H19 non coding RNA-derived miR-675 enhances tumorigenesis and metastasis of breast cancer cells by downregulating c-Cbl and Cbl-b

The role and molecular mechanism of Trametes Robiniophila Murr(Huaier) in tumor therapy

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Trametes Robiniophila Murr, commonly known as Huaier, has been extensively documented in ethnopharmacology research in China. Huaier has a long history of clinical usage spanning over 1000 years in China. Traditional clinical application records demonstrate the wide utilization of Huaier for treating various cancers and enhancing the autoimmunity of tumor patients.

AIM OF THE REVIEW

The present study provides a comprehensive review of the traditional uses, phytochemical constituents, pharmacological activities, anti-tumor mechanism, and potential applications of Huaier, thereby offering valuable insights for the further development and utilization of this natural product.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

This study employed the keywords "Trametes Robiniophila Murr" and "Huaier" to retrieve relevant information on Huaier from various databases, including PubMed, Web of Science, Springer, Science Direct, ACS, Wiley, CNKI, Baidu Scholar, Google Scholar, and ancient materia medica.

RESULTS

Trametes Robiniophila Murr (Huaier), a traditional Chinese medicine, has demonstrated significant efficacy in the clinical treatment of various tumors. The primary bioactive constituents of Huaier consist of fungal-derived compounds, including polysaccharides, proteins, ketones, alkaloids, and minerals. The research findings demonstrate that Huaier serves as a reliable adjunctive therapeutic agent by effectively inhibiting cancer cell proliferation, inducing apoptosis in cancer cells, suppressing tumor metastasis, regulating tumor stem cells and immune function. Therefore, it exerts a potent anti-tumor effect when used in conjunction with conventional anti-cancer therapies.

CONCLUSIONS

The analysis of traditional uses, phytochemical composition, and pharmacological activity reveals that Huaier exhibits significant potential as a medicinal plant with diverse pharmacological effects. Owing to its numerous advantages, Huaier holds immense promise for application in the domains of tumor prevention and treatment, enhancing both survival time and quality of life among cancer patients.

Influence of H19 polymorphisms on breast cancer: risk assessment and prognostic implications via LincRNA H19/miR-675 and downstream pathways

Introduction

Breast cancer, as the most prevalent malignancy among women globally, continues to exhibit rising incidence rates, particularly in China. The disease predominantly affects women aged 40 to 60 and is influenced by both genetic and environmental factors. This study focuses on the role of H19 gene polymorphisms, investigating their impact on breast cancer susceptibility, clinical outcomes, and response to treatment.

Methods

We engaged 581 breast cancer patients and 558 healthy controls, using TaqMan assays and DNA sequencing to determine genotypes at specific loci (rs11042167, rs2071095, rs2251375). We employed in situ hybridization and immunohistochemistry to measure the expression levels of LincRNA H19, miR-675, MRP3, HOXA1, and MMP16 in formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded samples. Statistical analyses included chi-squared tests, logistic regression, and Kaplan-Meier survival curves to evaluate associations between genetic variations, gene expression, and clinical outcomes.

Results

Genotypes AG at rs11042167, GT at rs2071095, and AC at rs2251375 were significantly associated with increased risk of breast cancer. Notably, the AA genotype at rs11042167 and TT genotype at rs2071095 were linked to favorable prognosis. High expression levels of LincRNA H19, miR-675, MRP3, HOXA1, and MMP16 in cancer tissues correlated with advanced disease stages and poorer survival rates. Spearman correlation analysis revealed significant positive correlations between the expression of LincRNA H19 and miR-675 and specific genotypes, highlighting their potential regulatory roles in tumor progression.

Discussion

The study underscores the critical roles of LincRNA H19 and miR-675 as prognostic biomarkers in breast cancer, with their overexpression associated with disease progression and adverse outcomes. The H19/LincRNA H19/miR-675/MRP3-HOXA1-MMP16 axis offers promising targets for new therapeutic strategies, reflecting the complex interplay between genetic markers and breast cancer pathology.

Conclusion

The findings confirm that certain H19 SNPs are associated with heightened breast cancer risk and that the expression profiles of related genetic markers can significantly influence prognosis and treatment response. These biomarkers hold potential as targets for personalized therapy and early detection strategies in breast cancer, underscoring the importance of genetic research in understanding and managing this disease.

