LINC00673 is activated by YY1 and promotes the proliferation of breast cancer cells via the miR-515-5p/MARK4/Hippo signaling pathway

Interaction of noncoding RNAs with hippo signaling pathway in cancer cells and cancer stem cells

The Hippo signaling pathway has a regulatory function in the organogenesis process and cellular homeostasis, switching the cascade reactions of crucial kinases acts to turn off/on the Hippo pathway, altering the downstream gene expression and thereby regulating proliferation, apoptosis, or stemness. Disruption of this pathway can lead to the occurrence of various disorders and different types of cancer. Recent findings highlight the importance of ncRNAs, such as microRNA, circular RNA, and lncRNAs, in modulating the Hippo pathway. Defects in ncRNAs can disrupt Hippo pathway balance, increasing tumor cells, tumorigenesis, and chemotherapeutic resistance. This review summarizes ncRNAs' inhibitory or stimulatory role in - Hippo pathway regulation in cancer and stem cells. Identifying the relation between ncRNAs and the components of this pathway could pave the way for developing new biomarkers in the treatment and diagnosis of cancers.

Retracted article: MicroRNA-4521 targets hepatoma up-regulated protein (HURP) to inhibit the malignant progression of breast cancer

Changwen Li, Sen Pengb, and Chuangang Tanga. MicroRNA-4521 targets hepatoma up-regulated protein (HURP) to inhibit the malignant progression of breast cancer. Bioengineered. 2021 Oct. doi: 10.1080/21655979.2021.1996016.Since publication, significant concerns have been raised about the compliance with ethical policies for human research and the integrity of the data reported in the article.When approached for an explanation, the authors provided some original data but were not able to provide all the necessary supporting information. As verifying the validity of published work is core to the scholarly record's integrity, we are retracting the article. All authors listed in this publication have been informed.We have been informed in our decision-making by our editorial policies and the COPE guidelines.The retracted article will remain online to maintain the scholarly record, but it will be digitally watermarked on each page as 'Retracted.'

The implications for urological malignancies of non-coding RNAs in the the tumor microenvironment

Urological malignancies are a major global health issue because of their complexity and the wide range of ways they affect patients. There's a growing need for in-depth research into these cancers, especially at the molecular level. Recent studies have highlighted the importance of non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) – these don't code for proteins but are crucial in controlling genes – and the tumor microenvironment (TME), which is no longer seen as just a background factor but as an active player in cancer progression. Understanding how ncRNAs and the TME interact is key for finding new ways to diagnose and predict outcomes in urological cancers, and for developing new treatments. This article reviews the basic features of ncRNAs and goes into detail about their various roles in the TME, focusing specifically on how different ncRNAs function and act in urological malignancies.

Exploring the impact of circRNAs on cancer glycolysis: Insights into tumor progression and therapeutic strategies

Cancer cells exhibit altered metabolic pathways, prominently featuring enhanced glycolytic activity to sustain their rapid growth and proliferation. Dysregulation of glycolysis is a well-established hallmark of cancer and contributes to tumor progression and resistance to therapy. Increased glycolysis supplies the energy necessary for increased proliferation and creates an acidic milieu, which in turn encourages tumor cells' infiltration, metastasis, and chemoresistance. Circular RNAs (circRNAs) have emerged as pivotal players in diverse biological processes, including cancer development and metabolic reprogramming. The interplay between circRNAs and glycolysis is explored, illuminating how circRNAs regulate key glycolysis-associated genes and enzymes, thereby influencing tumor metabolic profiles. In this overview, we highlight the mechanisms by which circRNAs regulate glycolytic enzymes and modulate glycolysis. In addition, we discuss the clinical implications of dysregulated circRNAs in cancer glycolysis, including their potential use as diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers. All in all, in this overview, we provide the most recent findings on how circRNAs operate at the molecular level to control glycolysis in various types of cancer, including hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), prostate cancer (PCa), colorectal cancer (CRC), cervical cancer (CC), glioma, non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), breast cancer, and gastric cancer (GC). In conclusion, this review provides a comprehensive overview of the significance of circRNAs in cancer glycolysis, shedding light on their intricate roles in tumor development and presenting innovative therapeutic avenues.

Glioma stem cell-derived exosomes induce the transformation of astrocytes via the miR-3065-5p/DLG2 signaling axis

Tumor-associated astrocytes (TAAs) in the glioblastoma microenvironment play an important role in tumor development and malignant progression initiated by glioma stem cells (GSCs). In the current study, normal human astrocytes (NHAs) were cultured and continuously treated with GSC-derived exosomes (GSC-EXOs) induction to explore the mechanism by which GSCs affect astrocyte remodeling. This study revealed that GSC-EXOs can induce the transformation of NHAs into TAAs, with relatively swollen cell bodies and multiple extended processes. In addition, high proliferation, elevated resistance to temozolomide (TMZ), and increased expression of TAA-related markers (TGF-β, CD44, and tenascin-C) were observed in the TAAs. Furthermore, GSC-derived exosomal miR-3065-5p could be delivered to NHAs, and miR-3065-5p levels increased significantly in TAAs, as verified by miRNA expression profile sequencing and Reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction. Overexpression of miR-3065-5p also enhanced NHA proliferation, elevated resistance to TMZ, and increased the expression levels of TAA-related markers. In addition, both GSC-EXO-induced and miR-3065-5p-overexpressing NHAs promoted tumorigenesis of GSCs in vivo. Discs Large Homolog 2 (DLG2, downregulated in glioblastoma) is a direct downstream target of miR-3065-5p in TAAs, and DLG2 overexpression could partially reverse the transformation of NHAs into TAAs. Collectively, these data demonstrate that GSC-EXOs induce the transformation of NHAs into TAAs via the miR-3065-5p/DLG2 signaling axis and that TAAs can further promote the tumorigenesis of GSCs. Thus, precisely blocking the interactions between astrocytes and GSCs via exosomes may be a novel strategy to inhibit glioblastoma development, but more in-depth mechanistic studies are still needed.

GHITM regulates malignant phenotype and sensitivity to PD-1 blockade of renal cancer cells via Notch signalling

Growth hormone inducible transmembrane protein (GHITM), one member of Bax inhibitory protein-like family, has been rarely studied, and the clinical importance and biological functions of GHITM in kidney renal clear cell carcinoma (KIRC) still remain unknown. In the present study, we found that GHITM was downregulated in KIRC. Aberrant GHITM downregulation related to clinicopathological feature and unfavourable prognosis of KIRC patients. GHITM overexpression inhibited KIRC cell proliferation, migration and invasion in vitro and in vivo. Mechanistically, GHITM overexpression could induce the downregulation of Notch1, which acts as an oncogene in KIRC. Overexpression of Notch1 effectively rescued the inhibitory effect induced by GHITM upregulation. More importantly, GHITM could regulate PD-L1 protein abundance and ectopic overexpression of GHITM enhanced the antitumour efficiency of PD-1 blockade in KIRC, which provided new insights into antitumour therapy. Furthermore, we also showed that YY1 could decrease GHITM level via binding to its promoter. Taken together, our study revealed that GHITM was a promising therapeutic target for KIRC, which could modulate malignant phenotype and sensitivity to PD-1 blockade of renal cancer cells via Notch signalling pathway.

A novel long non-coding RNA SLNCR1 promotes proliferation, migration, and invasion of melanoma via transcriptionally regulating SOX5

Steroid receptor RNA activator (SRA)-like non-coding RNA (SLNCR1) has been implicated in various tumorigenic processes, but the precise regulatory role in melanoma progression remains uncertain. We performed a comprehensive analysis to investigate the prognostic value of SLNCR1 expression in patients with melanoma by TCGA database and melanoma tissue samples via the Kaplan-Meier method. Subsequently, we conducted qRT-PCR and Fluorescence in Situ Hybridization (FISH) assays to identify SLNCR1 expression levels and localization in tissues and cells, respectively. Loss-of-function assays utilizing shRNAs vectors were used to investigate the potential impact of SLNCR1. Our data showed that SLNCR1 is significantly up-regulated in human malignant melanoma tissues and cell lines and functions as an oncogene. Silencing of SLNCR1 suppressed melanoma cell proliferation, migration, invasion, and inhibited tumorigenesis in a mouse xenograft model. Additionally, we employed bioinformatic predictive analysis, combined with dual-luciferase reporter analysis and functional rescue assays, to elucidate the mechanistic target of the SLNCR1/SOX5 axis in melanoma. Mechanistically, we discovered that SLNCR1 promotes EMT of human melanoma by targeting SOX5, as downregulation of SLNCR1 expression leads to a decrease in SOX5 protein levels and inhibits melanoma tumorigenesis. Our research offers promising insights for more precise diagnosis and treatment of human melanoma.

