large (T3-T4) HCC, tumor recurrence, and advanced (stage III-IV) clinical stage, functioning as an independent factor for the prognoses of HCC patients. Knockdown of CFHR3 promotes proliferation, migration, and invasion of HCC cells. Mechanistically, downregulation of CFHR3 is induced by miR-590-3p binding to the 3’ untranslated region (UTR) of CFHR3. CFHR3 downregulation promotes the phosphorylation of STAT3 protein, thereby suppressing p53 expression. The promotional effect upon downregulation of CFHR3 induced by CFHR3 stable knockdown or miR-590-3p on HCC cell malignant phenotypes is attenuated by STAT3 inhibitor, S3I-201. In conclusion, our results reveal that CFHR3 is a protective biomarker for HCC patients, and targeting the miR-590-3p/CFHR3/p-STAT3/p53 signaling axis provides a promising strategy for HCC therapeutics.

RHO GTPase-Related Long Noncoding RNAs in Human Cancers

RHO GTPases are critical signal transducers that regulate cell adhesion, polarity, and migration through multiple signaling pathways. While all these cellular processes are crucial for the maintenance of normal cell homeostasis, disturbances in RHO GTPase-associated signaling pathways contribute to different human diseases, including many malignancies. Several members of the RHO GTPase family are frequently upregulated in human tumors. Abnormal gene regulation confirms the pivotal role of lncRNAs as critical gene regulators, and thus, they could potentially act as oncogenes or tumor suppressors. lncRNAs most likely act as sponges for miRNAs, which are known to be dysregulated in various cancers. In this regard, the significant role of miRNAs targeting RHO GTPases supports the view that the aberrant expression of lncRNAs may reciprocally change the intensity of RHO GTPase-associated signaling pathways. In this review article, we summarize recent advances in lncRNA research, with a specific focus on their sponge effects on RHO GTPase-targeting miRNAs to crucially mediate gene expression in different cancer cell types and tissues. We will focus in particular on five members of the RHO GTPase family, including RHOA, RHOB, RHOC, RAC1, and CDC42, to illustrate the role of lncRNAs in cancer progression. A deeper understanding of the widespread dysregulation of lncRNAs is of fundamental importance for confirmation of their contribution to RHO GTPase-dependent carcinogenesis.

LncRNA ZFAS1: Role in tumorigenesis and other diseases

Residing on chromosome 20q13.13, Zinc Finger NFX1-Type Containing 1 (ZNFX1) antisense RNA 1 (ZFAS1) is a transcript which has been primarily recognized as a modulator of differentiation of alveolar and epithelial cell in the mammary gland. This long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) partakes in the molecular cascades leading to several non-neoplastic conditions such as osteoarthritis, epilepsy, rheumatoid arthritis, atherosclerosis, pulmonary fibrosis, myocardial infarction, and cardiac dysfunction. More importantly, ZFAS1 is considered as an oncogene in almost all types of cancers. Using expression amounts of ZFAS1, it is possible to forecast the clinical outcome of patients with different neoplasms such as colorectal cancer, gastric cancer, cholangiocarcinoma, hepatoblastoma, and other types of cancer. We describe the role of ZFAS1 in the development of neoplastic and non-neoplastic disorders.

SFTPA1 is a potential prognostic biomarker correlated with immune cell infiltration and response to immunotherapy in lung adenocarcinoma

Pulmonary surfactant protein A1 (SFTPA1) is a member of the C-type lectin subfamily that plays a critical role in maintaining lung tissue homeostasis and the innate immune response. SFTPA1 disruption can cause several acute or chronic lung diseases, including lung cancer. However, little research has been performed to associate SFTPA1 with immune cell infiltration and the response to immunotherapy in lung cancer. The findings of our study describe the SFTPA1 expression profile in multiple databases and was validated in BALB/c mice, human tumor tissues, and paired normal tissues using an immunohistochemistry assay. High SFTPA1 mRNA expression was associated with a favorable prognosis through a survival analysis in lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) samples from TCGA. Further GeneOntology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway enrichment analyses showed that SFTPA1 was involved in the toll-like receptor signaling pathway. An immune infiltration analysis clarified that high SFTPA1 expression was associated with an increased number of M1 macrophages, CD8⁺ T cells, memory activated CD4⁺ T cells, regulatory T cells, as well as a reduced number of M2 macrophages. Our clinical data suggest that SFTPA1 may serve as a biomarker for predicting a favorable response to immunotherapy for patients with LUAD. Collectively, our study extends the expression profile and potential regulatory pathways of SFTPA1 and may provide a potential biomarker for establishing novel preventive and therapeutic strategies for lung adenocarcinoma.

Emerging role of lncRNAs in the regulation of Rho GTPase pathway

The Ras homolog (Rho) family of small GTPases comprise several proteins with prominent roles in regulation of cell cycle transition, cell migration, and remodeling of actin cytoskeleton. Expression of these proteins is regulated by several factors among them are long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs). The impact of lncRNAs on Rho GTPases signaling can be exerted through direct modulation of expression of these proteins or influencing expression of miRNAs that negatively regulate Rho GTPases. LINC00974/miR-122/RhoA, MALAT1/miR-429/RhoA, ZFAS1/miR-3924/RhoA/ROCK2, PCAT6/miR-326/RhoA/ROCK, SMILR/miR-141/RhoA/ROCK, DAPK1/miR-182/RhoA, GAS5/miR663a/RhoB, H19/miR-15b/CDC42/PAK1, TDRG1/miR-93/RhoC, TUG1/miR-498/CDC42, UCA1/miR-18a/Cdc42 and UCA1/miR-182/Cdc42 are examples of lncRNAs/miRNAs axes that regulate Rho GTPases. In the present manuscript, we describe the role of lncRNAs on Rho GTPases.