The molecular mechanisms of various long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) in human lung tumors: Shedding light on the molecular mechanisms

Although it is still mostly incomplete, unraveling the gene expression networks controlling the initiation and progression of cancer is crucial. The rapid identification and characterization of long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) is made possible by advancements in computational biology and RNA-seq technology. According to recent research, lncRNAs are involved in several stages in the genesis of lung cancer. These lncRNAs interact with DNA, RNA, protein molecules, and/or their combinations. They play a crucial role in transcriptional and post-transcriptional regulation, as well as chromatin architecture. Their misexpression gives cancer cells the ability to start, grow, and spread tumors. This review will focus on their abnormal expression and function in lung cancer, as well as their involvement in cancer therapy and diagnosis.

The role of long noncoding RNA DGCR5 in cancers: Focus on molecular targets

Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) are major components of cellular transcripts that are emerging as important players in various biological pathways. Due to their specific expression and functional diversity in a variety of cancers, lncRNAs have promising applications in cancer diagnosis, prognosis, and therapy. Studies have shown that lncRNA DiGeorge syndrome critical region gene 5 (DGCR5) with high specificity and accuracy has the potential to become biomarkers in cancers. LncRNA DGCR5 can be noninvasively extracted from body fluids, tissues, and cells, and can be used as independent or auxiliary biomarkers to improve the accuracy of diagnosis or prognosis. Now, the underlying mechanisms of lncRNAs such as DGCR5 were explored as therapeutic targets, which have been investigated in clinical trials of several cancers. The DGCR5 lacks an appropriate animal model, which is necessary to gain greater knowledge of their functions. While some studies on the uses of DGCR5 have been carried out, the small sample size makes them unreliable. In this review, we presented a compilation of recent publications addressing the potential of lncRNA DGCR5 that could be considered as biomarkers or therapeutic targets, with the hopes of providing promised implications for future cancer therapy.

Non-coding RNAs as potential therapeutic targets for receptor tyrosine kinase signaling in solid tumors: current status and future directions

This review article presents an in-depth analysis of the current state of research on receptor tyrosine kinase regulatory non-coding RNAs (RTK-RNAs) in solid tumors. RTK-RNAs belong to a class of non-coding RNAs (nc-RNAs) responsible for regulating the expression and activity of receptor tyrosine kinases (RTKs), which play a critical role in cancer development and progression. The article explores the molecular mechanisms through which RTK-RNAs modulate RTK signaling pathways and highlights recent advancements in the field. This include the identification of potential new RTK-RNAs and development of therapeutic strategies targeting RTK-RNAs. While the review discusses promising results from a variety of studies, encompassing in vitro, in vivo, and clinical investigations, it is important to acknowledge the challenges and limitations associated with targeting RTK-RNAs for therapeutic applications. Further studies involving various cancer cell lines, animal models, and ultimately, patients are necessary to validate the efficacy of targeting RTK-RNAs. The specificity of ncRNAs in targeting cellular pathways grants them tremendous potential, but careful consideration is required to minimize off-target effects, the article additionally discusses the potential clinical applications of RTK-RNAs as biomarkers for cancer diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment. In essence, by providing a comprehensive overview of the current understanding of RTK-RNAs in solid tumors, this review emphasizes their potential as therapeutic targets for cancer while acknowledging the associated challenges and limitations.

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

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

HGF facilitates methylation of MEG3, potentially implicated in vemurafenib resistance in melanoma

BACKGROUND

Melanoma, a frequently encountered cutaneous malignancy characterized by a poor prognosis, persists in presenting formidable challenges despite the advancement in molecularly targeted drugs designed to improve survival rates significantly. Unfortunately, as more therapeutic choices have developed over time, the gradual emergence of drug resistance has become a notable impediment to the effectiveness of these therapeutic interventions. The hepatocyte growth factor (HGF)/c-met signaling pathway has attracted considerable attention, associated with drug resistance stemming from multiple potential mutations within the c-met gene. The activation of the HGF/c-met pathway operates in an autocrine manner in melanoma. Notably, a key player in the regulatory orchestration of HGF/c-met activation is the long non-coding RNA MEG3.

METHODS

Melanoma tissues were collected to measure MEG3 expression. In vitro validation was performed on MEG3 to prove its oncogenic roles. Bioinformatic analyses were conducted on the TCGA database to build the MEG3-related score. The immune characteristics and mutation features of the MEG3-related score were explored.