Participation of Long Noncoding RNA FOXP4-AS1 in the Development and Progression of Endometrioid Carcinoma with Epigenetically Silencing DUSP5

Background: Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs), as emerging regulators of a wide variety of biological processes via diverse mechanisms, have been demonstrated to be of increasing importance in biology. Genome-wide association studies of tumor samples have identified several lncRNAs as either oncogenes or tumor suppressors in various types of cancers. In recent years, the importance of lncRNAs, especially in endometrioid cancer (EEC), has become increasingly well understood. The lncRNA Forkhead box P4 antisense RNA 1 (FOXP4-AS1) has been reported to fulfill roles in several types of cancers; however, the main biological function and associated underlying molecular mechanism of FOXP4-AS1 in EEC have yet to be fully elucidated. Materials and Methods: The present study therefore aimed to investigate how RNA FOXP4-AS1 may participate in the development and progression of endometrioid carcinoma tissues. To meet this aim, in the present study, the expression level of FOXP4-AS1 was investigated in endometrioid carcinoma tissues and matching nearby normal endometrial tissues collected from patients receiving surgery at the hospital, and a series of molecular biological assays were performed to investigate the effect of FOXP4-AS1 on cell proliferation, cell migration, and cell invasion, and so on. Results: An increased concentration of FOXP4-AS1 was identified in endometrioid carcinoma samples and cell lines compared with the corresponding controls, and this lncRNA was found to be positively correlated with advanced FIGO stages in patients with endometrial cancer. Furthermore, knocking down endogenous FOXP4-AS1 led to a significant reduction in the colony formation number and a significant inhibition of cell proliferation, cell migration, and cell invasion in endometrioid carcinoma cells. Moreover, dual-specificity phosphatase 5 (DUSP5), which is lowly expressed in endometrioid carcinoma tissues cells and negatively modulated by FOXP4-AS1, was identified as the downstream target molecule of FOXP4-AS1. Subsequently, the mechanistic experiments confirmed that, through binding to enhancer of zeste homolog 2 (EZH2; one of the catalytic subunits of polycomb repressive complex 2 [PRC2]), FOXP4-AS1 could epigenetically suppress the expression of DUSP5. Finally, the oncogenic function of the FOXP4-AS1/EZH2/DUSP5 axis in endometrioid carcinoma was confirmed via rescue assays. Conclusions: The findings of the present study have highlighted how FOXP4-AS1 fulfills an oncogenic role in endometrioid carcinoma, and targeting FOXP4-AS1 and its pathway may provide new biomarkers for patients with endometrioid carcinoma.

Hippo-YAP/TAZ signaling in breast cancer: Reciprocal regulation of microRNAs and implications in precision medicine

Breast cancer is a molecularly heterogeneous disease and the most common female malignancy. In recent years, therapy approaches have evolved to accommodate molecular diversity, with a focus on more biologically based therapies to minimize negative consequences. To regulate cell fate in human breast cells, the Hippo signaling pathway has been associated with the alpha subtype of estrogen receptors. This pathway regulates tissue size, regeneration, and healing, as well as the survival of tissue-specific stem cells, proliferation, and apoptosis in a variety of organs, allowing for cell differentiation. Hippo signaling is mediated by the kinases MST1, MST2, LATS1, and LATS2, as well as the adaptor proteins SAV1 and MOB. These kinases phosphorylate the downstream effectors of the Hippo pathway, yes-associated protein (YAP), and transcriptional coactivator with PDZ-binding motif (TAZ), suppressing the expression of their downstream target genes. The Hippo signaling pathway kinase cascade plays a significant role in all cancers. Understanding the principles of this kinase cascade would prevent the occurrence of breast cancer. In recent years, small noncoding RNAs, or microRNAs, have been implicated in the development of several malignancies, including breast cancer. The interconnections between miRNAs and Hippo signaling pathway core proteins in the breast, on the other hand, remain poorly understood. In this review, we focused on highlighting the Hippo signaling system, its key parts, its importance in breast cancer, and its regulation by miRNAs and other related pathways.

YY1-induced lncRNA00511 promotes melanoma progression via the miR-150-5p/ADAM19 axis

Increasing evidence indicates that long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) are therapeutic targets and key regulators of tumors development and progression, including melanoma. Long intergenic non-protein-coding RNA 511 (LINC00511) has been demonstrated as an oncogenic molecule in breast, stomach, colorectal, and lung cancers. However, the precise role and functional mechanisms of LINC00511 in melanoma remain unknown. This study confirmed that LINC00511 was highly expressed in melanoma cells (A375 and SK-Mel-28 cells) and tissues, knockdown of LINC00511 could inhibit melanoma cell migration and invasion, as well as the growth of subcutaneous tumor xenografts in vivo. By using Chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) assay, it was demonstrated that the transcription factor Yin Yang 1 (YY1) is capable of binding to the LINC00511 promoter and enhancing its expression in cis. Further mechanistic investigation showed that LINC00511 was mainly enriched in the cytoplasm of melanoma cells and interacted directly with microRNA-150-5p (miR-150-5p). Consistently, the knockdown of miR-150-5p could recover the effects of LINC00511 knockdown on melanoma cells. Furthermore, ADAM metallopeptidase domain expression 19 (ADAM19) was identified as a downstream target of miR-150-5p, and overexpression of ADAM19 could promote melanoma cell proliferation. Rescue assays indicated that LINC00511 acted as a competing endogenous RNA (ceRNA) to sponge miR-150-5p and increase the expression of ADAM19, thereby activating the PI3K/AKT pathway. In summary, we identified LINC00511 as an oncogenic lncRNA in melanoma and defined the LINC00511/miR-150-5p/ADAM19 axis, which might be considered a potential therapeutic target and novel molecular mechanism the treatment of patients with melanoma.

Phosphorylation-dependent deubiquitinase OTUD3 regulates YY1 stability and promotes colorectal cancer progression

Yin Yang 1 (YY1) is a key transcription factor that has been implicated in the development of several malignancies. The stability of YY1 is regulated by the ubiquitin-proteasome system. The role of deubiquitinases (DUBs) and their impact on YY1 remain to be fully elucidated. In this study, we screened for ubiquitin-specific proteases that interact with YY1, and identified OTUD3 as a DUB for YY1. Over-expressed OTUD3 inhibited YY1 degradation, thereby increasing YY1 protein levels, whereas OTUD3 knockdown or knockout promoted YY1 degradation, thereby decreasing the proliferation of colorectal cancer (CRC). Furthermore, PLK1 mediates OTUD3 S326 phosphorylation, which further enhances OTUD3 binding and deubiquitination of YY1. In CRC tissues, elevated the expression level of OTUD3 and YY1 were significantly associated with poor prognostic outcomes. These findings suggest that the OTUD3-YY1 pathway has therapeutic potential in CRC, and OTUD3 plays a critical role in regulating YY1.

YY1 modulates the radiosensitivity of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma through KIF3B-mediated Hippo signaling pathway

Radiotherapy is an important strategy in the comprehensive treatment of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC). However, effectiveness of radiotherapy is still restricted by radioresistance. Herein, we aimed to understand the mechanisms underlying ESCC radioresistance, for which we looked into the potential role of YY1. YY1 was upregulated in radioresistant tissues and correlated with poor prognosis of patients with ESCC. YY1 depletion enhanced the radiosensitivity of ESCC in vitro and in vivo. Multi-group sequencing showed that downregulation of YY1 inhibited the transcriptional activity of Kinesin Family Member 3B (KIF3B), which further activated the Hippo signaling pathway by interacting with Integrin-beta1 (ITGB1). Once the Hippo pathway was activated, its main effector, Yes-associated protein 1 (YAP1), was phosphorylated in the cytoplasm and its expression reduced in the nucleus, thus enhancing the radiosensitivity by regulating its targeted genes. Our study provides new insights into the mechanisms underlying ESCC radioresistance and highlights the potential role of YY1 as a therapeutic target for ESCC.

