Identification of biomarkers and pathways in hypertensive nephropathy based on the ceRNA regulatory network

MIR503HG: A potential diagnostic and therapeutic target in human diseases

LncRNAs are involved in many physiological and pathological processes, including chromatin remodeling, transcription, posttranscriptional gene expression, mRNA stability, translation, and posttranslational modification, and their functions depend on subcellular localization. MIR503HG is a lncRNA as well as a host gene for the miRNAs miR-503 and miR-424. MIR503HG functions independently or synergistically with miR-503. MIR503HG affects cell proliferation, invasion, metastasis, apoptosis, angiogenesis, and other biological behaviors. The mechanism of MIR503HG in disease includes interaction with protein, sponging miRNA to regulate downstream target gene, and participation in NF-κB, TGF-β, ERK/MAPK, and PI3K/AKT signaling pathways. In this review, we summarize the molecular mechanisms of MIR503HG in disease and its potential applications in diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment. We also raise some unanswered questions in this area, providing insights for future research.

Kidney diseases and long non-coding RNAs in the limelight

The most extensively and well-investigated sequences in the human genome are protein-coding genes, while large numbers of non-coding sequences exist in the human body and are even more diverse with more potential roles than coding sequences. With the unveiling of non-coding RNA research, long-stranded non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs), a class of transcripts >200 nucleotides in length primarily expressed in the nucleus and rarely in the cytoplasm, have drawn our attention. LncRNAs are involved in various levels of gene regulatory processes, including but not limited to promoter activity, epigenetics, translation and transcription efficiency, and intracellular transport. They are also dysregulated in various pathophysiological processes, especially in diseases and cancers involving genomic imprinting. In recent years, numerous studies have linked lncRNAs to the pathophysiology of various kidney diseases. This review summarizes the molecular mechanisms involved in lncRNAs, their impact on kidney diseases, and associated complications, as well as the value of lncRNAs as emerging biomarkers for the prevention and prognosis of kidney diseases, suggesting their potential as new therapeutic tools.

Overexpression of LncRNA SNHG14 as a biomarker of clinicopathological and prognosis value in human cancers: A meta-analysis and bioinformatics analysis

Background: SNGH14 is a newly discovered long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) highly associated with tumorigenesis. However, whether the level of SNHG14 is related to the prognosis of patients with different cancer types is unclear.

Methods: PubMed, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, and Embase were searched to identify eligible studies from inception to November 2021. The odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence interval (CI) were utilized to analyze dichotomous variables, while the hazard ratio (HR) and 95% CI were used for survival outcomes. We also included trial sequential analysis (TSA) to assess whether the current evidence was sufficiently conclusive. Stata 15.0 and TSA 0.9 software were used for data analyses.

Results: A total of 21 studies involving 1,080 patients, mainly from China, were included. Our results revealed that high SNHG14 expression was associated significantly with poor overall survival (OS) [HR = 1.39; 95% CI: (1.06–1.83); p = 0.017]. In addition, elevated SNHG14 expression was related to tumor size (> 3.5 cm) [OR = 1.60; 95% CI: (1.20–2.14); p = 0.001], TNM staging [OR = 0.54; 95% CI: (0.40–0.71); p < 0.001], lymph node metastasis [OR = 1.86; 95% CI: (1.35–2.55); p < 0.001], differentiation grade [OR = 1.95; 95% CI: (1.36–2.80); p < 0.001], and distant metastasis [OR = 2.44; 95% CI: (1.30–4.58); p = 0.005]. However, no significant difference was observed between age [OR = 0.98; 95% CI: (0.72–1.35); p = 0.915] and gender [OR = 0.98; 95% CI: (0.72–1.35); p = 0.915] from the enhanced expression of SNHG14.

Conclusion: The current study revealed that overexpression of SNGH14 is associated with low OS rate and clinicopathological characteristics. SNGH14 can be a novel tumor marker that aids in tumor diagnosis, thereby improving patient prognosis.

Development and Validation of Prediction Models for Hypertensive Nephropathy, the PANDORA Study

Importance

Hypertension is a leading cause of end-stage renal disease (ESRD), but currently, those at risk are poorly identified.

Objective

To develop and validate a prediction model for the development of hypertensive nephropathy (HN).

Design, Setting, and Participants

Individual data of cohorts of hypertensive patients from Kailuan, China served to derive and validate a multivariable prediction model of HN from 12, 656 individuals enrolled from January 2006 to August 2007, with a median follow-up of 6.5 years. The developed model was subsequently tested in both derivation and external validation cohorts.

Variables

Demographics, physical examination, laboratory, and comorbidity variables.

Main Outcomes and Measures

Hypertensive nephropathy was defined as hypertension with an estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) &lt; 60 ml/min/1.73 m2 and/or proteinuria.