RESULTS

We revealed a negative correlation between HGF and MEG3. In melanoma cells, HGF inhibited MEG3 expression by augmenting the methylation of the MEG3 promoter. Significantly, MEG3 exhibits a suppressive impact on the proliferation and migration of melanoma cells, concurrently inhibiting c-met expression. Moreover, a predictive model centered around MEG3 demonstrates notable efficacy in forecasting critical prognostic indicators, immunological profiles, and mutation statuses among melanoma patients.

CONCLUSIONS

The present study highlights the potential of MEG3 as a pivotal regulator of c-met, establishing it as a promising candidate for targeted drug development in the ongoing pursuit of effective therapeutic interventions.

LncRNA H19-EZH2 interaction promotes liver fibrosis via reprogramming H3K27me3 profiles

Liver fibrosis is a wound-healing process characterized by excess formation of extracellular matrix (ECM) from activated hepatic stellate cells (HSCs). Previous studies show that both EZH2, an epigenetic regulator that catalyzes lysine 27 trimethylation on histone 3 (H3K27me3), and long non-coding RNA H19 are highly correlated with fibrogenesis. In the current study, we investigated the underlying mechanisms. Various models of liver fibrosis including Mdr2-/-, bile duct ligation (BDL) and CCl4 mice were adapted. We found that EZH2 was markedly upregulated and correlated with H19 and fibrotic markers expression in these models. Administration of EZH2 inhibitor 3-DZNeP caused significant protective effects in these models. Furthermore, treatment with 3-DZNeP or GSK126 significantly inhibited primary HSC activation and proliferation in TGF-β-treated HSCs and H19-overexpreesing LX2 cells in vivo. Using RNA-pull down assay combined with RNA immunoprecipitation, we demonstrated that H19 could directly bind to EZH2. Integrated analysis of RNA-sequencing (RNA-seq) and chromatin immunoprecipitation sequencing (ChIP-seq) further revealed that H19 regulated the reprogramming of EZH2-mediated H3K27me3 profiles, which epigenetically promoted several pathways favoring HSCs activation and proliferation, including epithelial-mesenchymal transition and Wnt/β-catenin signaling. In conclusion, highly expressed H19 in chronic liver diseases promotes fibrogenesis by reprogramming EZH2-mediated epigenetic regulation of HSCs activation. Targeting the H19-EZH2 interaction may serve as a novel therapeutic approach for liver fibrosis.

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

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

Structural Modifications and Novel Protein-Binding Sites in Pre-miR-675-Explaining Its Regulatory Mechanism in Carcinogenesis

Pre-miR-675 is a microRNA expressed from the exon 1 of H19 long noncoding RNA, and the atypical expression of pre-miR-675 has been linked with several diseases and disorders including cancer. To execute its function inside the cell, pre-miR-675 is folded into a particular conformation, which aids in its interaction with several other biological molecules. However, the exact folding dynamics of pre-miR-675 and its protein-binding motifs are currently unknown. Moreover, how H19 lncRNA and pre-miR-675 crosstalk and modulate each other's activities is also unclear. The detailed structural analysis of pre-miR-675 in this study determines its earlier unknown conformation and identifies novel protein-binding sites on pre-miR-675, thus making it an excellent therapeutic target against cancer. Co-folding analysis between H19 lncRNA and pre-miR-675 determine structural transformations in pre-miR-675, thus describing the earlier unknown mechanism of interaction between these two molecules. Comprehensively, this study details the conformation of pre-miR-675 and its protein-binding sites and explains its relationship with H19 lncRNA, which can be interpreted to understand the role of pre-miR-675 in the development and progression of tumorigenesis and designing new therapeutics against cancers.

LncRNA PVT1: as a therapeutic target for breast cancer

A significant number of women are identified with breast cancer (BC) every year, making it among the most prevalent malignancies and one of the leading causes of mortality globally. Despite significant progress in understanding BC pathogenesis and treatment options, there is still a need to identify new therapeutic targets and develop more effective treatments. LncRNAs have been discovered as biomarkers and a promising target for various cancers, including BC. PVT1 is a particular one of these lncRNAs, and research has indicated that it has a significant impact on the appearance and progression of BC.PVT1 is an attractive therapeutic target for BC due to its role in promoting cancer cell growth, metastasis and invasion. In addition to its potential as a treatment strategy, PVT1 may also have diagnostic value in BC. In this article, we will discuss targeting PVT1 as a treatment strategy for BC.