Cross-Talks between RKIP and YY1 through a Multilevel Bioinformatics Pan-Cancer Analysis

Recent studies suggest that PEBP1 (also known as RKIP) and YY1, despite having distinct molecular functions, may interact and mutually influence each other's activity. They exhibit reciprocal control over each other's expression through regulatory loops, prompting the hypothesis that their interplay could be pivotal in cancer advancement and resistance to drugs. To delve into this interplay's functional characteristics, we conducted a comprehensive analysis using bioinformatics tools across a range of cancers. Our results confirm the association between elevated YY1 mRNA levels and varying survival outcomes in diverse tumors. Furthermore, we observed differing degrees of inhibitory or activating effects of these two genes in apoptosis, cell cycle, DNA damage, and other cancer pathways, along with correlations between their mRNA expression and immune infiltration. Additionally, YY1/PEBP1 expression and methylation displayed connections with genomic alterations across different cancer types. Notably, we uncovered links between the two genes and different indicators of immunosuppression, such as immune checkpoint blockade response and T-cell dysfunction/exclusion levels, across different patient groups. Overall, our findings underscore the significant role of the interplay between YY1 and PEBP1 in cancer progression, influencing genomic changes, tumor immunity, or the tumor microenvironment. Additionally, these two gene products appear to impact the sensitivity of anticancer drugs, opening new avenues for cancer therapy.

Role of long non-coding RNAs and TGF-β signaling in the regulation of breast cancer pathogenesis and therapeutic targets

The cytokine known as transforming growth factor (TGF) is essential for cell development, differentiation, and apoptosis in BC. TGF-β dysregulation can either promote or inhibit tumor development, and it is a key signaling pathway in BC spread. A recently identified family of ncRNAs known as lncRNAs has received a great deal of effort and is an important regulator of many cellular processes, including transcription of genes, chromatin remodeling, progression of the cell cycle, and posttranscriptional processing. Furthermore, both TGF-β signaling and lncRNAs serve as important early-stage biomarkers for BC diagnosis and prognosis and also play a significant role in BC drug resistance. According to recent studies, lncRNAs can regulate TGF-β by modulating its cofactors in BC. However, the particular functions of lncRNAs and the TGF-β pathway in controlling BC progression are not well understood yet. This review explores the lncRNAs' functional properties in BC as tumor suppressors or oncogenes in the regulation of genes, with a focus on dysregulated TGF-β signaling. Further, we emphasize the functional roles of lncRNAs and TGF-β pathway in the progression of BC to discover new treatment strategies and better comprehend the fundamental cellular pathways.

Targeting Hippo signaling in cancer: novel perspectives and therapeutic potential

As highly conserved among diverse species, Hippo signaling pathway regulates various biological processes, including development, cell proliferation, stem cell function, tissue regeneration, homeostasis, and organ size. Studies in the last two decades have provided a good framework for how these fundamental functions of Hippo signaling are tightly regulated by a network with numerous intracellular and extracellular factors. The Hippo signaling pathway, when dysregulated, may lead to a wide variety of diseases, especially cancer. There is growing evidence demonstrating that dysregulated Hippo signaling is closely associated with tumorigenesis, cancer cell invasion, and migration, as well as drug resistance. Therefore, the Hippo pathway is considered an appealing therapeutic target for the treatment of cancer. Promising novel agents targeting the Hippo signaling pathway for cancers have recently emerged. These novel agents have shown antitumor activity in multiple cancer models and demonstrated therapeutic potential for cancer treatment. However, the detailed molecular basis of the Hippo signaling-driven tumor biology remains undefined. Our review summarizes current advances in understanding the mechanisms by which Hippo signaling drives tumorigenesis and confers drug resistance. We also propose strategies for future preclinical and clinical development to target this pathway.

Long non-coding RNA MIDEAS-AS1 inhibits growth and metastasis of triple-negative breast cancer via transcriptionally activating NCALD

BACKGROUND

Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is a subtype of breast cancer with higher aggressiveness and poorer outcomes. Recently, long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) have become the crucial gene regulators in the progression of human cancers. However, the function and underlying mechanisms of lncRNAs in TNBC remains unclear.

METHODS

Based on public databases and bioinformatics analyses, the low expression of lncRNA MIDEAS-AS1 in breast cancer tissues was detected and further validated in a cohort of TNBC tissues. The effects of MIDEAS-AS1 on proliferation, migration, invasion were determined by in vitro and in vivo experiments. RNA pull-down assay and RNA immunoprecipitation (RIP) assay were carried out to reveal the interaction between MIDEAS-AS1 and MATR3. Luciferase reporter assay, Chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) and qRT-PCR were used to evaluate the regulatory effect of MIDEAS-AS1/MATR3 complex on NCALD.

RESULTS

LncRNA MIDEAS-AS1 was significantly downregulated in TNBC, which was correlated with poor overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS) in TNBC patients. MIDEAS-AS1 overexpression remarkably inhibited tumor growth and metastasis in vitro and in vivo. Mechanistically, MIDEAS-AS1 mainly located in the nucleus and interacted with the nuclear protein MATR3. Meanwhile, NCALD was selected as the downstream target, which was transcriptionally regulated by MIDEAS-AS1/MATR3 complex and further inactivated NF-κB signaling pathway. Furthermore, rescue experiment showed that the suppression of cell malignant phenotype caused by MIDEAS-AS1 overexpression could be reversed by inhibition of NCALD.

CONCLUSIONS

Collectively, our results demonstrate that MIDEAS-AS1 serves as a tumor-suppressor in TNBC through modulating MATR3/NCALD axis, and MIDEAS-AS1 may function as a prognostic biomarker for TNBC.

The Intergenic Type LncRNA (LINC RNA) Faces in Cancer with In Silico Scope and a Directed Lens to LINC00511: A Step toward ncRNA Precision

BACKGROUND

Long intergenic non-coding RNA, is one type of lncRNA, exerting various cellular activities, as does ncRNA, including the regulation of gene expression and chromatin remodeling. The abnormal expression of lincRNAs can induce or suppress carcinogenesis.

MAIN BODY

LincRNAs can regulate cancer progression through different mechanisms and are considered as potential drug targets. Genetic variations such as single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in lincRNAs may affect gene expression and messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA) stability. SNPs in lincRNAs have been found to be associated with different types of cancer, as well. Specifically, LINC00511 has been known to promote the progression of multiple malignancies such as breast cancer, colorectal cancer, lung cancer, hepatocellular carcinoma, and others, making it a promising cancer prognostic molecular marker.

CONCLUSION

LincRNAs have been proved to be associated with different cancer types through various pathways. Herein, we performed a comprehensive literature and in silico databases search listing lncRNAs, lincRNAs including LINC00511, lncRNAs' SNPs, as well as LINC00511 SNPs in different cancer types, focusing on their role in various cancer types and mechanism(s) of action.

CircFam190a: a critical positive regulator of osteoclast differentiation via enhancement of the AKT1/HSP90β complex

The identification of key regulatory factors that control osteoclastogenesis is important. Accumulating evidence indicates that circular RNAs (circRNAs) are discrete functional entities. However, the complexities of circRNA expression as well as the extent of their regulatory functions during osteoclastogenesis have yet to be revealed. Here, based on circular RNA sequencing data, we identified a circular RNA, circFam190a, as a critical regulator of osteoclast differentiation and function. During osteoclastogenesis, circFam190a is significantly upregulated. In vitro, circFam190a enhanced osteoclast formation and function. In vivo, overexpression of circFam190a induced significant bone loss, while knockdown of circFam190a prevented pathological bone loss in an ovariectomized (OVX) mouse osteoporosis model. Mechanistically, our data suggest that circFam90a enhances the binding of AKT1 and HSP90β, promoting AKT1 stability. Altogether, our findings highlight the critical role of circFam190a as a positive regulator of osteoclastogenesis, and targeting circFam190a might be a promising therapeutic strategy for treating pathological bone loss.