Results

About 8.5% of patients in the derivation cohort developed HN after a median follow-up of 6.5 years that was similar in the validation cohort. Eight variables in the derivation cohort were found to contribute to the risk of HN: salt intake, diabetes mellitus, stroke, serum low-density lipoprotein, pulse pressure, age, hypertension duration, and serum uric acid. The discrimination by concordance statistics (C-statistics) was 0.785 (IQR, 0.770-0.800); the calibration slope was 1.129, the intercept was –0.117; and the overall accuracy by adjusted R2 was 0.998 with similar results in the validation cohort. A simple points scale developed from these data (0, low to 40, high) detected a low morbidity of 7% in the low-risk group (0–10 points) compared with &gt;40% in the high-risk group (&gt;20 points).

Conclusions and Relevance

A prediction model of HN over 8 years had high discrimination and calibration, but this model requires prospective evaluation in other cohorts, to confirm its potential to improve patient care.

Integrated Analysis of the CircRNA-Based ceRNA Network in Renal Fibrosis Induced by Ischemia Reperfusion Injury

Background: Circular RNAs (circRNAs), which have broad posttranscriptional regulatory potencies, are involved in the pathogenesis of fibrotic diseases and are promising diagnostic biomarkers and therapeutic targets. However, their specific roles in renal fibrosis remain elusive.

Methods: A robust unilateral renal ischemia reperfusion injury (UIRI) mouse model was established to recapitulate the pathophysiology of renal fibrosis. The expression of circRNAs, miRNAs, and mRNAs was profiled by high-throughput RNA sequencing technology.

Results: In total, 4983 circRNAs, 216 miRNAs, and 6371 mRNAs were differentially expressed in UIRI-induced fibrotic kidneys. Candidate circRNAs and miRNAs were validated by RT–qPCR in both UIRI and unilateral ureteral obstruction mouse models. Bioinformatic analysis indicated that the parental genes of the differentially expressed circRNAs were predominantly implicated in focal adhesion, adhesion junctions, and regulation of actin cytoskeleton pathways. Through circRNA-miRNA-mRNA construction, we identified two hub genes, circSlc8a1 and circApoe, that targeted a large number of differentially expressed miRNAs and mRNAs related to metabolism and cytokine–cytokine receptor pathways, respectively.

Conclusion: CircRNAs were dysregulated in the UIRI model and might be potentially involved in the pathogenesis of renal fibrosis. Research efforts should focus on unravelling the functions of aberrantly expressed circRNAs in renal fibrosis to uncover biomarkers that would enable early diagnosis and the design of prompt therapeutic interventions to prevent disease progression.

The Role of LncRNA TUG1 in Obesity-Related Diseases

With the continuous improvement of living standards, obesity has become an inevitable hotspot in our daily life. It remains a chronic and recurrent disease with serious adverse consequences. Over the past few years, several articles suggested that long non-coding RNA taurine increased gene 1（lncRNA TUG1）, a useful RNA, was suggested to show a relationship to obesity-related disease occurrence and development. Exosome is an emerging research field, which contains substances that are actively involved in regulating the molecular mechanisms of disease. This review summarizes the current relevant TUG1 in different molecular pathways of diseases related to obesity, relationship between exosomes and TUG1 or diseases related to obesity. The aim is to explore TUG1 as a novel target for obesity, which can deepen the knowledge regarding epigenetic regulation pathway. Besides, it is likely to be a potential future targeting diseases related to obesity site treatment and diagnosis.

Down-regulation of ZNF252P-AS1 alleviates ovarian cancer progression by binding miR-324-3p to downregulate LY6K

Background

Ovarian cancer is a common gynecological malignant disease in women. Our work aimed to study the specific functions of ZNF252P antisense RNA 1 (ZNF252P-AS1) in ovarian cancer.

Methods

ZNF252P-AS1, miR-324-3p, and lymphocyte antigen 6 family member K (LY6K) expression were analyzed by bioinformatics tools in ovarian cancer tissues and was quantified by qRT-PCR in ovarian cancer cells. The effect of ZNF252P-AS1 knockdown, miR-324-3p suppression, and LY6K over-expression on apoptosis, cell viability, invasion, migration, and epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT) was determined in vitro by using colony formation and EdU assays, flow cytometry, transwell assay, and Western blot. The interactions between ZNF252P-AS1 and miR-324-3p and between miR-324-3p and LY6K were validated by luciferase assays. The effects of restraining ZNF252P-AS1 in vivo were studied using BALB/c male nude mice.

Results

ZNF252P-AS1 and LY6K levels were up-regulated, while miR-324-3p was declined in ovarian cancer tissues and cells. ZNF252P-AS1 knockdown reduced ovarian cancer cell proliferation, invasion, migration, and EMT, whereas promoted its apoptosis. Besides, ZNF252P-AS1 interacted with miR-324-3p and reversely regulated its level, and miR-324-3p was directly bound to LY6K and negatively regulated its expression. Moreover, ZNF252P-AS1 knockdown reversed the effect of miR-324-3p on cancer cell apoptosis, growth, migration, invasion, and EMT. Similar results were discovered in the rescue experiments between miR-324-3p and LY6K. Additionally, mouse models in vivo experiments further validated that ZNF252P-AS1 knockdown distinctly inhibited tumor growth.

Conclusion

ZNF252P-AS1 mediated miR-324-3p/LY6K signaling to facilitate progression of ovarian cancer.