Long noncoding RNA (lncRNA) H19: An essential developmental regulator with expanding roles in cancer, stem cell differentiation, and metabolic diseases

Recent advances in deep sequencing technologies have revealed that, while less than 2% of the human genome is transcribed into mRNA for protein synthesis, over 80% of the genome is transcribed, leading to the production of large amounts of noncoding RNAs (ncRNAs). It has been shown that ncRNAs, especially long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs), may play crucial regulatory roles in gene expression. As one of the first isolated and reported lncRNAs, H19 has gained much attention due to its essential roles in regulating many physiological and/or pathological processes including embryogenesis, development, tumorigenesis, osteogenesis, and metabolism. Mechanistically, H19 mediates diverse regulatory functions by serving as competing endogenous RNAs (CeRNAs), Igf2/H19 imprinted tandem gene, modular scaffold, cooperating with H19 antisense, and acting directly with other mRNAs or lncRNAs. Here, we summarized the current understanding of H19 in embryogenesis and development, cancer development and progression, mesenchymal stem cell lineage-specific differentiation, and metabolic diseases. We discussed the potential regulatory mechanisms underlying H19's functions in those processes although more in-depth studies are warranted to delineate the exact molecular, cellular, epigenetic, and genomic regulatory mechanisms underlying the physiological and pathological roles of H19. Ultimately, these lines of investigation may lead to the development of novel therapeutics for human diseases by exploiting H19 functions.

Interplay between LncRNAs and microRNAs in Breast Cancer

(1) Although long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) are known to be precursors of microRNAs (miRNAs), they frequently act as competing endogoneous RNAs (ceRNAs), yet still their interplay with miRNA is not well known. However, their interaction with miRNAs may result in the modulation of miRNA action. (2) To determine the contribution of these RNA molecules in tumor resistance to chemotherapeutic drugs, it is essential to consider not only the oncogenic and tumor suppressive function of miRNAs but also the impact of lncRNAs on miRNAs. Therefore, we performed an extensive search in different databases including PubMed. (3) The present study concerns the interplay between lncRNAs and miRNAs in the regulatory post-transcriptional network and their impact on drugs used in the treatment of breast cancer. (4) Consideration of this interplay may improve the search for new drugs to circumvent chemoresistance.

Emerging role of oncogenic long noncoding RNA as cancer biomarkers

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

Mechanisms of Long Non-Coding RNA in Breast Cancer

The landscape of pervasive transcription in eukaryotic genomes has made space for the identification of thousands of transcripts that are difficult to frame in a specific functional category. A new class has been broadly named as long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) and shortly defined as transcripts that are longer than 200 nucleotides with no or limited coding potential. So far, about 19,000 lncRNAs genes have been annotated in the human genome (Gencode 41), nearly matching the number of protein-coding genes. A key scientific priority is the functional characterization of lncRNAs, a major challenge in molecular biology that has encouraged many high-throughput efforts. LncRNA studies have been stimulated by the enormous clinical potential that these molecules promise and have been based on the characterization of their expression and functional mechanisms. In this review, we illustrate some of these mechanisms as they have been pictured in the context of breast cancer.

A Panel of Circulating Non-Coding RNAs in the Diagnosis and Monitoring of Therapy in Egyptian Patients with Breast Cancer

Background: Non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) have recently been identified to have a pivotal role in many diseases, including breast cancer (BC). This study aims to investigate the relative quantification of long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) H19, microRNA (miR) 675-5p, 675-3p, and miR-let 7 in breast cancer patients. Methods: The study was performed on three groups: Group 1: 30 non-intervened BC female patients about to undergo breast surgery; group 2: 30 postoperative female BC patients about to receive adjuvant anthracycline chemotherapy; and group 3: 30 apparently healthy female volunteers as the control group. Plasma samples were drawn before and after the intervention in groups 1 and 2, with a single sample drawn from group 3. The relative quantification levels were compared with healthy control subjects and were related with the clinicopathological statuses of these patients. Results: There was a statistically significant increase in H19, miR-675-5p, miR-675-3p, and miR-let 7 in the non-intervened BC patients when compared to the control group. Surgery resulted in a significant reduction in all four ncRNAs under investigation. Chemotherapy brought about a significant increase in the level of miR-let 7, with no significant effect on the remaining parameters measured. The assay discriminated normal from BC where a receiver operating characteristic for the area under the curve (ROC_AUC) of miR-675-3p showed the maximal AUC of 1.000. The diagnostic sensitivity and specificity were also 100% when CA 15-3 and H19 were combined. Conclusion: The results strongly indicate that the panel of ncRNAs in this study can all potentially act as novel biomarkers whether alone or combined in the diagnosis of BC.