Circ-UBR4 regulates the proliferation, migration, inflammation, and apoptosis in ox-LDL-induced vascular smooth muscle cells via miR-515-5p/IGF2 axis

The aim of our study is to disclose the role and underlying molecular mechanisms of circular RNA ubiquitin protein ligase E3 component n-recognin 4 (circ-UBR4) in atherosclerosis (AS). Our data showed that circ-UBR4 expression was upregulated in AS patients and oxidized low-density lipoprotein (ox-LDL)-induced vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) compared with healthy volunteer and untreated VSMCs. In addition, ox-LDL stimulated proliferation, migration, and inflammation but decreased apoptosis in VSMCs, which were overturned by the inhibition of circ-UBR4. miR-515-5p was sponged by circ-UBR4, and its inhibitor reversed the inhibitory effect of circ-UBR4 knockdown on proliferation, migration, and inflammation in ox-LDL-induced VSMCs. Insulin-like growth factor2 (IGF2) was a functional target of miR-515-5p, and overexpression of IGF2 reversed the suppressive effect of miR-515-5p on ox-LDL-stimulated VSMCs proliferation, migration, and inflammation. Collectively, circ-UBR4 knockdown decreased proliferation, migration, and inflammation but stimulated apoptosis in ox-LDL-induced VSMCs by targeting the miR-515-5p/IGF2 axis.

YY1 regulates the proliferation and invasion of triple-negative breast cancer via activating PLAUR

It is well-established that breast cancer is a highly prevalent malignancy among women, emphasizing the need to investigate mechanisms underlying its pathogenesis and metastasis. In this study, the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database was utilized to conduct differential expression analysis in breast cancer and adjacent tissues. Upregulated genes were selected for prognostic analysis of breast cancer. The expression of urokinase plasminogen activator receptor (uPAR), also known as PLAUR, was assessed using RT-qPCR and western blot. Immunofluorescence staining was employed to determine PLAUR localization. Various cellular processes were analyzed, including proliferation, migration, invasion, apoptosis, and cell cycle. Bioinformatics analysis was used to predict transcription factors of PLAUR, which were subsequently validated in a double luciferase reporter gene experiment. Rescue experiments confirmed the impact of PLAUR on the proliferation, apoptosis, and migration of MDA-MB-231 cells. Furthermore, the effects of PLAUR were evaluated in an orthotopic tumor transplantation and lung metastasis nude mouse model. Our findings substantiated the critical involvement of PLAUR in the progression of triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) in vitro and among TNBC patients with a poor prognosis. Additionally, we demonstrated Yin Yang-1 (YY1) as a notable transcriptional regulator of PLAUR, whose activation could transcriptionally enhance the proliferation and invasion capabilities of TNBC cells. We also identified the downstream mechanism of PLAUR associated with PLAU, focal adhesion kinase (FAK), and AKT. Overall, these findings offer a novel perspective on PLAUR as a potential therapeutic target for TNBC.

CircGNB1 facilitates the malignant phenotype of GSCs by regulating miR-515-5p/miR-582-3p-XPR1 axis

Glioma is the most common and aggressive primary malignant brain tumor. Circular RNAs (circRNAs) and RNA-binding proteins (RBPs) have been verified to mediate diverse biological behaviors in various human cancers. Therefore, the aim of this study was to explore a novel circRNA termed circGNB1 and elucidate relative molecular mechanism in functional phenotypes, which might be a potential prognostic biomarker and therapeutic approach for glioma. CircGNB1 was upregulated in glioma and closely associated with the low poor prognosis. Functional assays demonstrated that circGNB1 overexpression promoted glioma stem cells (GSCs) viability proliferation, invasion, and neurosphere formation. Mechanistically, circGNB1 upregulated the expression of oncogene XPR1 via sponging miR-515-5p and miR-582-3p. The following experiments proved XPR1 could promote the malignant phenotype of GSCs via upregulating IL6 expression and activating JAK2/STAT3 signaling. Moreover, the RNA binding protein IGF2BP3 could bind to and maintain the stability of circGNB1, thus promoting the effects of circGNB1 on GSCs. Our study reveals that circGNB1 plays a crucial role in promoting tumorigenesis and malignant progression in glioma, which provides a promising cancer biomarker.

Targeting Transcription Factor YY1 for Cancer Treatment: Current Strategies and Future Directions

Cancer represents a significant and persistent global health burden, with its impact underscored by its prevalence and devastating consequences. Whereas numerous oncogenes could contribute to cancer development, a group of transcription factors (TFs) are overactive in the majority of tumors. Targeting these TFs may also combat the downstream oncogenes activated by the TFs, making them attractive potential targets for effective antitumor therapeutic strategy. One such TF is yin yang 1 (YY1), which plays crucial roles in the development and progression of various tumors. In preclinical studies, YY1 inhibition has shown efficacy in inhibiting tumor growth, promoting apoptosis, and sensitizing tumor cells to chemotherapy. Recent studies have also revealed the potential of combining YY1 inhibition with immunotherapy for enhanced antitumor effects. However, clinical translation of YY1-targeted therapy still faces challenges in drug specificity and delivery. This review provides an overview of YY1 biology, its role in tumor development and progression, as well as the strategies explored for YY1-targeted therapy, with a focus on their clinical implications, including those using small molecule inhibitors, RNA interference, and gene editing techniques. Finally, we discuss the challenges and current limitations of targeting YY1 and the need for further research in this area.

LncRNA SATB2-AS1 overexpression represses the development of hepatocellular carcinoma through regulating the miR-3678-3p/GRIM-19 axis

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a malignancy worldwide with one of the worst prognoses. Emerging studies have revealed that long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) contribute to HCC progression. This research probes the expression and regulatory effect of lncRNA SATB2-AS1 on HCC development. Reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) was applied to measure the SATB2-AS1 profile in HCC tissues and adjacent non-tumor tissues. The impact of SATB2-AS1, miR-3678-3p, or GRIM-19 on HCC cell proliferation, growth, migration, invasion, and apoptosis was determined by gain- and loss-of-function experiments. The results revealed that SATB2-AS1 was downregulated in HCC tissues, and its lower levels were related to higher tumor staging and poorer prognosis of HCC patients. SATB2-AS1 overexpression repressed HCC cell proliferation, induced G1 arrest, and apoptosis, and inhibited migration, invasion, and epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT). Mechanistically, SATB2-AS1 inactivated STAT3/HIF-1α and strengthened GRIM-19 expression. After knocking down GRIM-19 with small interfering RNA (siRNA), the malignant phenotypes of HCC cells were enhanced. Further bioinformatics analysis showed that miR-3678-3p was targeted by SATB2-AS1. The dual-luciferase reporter assay, RNA immunoprecipitation (RIP) experiment, and Fluorescence in situ Hybridization (FISH) test confirmed that SATB2-AS1 sponged miR-3678-3p and the latter targeted GRIM-19. The rescue experiments showed that miR-3678-3p aggravated the malignant behaviors of HCC cells, whereas SATB2-AS1 overexpression reversed miR-3678-3p-mediated effects. Inhibition STAT3 promoted SATB2-AS1 and GRIM-19 expression, and reduced miR-3678-3p level. Activation STAT3 exerted opposite effects. Overall, this study confirmed that SATB2-AS1 is a potential prognostic biomarker for HCC and regulates HCC devolvement by regulating the miR-3678-3p/GRIM-19/STAT3/HIF-1α pathway.

Novel insights into the multifaceted roles of m6A-modified LncRNAs in cancers: biological functions and therapeutic applications

N6-methyladenosine (m⁶A) is considered as the most common and important internal transcript modification in several diseases like type 2 diabetes, schizophrenia and especially cancer. As a main target of m⁶A methylation, long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) have been proved to regulate cellular processes at various levels, including epigenetic modification, transcriptional, post-transcriptional, translational and post-translational regulation. Recently, accumulating evidence suggests that m⁶A-modified lncRNAs greatly participate in the tumorigenesis of cancers. In this review, we systematically summarized the biogenesis of m⁶A-modified lncRNAs and the identified m⁶A-lncRNAs in a variety of cancers, as well as their potential diagnostic and therapeutic applications as biomarkers and therapeutic targets, hoping to shed light on the novel strategies for cancer treatment.

SIRT1 is transcriptionally repressed by YY1 and suppresses ferroptosis in rheumatoid arthritis

BACKGROUND

Sirtuin 1 (SIRT1) is reported downregulated in rheumatoid arthritis (RA), and the protective effects of SIRT1 on tissue damage and organ failure may be related to cellular ferroptosis. However, the exact mechanism by which SIRT1 regulates RA remains unclear.

METHODS

Quantitative real-time PCR (qPCR) and western blot assays were performed to explore the expressions of SIRT1 and Yin Yang 1 (YY1). CCK-8 assay was used for cytoactive detection. The interaction between SIRT1 and YY1 was validated by dual-luciferase reporter gene assay and chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP). DCFH-DA assay and iron assay were applied to detect the reactive oxygen species (ROS) and iron ion levels.