Circulating microRNAs as emerging regulators of COVID-19

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), an infectious disease caused by the novel severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), is a global pandemic that has high incidence rates, spreads rapidly, and has caused more than 6.5 million deaths globally to date. Currently, several drugs have been used in the clinical treatment of COVID-19, including antivirals (e.g., molnupiravir, baricitinib, and remdesivir), monoclonal antibodies (e.g., etesevimab and tocilizumab), protease inhibitors (e.g., paxlovid), and glucocorticoids (e.g., dexamethasone). Increasing evidence suggests that circulating microRNAs (miRNAs) are important regulators of viral infection and antiviral immune responses, including the biological processes involved in regulating COVID-19 infection and subsequent complications. During viral infection, both viral genes and host cytokines regulate transcriptional and posttranscriptional steps affecting viral replication. Virus-encoded miRNAs are a component of the immune evasion repertoire and function by directly targeting immune functions. Moreover, several host circulating miRNAs can contribute to viral immune escape and play an antiviral role by not only promoting nonstructural protein (nsp) 10 expression in SARS coronavirus, but among others inhibiting NOD-like receptor pyrin domain-containing (NLRP) 3 and IL-1β transcription. Consequently, understanding the expression and mechanism of action of circulating miRNAs during SARS-CoV-2 infection will provide unexpected insights into circulating miRNA-based studies. In this review, we examined the recent progress of circulating miRNAs in the regulation of severe inflammatory response, immune dysfunction, and thrombosis caused by SARS-CoV-2 infection, discussed the mechanisms of action, and highlighted the therapeutic challenges involving miRNA and future research directions in the treatment of COVID-19.

What has single-cell transcriptomics taught us about long non-coding RNAs in the ventricular-subventricular zone?

Long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) function is mediated by the process of transcription or through transcript-dependent associations with proteins or nucleic acids to control gene regulatory networks. Many lncRNAs are transcribed in the ventricular-subventricular zone (V-SVZ), a postnatal neural stem cell niche. lncRNAs in the V-SVZ are implicated in neurodevelopmental disorders, cancer, and brain disease, but their functions are poorly understood. V-SVZ neurogenesis capacity declines with age due to stem cell depletion and resistance to neural stem cell activation. Here we analyzed V-SVZ transcriptomics by pooling current single-cell RNA-seq data. They showed consistent lncRNA expression during stem cell activation, lineage progression, and aging. In conjunction with epigenetic and genetic data, we predicted V-SVZ lncRNAs that regulate stem cell activation and differentiation. Some of the lncRNAs validate known epigenetic mechanisms, but most remain uninvestigated. Our analysis points to several lncRNAs that likely participate in key aspects of V-SVZ stem cell activation and neurogenesis in health and disease.

The role of lncRNA H19 in tumorigenesis and drug resistance of human Cancers

Systemic therapy is one of the most significant cancer treatments. However, drug resistance often appears and has become the primary cause of cancer therapy failure. Regulation of drug target, drug metabolism and drug efflux, cell death escape (apoptosis, autophagy, et al.), epigenetic changes, and many other variables are complicatedly involved in the mechanisms of drug resistance. In various types of cancers, long non-coding RNA H19 (lncRNA H19) has been shown to play critical roles in tumor development, proliferation, metastasis, and multiple drug resistance as well. The efficacy of chemotherapy, endocrine therapy, and targeted therapy are all influenced by the expression of H19, especially in breast cancer, liver cancer, lung cancer and colorectal cancer. Here, we summarize the relationship between lncRNA H19 and tumorigenesis, and illustrate the drug resistance mechanisms caused by lncRNA H19 as well. This review may provide more therapeutic potential targets for future cancer treatments.