RESULTS

In the serum of RA patients, SIRT1 was downregulated, but YY1 was upregulated. In LPS-induced synoviocytes, SIRT1 could increase cell viability and decrease ROS and iron levels. Mechanistically, YY1 downregulated the expression of SIRT1 by inhibiting its transcription. YY1 overexpression partly revised the effects of SIRT1 on ferroptosis in synoviocytes.

CONCLUSION

SIRT1 is transcriptionally repressed by YY1 and inhibits the ferroptosis of synoviocytes induced by LPS, so as to relieve the pathological process of RA. Therefore, SIRT1 might be a new diagnosis and therapeutic target of RA.

The Prognostic Value of ADAMTS8 and Its Role as a Tumor Suppressor in Breast Cancer

A disintegrin-like and metalloprotease with therombospondin type1 motif 8 (ADAMTS8) plays an important role in many malignancies. However, the clinical and biological significance of ADAMTS8 in breast cancer remain unknown. In this study, the clinical data from 1066 breast cancer patients were analyzed by The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database, and were analyzed using the correlation between ADAMTS8 expression and the clinicopathological features and prognoses. The CCK-8 assay, clone formation assay, flow cytometry and Transwell assay were used to characterize the effects of ADAMTS8 on proliferation, migration and invasion of breast cancer cells. Gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA) and western blotting were used to identify the potential molecular mechanism on how ADAMTS8 exert its biological function. ADAMTS8 overexpression correlated longer overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS). ADAMTS8 was considered as an independent prognostic factor for OS. ADAMTS8 overexpression inhibited breast cancer cell proliferation, migration and invasion in vitro, and induced G2/M cell cycle arrest. ADAMTS8 was also involved in cell cycle regulation and was associated with the EGFR/Akt signaling pathway. ADAMTS8 knockdown showed the reverse effect. Together, the results showed that ADAMTS8 functioned as a tumor suppressor gene (TGS) and could be a prognostic biomarker for breast cancer.

Screening potential lncRNA biomarkers for breast cancer and colorectal cancer combining random walk and logistic matrix factorization

Breast cancer and colorectal cancer are two of the most common malignant tumors worldwide. They cause the leading causes of cancer mortality. Many researches have demonstrated that long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) have close linkages with the occurrence and development of the two cancers. Therefore, it is essential to design an effective way to identify potential lncRNA biomarkers for them. In this study, we developed a computational method (LDA-RWLMF) by integrating random walk with restart and Logistic Matrix Factorization to investigate the roles of lncRNA biomarkers in the prognosis and diagnosis of the two cancers. We first fuse disease semantic and Gaussian association profile similarities and lncRNA functional and Gaussian association profile similarities. Second, we design a negative selection algorithm to extract negative LncRNA-Disease Associations (LDA) based on random walk. Third, we develop a logistic matrix factorization model to predict possible LDAs. We compare our proposed LDA-RWLMF method with four classical LDA prediction methods, that is, LNCSIM1, LNCSIM2, ILNCSIM, and IDSSIM. The results from 5-fold cross validation on the MNDR dataset show that LDA-RWLMF computes the best AUC value of 0.9312, outperforming the above four LDA prediction methods. Finally, we rank all lncRNA biomarkers for the two cancers after determining the performance of LDA-RWLMF, respectively. We find that 48 and 50 lncRNAs have the highest association scores with breast cancer and colorectal cancer among all lncRNAs known to associate with them on the MNDR dataset, respectively. We predict that lncRNAs HULC and HAR1A could be separately potential biomarkers for breast cancer and colorectal cancer and need to biomedical experimental validation.

Roles and Mechanisms of Long Non-Coding RNAs in Breast Cancer

Breast cancer is a major health threat and the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths in women worldwide. The detailed mechanisms involved in the initiation and progression of breast cancer remain unclear. In recent years, amounting evidence indicated that long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) played crucial roles in regulating various biological processes and malignancy tumors, including breast cancer. In this review, we briefly introduce the functions and underlying mechanisms by which lncRNAs are involved in breast cancer. We summarize the roles of the lncRNAs in regulating malignant behaviors of breast cancer, such as cell proliferation, migration and invasion, epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), apoptosis, and drug resistance. Additionally, we also briefly summarize the roles of circular RNAs (circRNAs) in breast cancer carcinogenesis.

LINC00858 stabilizes RAN expression and promotes metastasis of gastric cancer

Metastasis constitutes one of the major causes of tumor-related death in gastric cancer (GC), and understanding key events in the initiation of this phenotypic switch may provide therapeutic opportunities. Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) are emerging as molecules that play vital roles in tumorigenesis and metastasis. In this study, we aimed to identify metastasis-related lncRNAs in the context of GC. The lncRNAs overexpressed in tumor tissues and positively associated with overall survival were screened out using the TCGA database. qPCR assays in clinical samples showed that LINC00858 was significantly upregulated in GC tissues compared with normal counterparts. Functional analysis suggested that LINC00858 depletion attenuated the migration, and invasion of cancer cells in vitro and suppressed the metastasis of xenografted tumors in vivo. Mechanistically, LINC00858 could interact with the metastasis-associated RAN and stabilize its protein expression by decreasing posttranslational ubiquitination. The transcription factor YY1 could bind to the promoter of LINC00858 to upregulate its expression in GC cells. Moreover, overexpression of YY1 and RAN was positively associated with upregulation of LINC00858 in GC tissues. Our results suggest that LINC00858 might play a role in GC metastasis, and be a diagnostic biomarker and potential therapeutic target.

LINC00589-dominated ceRNA networks regulate multiple chemoresistance and cancer stem cell-like properties in HER2+ breast cancer

Resistance to human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)-targeted therapy (trastuzumab), cancer stem cell (CSC)-like properties and multiple chemoresistance often concur and intersect in breast cancer, but molecular links that may serve as effective therapeutic targets remain largely unknown. Here, we identified the long noncoding RNA, LINC00589 as a key regulatory node for concurrent intervention of these processes in breast cancer cells in vitro and in vivo. We demonstrated that the expression of LINC00589 is clinically valuable as an independent prognostic factor for discriminating trastuzumab responders. Mechanistically, LINC00589 serves as a ceRNA platform that simultaneously sponges miR-100 and miR-452 and relieves their repression of tumor suppressors, including discs large homolog 5 (DLG5) and PR/SET domain 16 (PRDM16, a transcription suppressor of mucin4), thereby exerting multiple cancer inhibitory functions and counteracting drug resistance. Collectively, our results disclose two LINC00589-initiated ceRNA networks, the LINC00589-miR-100-DLG5 and LINC00589-miR-452-PRDM16- mucin4 axes, which regulate trastuzumab resistance, CSC-like properties and multiple chemoresistance of breast cancer, thus providing potential diagnostic and prognostic markers and therapeutic targets for HER2-positive breast cancer.

Association between the LINC00673 rs11655237 C> T polymorphisms with cancer risk in the Chinese population: A meta-analysis

OBJECTIVES

The present study aimed to conduct a meta-analysis of previously published studies in order to clarify the association of long noncoding RNA (lncRNAs) LINC00673 rs11655237 C> T polymorphism with cancer risk.

DESIGN

Systematic review and meta-analysis.

SETTING

Electronic databases of PubMed, EMBASE, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, Chinese National Knowledge Infrastructure, and Wanfang Database were used to search relevant studies. Studies published up to October 20, 2019 were included. The included studies were assessed in the following genetic model: allelic model, homozygote model, Heterozygote model, dominant model, recessive model. Data syntheses were conducted using STATA 12.0.

PARTICIPANTS

Participants with various types cancers were included.

PRIMARY AND SECONDARY OUTCOME MEASURES

Odds ratio (ORs) and 95% confidence interval (CIs) were calculated to assess the risk of tumor.

RESULTS

Seven articles including 7 case-control studies, 7423 cases and 11,049 controls were adopted for meta-analysis. Our result demonstrated that LINC00673 rs11655237 C> T was related to the cancer among all model including allelic model (T vs C: pooled OR = 1.24, 95% CI = 1.16-1.41, P < .001), homozygous model (TT vs CC: pooled OR=1.54, 95% CI = 1.36-1.76, P < .001), heterozygous model (CT vs CC: pooled OR=1.24, 95% CI = 1.16-1.32, P < .001), dominant model (CT + TT vs CC: pooled OR=1.28, 95% CI = 1.20-1.36, P < .001) and recessive model (TT vs CT+ CC: pooled OR=1.42, 95% CI = 1.25-1.61, P < .001). Subgroup analysis also demonstrated that polymorphisms at this site also increased the risk of neuroblastoma.

CONCLUSIONS

Our results find that rs11655237 contributed to occurrence of cancer in all models in Chinese population.

PVT1 inhibits miR-515-5p function and modulate HMGB3 to promote the growth of prostate cancer cells

AIM

This study is performed to analyze the role of long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) plasmacytoma variant translocation 1 (PVT1) in prostate cancer (PCa).

METHODS AND MATERIALS

PVT1, miR-515-5p, and high mobility group B3 (HMGB3) mRNA expressions were examined using quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) and immunohistochemistry (IHC). After gain-of-function and loss-of-function models were established, the changes in cell proliferation, migration, and invasion were evaluated using cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8) assay, 5-Ethynyl-2'-deoxyuridine (EdU) assay, and Transwell experiments. Validation of the targeting relationships between PVT1 and miR-515-5p, and between miR-515-5p and HMGB3 was conducted using bioinformatics prediction, dual-luciferase reporter assay, and RNA immunoprecipitation (RIP) experiment. Moreover, the effects of PVT1 and miR-515-5p on HMGB3 protein expression were examined using Western blot.

RESULTS

PVT1 expression and HMGB3 expression were up-regulated in PCa tissues and cell lines while miR-515-5p expression was down-regulated. PVT1 knockdown restrained the proliferation, migration, and invasion of LNCaP and DU145 cells in vitro, and the transfection with miR-515-5p inhibitors reversed these effects. Mechanistically, PVT1 could repress the function of miR-515; HMGB3 was proved to be a target gene of miR-515-5p, and its expression could be indirectly positively modulated by PVT1.

CONCLUSION

PVT1 accelerates PCa progression by repress miR-515-5p's function to upregulate HMGB3 expression. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

Function of the Long Noncoding RNAs in Hepatocellular Carcinoma: Classification, Molecular Mechanisms, and Significant Therapeutic Potentials

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the most common and serious type of primary liver cancer. HCC patients have a high death rate and poor prognosis due to the lack of clear signs and inadequate treatment interventions. However, the molecular pathways that underpin HCC pathogenesis remain unclear. Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs), a new type of RNAs, have been found to play important roles in HCC. LncRNAs have the ability to influence gene expression and protein activity. Dysregulation of lncRNAs has been linked to a growing number of liver disorders, including HCC. As a result, improved understanding of lncRNAs could lead to new insights into HCC etiology, as well as new approaches for the early detection and treatment of HCC. The latest results with respect to the role of lncRNAs in controlling multiple pathways of HCC were summarized in this study. The processes by which lncRNAs influence HCC advancement by interacting with chromatin, RNAs, and proteins at the epigenetic, transcriptional, and post-transcriptional levels were examined. This critical review also highlights recent breakthroughs in lncRNA signaling pathways in HCC progression, shedding light on the potential applications of lncRNAs for HCC diagnosis and therapy.

Microtubule-affinity regulating kinase 4: A potential drug target for cancer therapy

The human genome encodes more than 500 protein kinases that work by transferring the γ-phosphate group from ATP to serine, threonine, or tyrosine (Ser/Thr/Tyr) residues. Various kinases are associated with the onset of cancer and its further progression. The recent advancements in developing small-molecule kinase inhibitors to treat different cancer types have shown noticeable results in clinical therapies. Microtubule-affinity regulating kinase 4 (MARK-4) is a Ser/Thr protein kinase that relates structurally to AMPK/Snf1 subfamily of the CaMK kinases. The protein kinase modulates major signalling pathways such as NF-κB, mTOR and the Hippo-signalling pathway. MARK4 is associated with various cancer types due to its important role in regulating microtubule dynamics and subsequent cell division. Aberrant expression of MARK4 is linked with several pathologies such as cancer, Alzheimer's disease, obesity, etc. This review provides detailed information on structural aspects of MARK4 and its role in various signalling pathways related to cancer. Several therapeutic molecules were designed to inhibit the MARK4 activity from controlling associated diseases. The review further highlights kinase-targeted drug discovery and development in oncology and cancer therapies. Finally, we summarize the latest findings regarding the role of MARK4 in cancer, diabetes, and neurodegenerative disease path to provide a solid rationale for future investigation and therapeutic intervention.

YY1 PROMOTES MICROGLIA M2 POLARIZATION THROUGH THE MIR-130A-3P/TREM-2 AXIS TO ALLEVIATE SEPSIS-ASSOCIATED ENCEPHALOPATHY

ABSTRACT

Purpose: Sepsis-associated encephalopathy (SAE) induces cognitive dysfunction via mechanisms that commonly involve neuroinflammation. Yin Yang 1 (YY1) is an important transcription factor that acts as a key role in sepsis and neuroepithelium development. However, the function of YY1 in SAE remains unclear. Our study aimed to probe the intrinsic and concrete molecular mechanism of YY1 in SAE. Methods: SAE cell model and SAE animal model were constructed by lipopolysaccharide (LPS) treatment and cecal ligation and puncture surgery, respectively. Behavioral tests were performed to analyze the cognitive function. The polarization state of mouse microglia (BV-2 cells) was assessed by flow cytometry assay. The mRNA and protein expressions were assessed by qRT-PCR and western blot. Finally, the binding relationships between YY1, miR-130a-3p, andTREM-2were verified by dual luciferase reporter gene assay and/or ChIP assay. Results: Here our results described that YY1 and TREM-2 were downregulated and miR-130a-3p was upregulated in SAE. YY1 overexpression could promote M2 polarization of microglia, and alleviate neuroinflammation and behavioral deficits in vitro and in vivo. YY1 could inhibit miR-130a-3p promoter activity. As expected, miR-130a-3p overexpression abolished the effects of YY1 overexpression on LPS-treated BV-2 cells. Besides, TREM-2 was identified as the target of miR-130a-3p. TREM-2 silencing could reverse the effects of miR-130a-3p inhibition on LPS-treated BV-2 cells. Conclusion: Taken together, YY1 promoted microglia M2 polarization via upregulating TREM-2 by interacting with miR-130a-3p promoter, suggesting YY1 overexpression might be a novel therapeutic strategy of SAE.

Long non-coding RNA LBX2-AS1 predicts poor survival of colon cancer patients and promotes its progression via regulating miR-627-5p/RAC1/PI3K/AKT pathway

Colon cancer is one of the most prevalent malignant tumors across the world. Increasing studies have demonstrated that long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) take part in colon cancer development. Our study intends to explore the expression characteristics of LBX2-AS1, a novel lncRNA, in colon cancer and its underlying mechanisms. The results illustrated that LBX2-AS1 level was substantially increased in colon cancer tissues and was obviously correlated with the tumor volume and early distant metastasis of patients. Besides, overexpression of LBX2-AS1 remarkably boosted growth, proliferation, and metastasis and restrained apoptosis in colon cancer cells, whereas LBX2-AS1 knockdown produced the opposite effect. On the other hand, miR-627-5p, down-regulated in colon cancer tissues, was negatively associated with LBX2-AS1 expression. Functional experiments showed that miR-627-5p suppressed colon cancer growth. Mechanistically, LBX2-AS1, as an endogenous competitive RNA, targeted miR-627-5p and restrained its expression, while miR-627-5p targeted and negatively regulated the RAC1/PI3K/AKT axis. Collectively, this study has revealed that LBX2-AS1 is a poor prognostic factor of colon cancer and can regulate colon cancer progression by regulating the miR-627-5p/RAC1/PI3K/AKT pathway.

Identification of the regulatory role of the circ_0004788/miR-515-5p/FGF2 network in nasopharyngeal carcinoma development

BACKGROUND

CircularRNAs (circRNAs) played vital roles in nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC). However, the impacts of circ_0004788 on the development of NPC have not been explored.

METHODS

Cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8), 5-Ethynyl-2'-deoxyuridine (EdU) and colony formation assays were applied to determine cell proliferation. Wound healing, transwell invasion assay, tube formation assay, and flow cytometry were employed for the detection of cell migration, invasion, angiogenesis, and apoptosis, respectively. Xenograft tumor experiment was used to explore the biological role of circ_0004788 in NPC in vivo.

RESULTS

Circ_0004788 and fibroblast growth factor 2 (FGF2) were significantly elevated, and microRNA-515-5p (miR-515-5p) was dramatically decreased in NPC tissues and cells. The impacts of circ_0004788 knockdown on cell progression in NPC cells were reversed by miR-515-5p inhibitor, and FGF2 overexpression could block the suppressive effect of miR-515-5p on cell progression in NPC cells.

CONCLUSION

Circ_0004788 knockdown restrained the progression of NPC via the miR-515-5p/FGF2 axis.

YY1 accelerates oral squamous cell carcinoma progression through long non-coding RNA Kcnq1ot1/microRNA-506-3p/SYPL1 axis

OBJECTIVE

Ying Yang1 (YY1) has already been discussed in oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC), but the knowledge about its mediation on long non-coding RNA KCNQ1 overlapping transcript 1/microRNA-506-3p/synaptophysin like 1 (Kcnq1ot/miR-506-3p/SYPL1) axis in OSCC is still in its infancy. Hence, this article aims to explain the mechanism of YY1/Kcnq1ot1/miR-506-3p/SYPL1 axis in OSCC development.

METHODS

YY1, Kcnq1ot1, miR-506-3p and SYPL1 expression levels were determined in OSCC tissues. The potential relation among YY1, Kcnq1ot1, miR-506-3p and SYPL1 was explored. Cell progression was observed to figure out the actions of depleted YY1, Kcnq1ot1 and SYPL1 and restored miR-506-3p in OSCC. OSCC tumorigenic ability in mice was examined.

RESULTS

Elevated YY1, Kcnq1ot1 and SYPL1 and reduced miR-506-3p were manifested in OSCC. YY1 promoted Kcnq1ot1 transcription and up-regulated Kcnq1ot1 expression, thereby promoting OSCC cell procession. Silencing Kcnq1ot1 or elevating miR-506-3p delayed OSCC cell progression and silencing Kcnq1ot1 impeded tumorigenic ability of OSCC cells in mice. YY1-mediated Kcnq1ot1 sponged miR-506-3p to target SYPL1.

CONCLUSION

YY1 promotes OSCC cell progression via up-regulating Kcnq1ot1 to sponge miR-506-3p to elevate SYPL1, guiding a novel way to treat OSCC.

Impact of Long Noncoding RNA LINC00673 Genetic Variants on Susceptibility to Diabetic Retinopathy

Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) have been proven to play critical roles in diabetic retinopathy (DR). This study investigated whether the single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) of long intergenic noncoding RNA 00673 (LINC00673) affects the clinical characteristics of diabetic retinopathy (DR). A total of three loci of LINC00673 SNPs (rs6501551, rs9914618, and rs11655237) were genotyped using TaqMan allelic discrimination in 276 and 454 individuals with and without DR, respectively. Our results revealed that LINC00673 SNP rs11655237 CT genotype (AOR: 1.592, 95% CI: 1.059–2.395, p = 0.026), CT + TT genotype (AOR: 1.255, 95% CI: 1.029–1.531, p = 0.025), and allele T (AOR: 1.185, 95% CI: 1.004–1.397, p = 0.044) yielded higher ratios in the non-proliferative diabetic retinopathy (NPDR) subgroup than in the non-DR group. Furthermore, the interval of diabetes mellitus (DM) was significantly shorter in the LINC00673 SNP rs11655237 CT + TT variant than that in the LINC00673 SNP rs11655237 wild type (10.44 ± 7.10 vs. 12.98 ± 8.34, p = 0.009). In conclusion, the LINC00673 SNP rs11655237 T allele is associated with a higher probability of NPDR development. Patients with the LINC00673 SNP rs11655237 CT + TT variant exhibited a short DM interval.

Yin Yang 1-induced activation of LINC01133 facilitates the progression of pancreatic cancer by sponging miR-199b-5p to upregulate myelin regulatory factor expression

Increasing evidence has reported that long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) plays a vital role in the development of pancreatic cancer (PC). However, the function and mechanism of LINC01133 in PC tumorigenesis are still unknown. Herein, we found that LINC01133 was highly expressed in PC tissues and cell lines, and LINC01133 knockdown could block the growth and metastasis of PC cells. Besides, upregulated LINC01133 in PC cells was induced by Yin Yang 1 (YY1). Furthermore, LINC01133 directly targeted miR-199b-5p and promoted cancer malignancy by suppressing miR-199b-5p. It was also discovered that myelin regulatory factor (MYRF) was targeted by miR-199b-5p and positively correlated with LINC01133 expression in PC, and LINC01133 modulated PC progression through miR-199b-5p/MYRF pathway. In conclusion, we demonstrated that YY1-mediated the upregulation of LINC0113 increased MYRF expression by sponging miR-199b-5p, resulting in the accelerated development of PC. These findings might offer a novel insight into the development of efficient therapeutics for PC patients.

LncRNA MNX1-AS1: A novel oncogenic propellant in cancers

To date, recent studies have shown that long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) are key players in gene regulation processes involved in cancer pathogenesis. In general, Motor neuron and pancreas homeobox 1-antisense RNA1 (MNX1-AS1) is highly expressed in all cancers as reported so far and exerts oncogenic effects through different mechanisms. In this review, we comprehensively summarize the detailed mechanisms of potential functions of MNX1-AS1 in different cancer types as well as the latest knowledge highlighting the potential of MNX1-AS1 as a therapeutic target for cancer. Aberrant expression of MNX1-AS1 closely correlates with clinicopathological parameters. such as lymphatic metastasis, tumor size, tumor stage, OS and DFS. Thus, MNX1-AS1 can be used as a diagnostic and prognostic biomarker or even a therapeutic prognostic target. This article reviews its function, molecular mechanism and clinical prognosis in various malignancies.

YY1 as a promoter regulating the circ_0001946/miR-671-5p/EGFR axis to promote chemotherapy resistance in breast cancer cells

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the mechanism of circ_0001946 activated by transcription factor Yin Yang 1 (YY1), targeting miR-671-5p to regulate epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) and thereby participating in the chemotherapy resistance of breast cancer (BC) cells.

METHODS

Circ_0001946, which is differentially expressed in BC, was screened using gene expression omnibus. Dual luciferase assay and RNA immunoprecipitation were conducted to verify the relationship among circ_0001946/miR-671-5p/EGFR. A ChIP test confirmed that YY1 can be used as a transcription factor of circ_0001946 to specifically bind to its promoter. The expression of circ_0001946/miR-671-5p/EGFR regulatory axis in BC tissues and cell lines were evaluated using qRT-PCR. As for in vitro experiments, tamoxifen was used to establish a drug-resistant BC cell model. The effects of the regulatory axis on the proliferation, invasion and apoptosis of BC cells were studied using CCK-8, Transwell invasion assay and Annexin V-FITC/PI staining, so as to evaluate its effect on the sensitivity of BC cells to tamoxifen.

RESULTS

Circ_0001946 showed an abnormally high expression in BC tissues and tamoxifen resistant cells and was up-regulated in an IC₅₀-dependent manner (both P<0.05). Circ_0001946 was activated by YY1 in drug-resistant BC cells. Knockdown of circ_0001946 significantly inhibited the proliferation, invasion and promoted apoptosis of drug-resistant BC cells (all P<0.05). Overexpression of circ_0001946 promoted the proliferation and invasion of drug-resistant BC cells and hindered their apoptosis, which could be partially reversed by miR-671-5p mimics (all P<0.05). EGFR has been proven to be a downstream target gene of miR-671-5p. A knockdown of EGFR improved the malignant biological behavior of drug-resistant BC cells, which could be partially eliminated by overexpression of circ_0001946 (all P<0.05).

CONCLUSION

Circ_0001946 absorbs miR-671-5p to target EGFR to promote the growth and malignant invasion of drug-resistant BC cells, thereby increasing the resistance to tamoxifen. This effect of circ_0001946 may be achieved by transcriptional activation of YY1.

Identification of glycolysis-associated long non-coding RNA regulatory subtypes and construction of prognostic signatures by transcriptomics for bladder cancer

Glycolysis-targeted cancer therapy based on long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs), owing to its high specificity and less toxicity, is at the preclinical stages. Our study aimed to examine the roles of the core glycolysis-associated lncRNAs in bladder cancer (BC). Glycolysis scores of BC were computed by single-sample gene set enrichment analysis (ssGSEA). Glycolysis-associated lncRNAs were screened by Pearson's correlation analysis. Unsupervised consensus clustering using ConsensusClusterPlus assessed the glycolysis-associated lncRNAs for the identification of molecular subtypes of BC. The Kaplan-Meier survival analysis, genomic mutations, and tumor microenvironment (TME) analysis were used to compare the characteristics of different subtypes. Key glycolysis-associated lncRNAs were screened by first-order partial correlation and univariate Cox proportional-hazards model analyses; finally, the lncRNA signature was constructed. Four glycolysis-associated lncRNA-regulated subtypes having differential overall survival (OS), clinical features, genomic mutation profiles, and TME profiles along with nuclear immunotherapeutic responses were identified. Nine lncRNAs localized in the nucleus were identified and transcription factors (TFs) significantly negatively associated with these were found to be enriched in multiple oncogenic signaling pathways. Among them, three lncRNAs (AC093673.5, AC034220.3, and RP11-250B2.3) exerted the most profound effects on glycolysis and constituted the lncRNA signature, which could substantially distinguish the risk levels among different BC patients. Four glycolysis-associated lncRNA-regulated subtypes were identified in this study, reflective of the biological characteristics and heterogeneity of BC. Three key glycolysis-associated lncRNA constituting a signature could predict the risk levels in BC, provide a reference for stratification, and be used as prognostic markers for BC diagnosis and treatment.

The Predictive Competing Endogenous RNA Regulatory Networks and Potential Prognostic and Immunological Roles of Cyclin A2 in Pan-Cancer Analysis

Although accumulating evidence has verified the relationship between CCNA2 and cancers, no pan-cancer analysis about the function and the upstream molecular mechanism of CCNA2 is available. For the first time, we analyzed potential oncogenic roles of CCNA2 in 33 cancer types via The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database. Overexpression of CCNA2 is widespread in almost all cancer types, and it is related to poor prognosis and advanced pathological stages in most cases. Moreover, we conducted upstream miRNAs and lncRNAs of CCNA2 to establish upstream regulatory networks in kidney renal clear cell carcinoma (LINC00997/miR-27b-3p/CCNA2), liver hepatocellular carcinoma (SNHG16, GUSBP11, FGD5-AS1, LINC00630, CD27-AS1, LINC00997/miR-22-3p/CCNA2, miR-29b-3p/CCNA2, miR-29c-3p/CCNA2, and miR-204-5p/CCNA2), and lung adenocarcinoma (miRNA-218-5p/CCNA2 and miR-204-5p/CCNA2) by expression analysis, survival analysis, and correlation analysis. The CCNA2 expression is positively correlated with Th2 cell infiltration and negatively correlated with CD4+ central memory and effector memory T-cell infiltration in different cancer types. Furthermore, CCNA2 is positively associated with expressions of immune checkpoints (CD274, CTLA4, HAVCR2, LAG3, PDCD1, and TIGIT) in most cancer types. Our first CCNA2 pan-cancer study contributes to understanding the prognostic and immunological roles and potential upstream molecular mechanisms of CCNA2 in different cancers.

TTN-AS1 accelerates the growth and migration of nasopharyngeal carcinoma cells via targeting miR-876-5p/NETO2

Nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) is one of the most predominant cancers occurring in China with high morbidity. Lately, large quantities of long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) have been highlighted to regulate the biological activities in multiple tumors, including NPC. Our study centered on whether TTN-AS1 was involved in NPC and how it modulated the progression of NPC. Here, qRT-PCR data uncovered that TTN-AS1 expression was conspicuously high in NPC cells. Based on the results of functional assays, TTN-AS1 silence hampered the proliferative, migratory, and invasive abilities but stimulated the apoptotic capability of NPC cells. After a series of mechanism assays, TTN-AS1 was found to competitively bind with miR-876-5p and recruit UPF1 to enhance NETO2 expression. In addition, TTN-AS1 could be transcriptionally activated by YY1 in NPC cells. It was also found that miR-876-5p overexpression or NETO2 downregulation had inhibitory effects on cell proliferation, migration, and invasion in NPC. Moreover, NETO2 upregulation could restore the suppressive impacts of TTN-AS1 depletion on NPC cell and tumor growth. In conclusion, YY1-activated TTN-AS1 interacted with both miR-876-5p and UPF1 to upregulate NETO2, thus strengthening NPC cell malignant behaviors, which might provide more useful information for people to develop effective NPC treatments.

LncRNA ubiquitin-binding protein domain protein 10 antisense RNA 1 inhibits colon adenocarcinoma progression via the miR-515-5p/slit guidance ligand 3 axis

Dysregulated long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) play an important role in cancer progression. However, there have been limited reports to date of the involvement of ubiquitin-binding protein domain protein 10 antisense RNA 1 (UBXN10-AS1) in cancer. Our aim was to explore the role and underlying mechanism of UBXN10-AS1 in the occurrence of colon adenocarcinoma (COAD). Real-time quantitative PCR and Western blotting were performed to determine the expression of UBXN10-AS1, miR-515-5p, and Slit guidance ligand 3 (SLIT3). Cell Counting Kit-8 and wound healing scratch assays were performed to measure COAD cell proliferation and migration. A xenograft assay was performed to examine tumor growth in vivo. Luciferase reporter and RNA immunoprecipitation (RIP) assays were used to determine the binding interaction among miR-515-5p, UBXN10-AS1, and SLIT3. The results showed that UBXN10-AS1 and SLIT3 were expressed at low levels in COAD tissues, while miR-515-5p was expressed at high levels. UBXN10-AS1 overexpression suppressed tumor growth in vitro and in vivo. The luciferase reporter and RNA RIP assays demonstrated that UBXN10-AS1 targeted miR-515-5p, which in turn targeted SLIT3. Functionally, miR-515-5p overexpression reversed the inhibition of COAD cell proliferation and migration by UBXN10-AS1 overexpression, and SLIT3 overexpression counteracted the oncogenicity of miR-515-5p. Our study shows that UBXN10-AS1 modulates the miR-515-5p/SLIT3 axis, thereby resulting in the inhibition of COAD cell proliferation and migration.

Functions of lncRNA DUXAP8 in non-small cell lung cancer

Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) poses a serious threat to public health due to its significant morbidity and mortality rates. The processes of NSCLC formation and development are quite complex and involve numerous regulatory biomolecules. Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) have attracted attention since they have been found to play critical roles in the tumorigenesis of various human malignancies. Recently, double homeobox A pseudogene 8 (DUXAP8) was identified as an oncogenic lncRNA that is overexpressed in different tumor types. In NSCLC, high expression of DUXAP8 is associated with poor prognosis in patients. The regulatory mechanism underlying the oncogenic effects of DUXAP8 can be divided into transcriptional level and post-transcriptional level. DUXAP8 promotes proliferation, epithelial-mesenchymal transition, and aerobic glycolysis in NSCLC cells. Moreover, DUXAP8 shows potential for the diagnosis and treatment of NSCLC. Herein, we review the molecular mechanisms underlying the DUXAP8-mediated phenotypes of NSCLC as well as its potential clinical applications.

Clues for Improving the Pathophysiology Knowledge for Endometriosis Using Plasma Micro-RNA Expression

The pathophysiology of endometriosis remains poorly understood. The aim of the present study was to investigate functions and pathways associated with the various miRNAs differentially expressed in patients with endometriosis. Plasma samples of the 200 patients from the prospective "ENDO-miRNA" study were analyzed and all known human miRNAs were sequenced. For each miRNA, sensitivity, specificity, and ROC AUC values were calculated for the diagnosis of endometriosis. miRNAs with an AUC ≥ 0.6 were selected for further analysis. A comprehensive review of recent articles from the PubMed, Clinical Trials.gov, Cochrane Library, and Web of Science databases was performed to identify functions and pathways associated with the selected miRNAs. In total, 2633 miRNAs were found in the patients with endometriosis. Among the 57 miRNAs with an AUC ≥ 0.6: 20 had never been reported before; one (miR-124-3p) had previously been observed in endometriosis; and the remaining 36 had been reported in benign and malignant disorders. miR-124-3p is involved in ectopic endometrial cell proliferation and invasion and plays a role in the following pathways: mTOR, STAT3, PI3K/Akt, NF-κB, ERK, PLGF-ROS, FGF2-FGFR, MAPK, GSK3B/β-catenin. Most of the remaining 36 miRNAs are involved in carcinogenesis through cell proliferation, apoptosis, and invasion. The three main pathways involved are Wnt/β-catenin, PI3K/Akt, and NF-KB. Our results provide evidence of the relation between the miRNA profiles of patients with endometriosis and various signaling pathways implicated in its pathophysiology.