Long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) H19 in human cancer: From proliferation and metastasis to therapy

Initiation and development of cancer depend on multiple factors that mutations in genes and epigenetic level can be considered as important drivers. Epigenetic factors include a large family of members and understanding their function in cancer has been a hot topic. LncRNAs are RNA molecules with no capacity in synthesis of proteins, and they have regulatory functions in cells. LncRNAs are localized in nucleus and cytoplasm, and their abnormal expression is related to development of tumor. This manuscript emphasizes on the role of lncRNA H19 in various cancers and its association with tumor hallmarks. The function of lncRNA H19 in most tumors is oncogenic and therefore, tumor cells increase its expression for promoting their progression. LncRNA H19 contributes to enhancing growth and cell cycle of cancers and by EMT induction, it is able to elevate metastasis rate. Silencing H19 induces apoptotic cell death and disrupts progression of tumors. LncRNA H19 triggers chemo- and radio-resistance in cancer cells. miRNAs are dually upregulated/down-regulated by lncRNA H19 in increasing tumor progression. Anti-cancer agents reduce lncRNA H19 in impairing tumor progression and increasing therapy sensitivity. A number of downstream targets and molecular pathways for lncRNA H19 have been detected in cancers including miRNAs, RUNX1, STAT3, β-catenin, Akt2 and FOXM1. Clinical studies have revealed potential of lncRNA H19 as biomarker and its association with poor prognosis. LncRNA H19 can be transferred to cancer cells via exosomes in enhancing their progression.

Non-Coding RNAs and Prediction of Preeclampsia in the First Trimester of Pregnancy

Preeclampsia (PE) is a major cause of maternal and perinatal morbidity and mortality. The only fundamental treatment for PE is the termination of pregnancy. Therefore, not only severe maternal complications but also perinatal complications due to immaturity of the infant associated with early delivery are serious issues. The treatment and prevention of preterm onset preeclampsia (POPE) are challenging. In 2017, the ASPRE trial showed that a low oral dose of aspirin administered to POPE high-risk women in early pregnancy reduced POPE by 62%. A prediction algorithm at 11–13 weeks of gestation identifies POPE with 75% sensitivity when the false positive rate is set at 10%. New biomarkers to increase the accuracy of the prediction model for POPE high-risk women in early pregnancy are needed. In this review, we focused on non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) as potential biomarkers for the prediction of POPE. Highly expressed ncRNAs in the placenta in early pregnancy may play crucial roles in placentation. Furthermore, placenta-specific ncRNAs have been detected in maternal blood. In this review, we summarized ncRNAs that were highly expressed in the primary human placenta in early pregnancy. We also presented highly expressed ncRNAs in the placenta that were associated with or predictive of the development of PE in an expression analysis of maternal blood during the first trimester of pregnancy. These previous studies showed that the chromosome 19 microRNA (miRNA) -derived miRNAs (e.g., miR-517-5p, miR-518b, and miR-520h), the hypoxia-inducible miRNA (miR-210), and long non-coding RNA H19, were not only highly expressed in the early placenta but were also significantly up-regulated in the blood at early gestation in pregnant women who later developed PE. These maternal circulating ncRNAs in early pregnancy are expected to be possible biomarkers for POPE.

Association between long non-coding RNA H19 polymorphisms and breast cancer risk: a meta-analysis

Common genes mutation was demonstrated associating with the risk of breast cancer (BC) recently, while the role of long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) polymorphism is still controversial. A meta-analysis was designed to discuss the association between lncRNA H19 polymorphisms and susceptibility to BC. The related databases were systematically reviewed up to April 13, 2021. Estimates were summarized as ORs and 95 percent CIs for each included study. The heterogeneity was assessed by the I² test and subgroup analysis. Ten studies with 10354 BC patients and 11,177 control cases were included in our study. LncRNA H19 single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) rs2839698 C/T significantly increases the susceptibility of BC (OR = 1.717 , 95 percent CI = 1.052-2.803, P = 0.031). LncRNA H19 polymorphism rs3741219 and rs217727 also increase the risk of ER-positive BC (OR = 1.128 , 95 percent CI = 1.010-1.259, P = 0.0032 for rs3741219, and OR = 1.297, 95 percent CI = 1.027-1.639, P = 0.029 for rs217727). Our results demonstrated that lncRNA H19 SNP rs2839698 C/T was significantly associated with the susceptibility of BC. LncRNA H19 SNP rs217727 and rs3741219 were associated with the risks of ER-positive BC. However, further studies are needed to reach a robust conclusion.

Long Noncoding RNA lncR17454 Regulates Metamorphosis of Silkworm Through let-7 miRNA Cluster

A number of long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) have been identified in silkworm, but little is known about their functions. Recent study showed that the let-7 miRNA cluster (contains let-7, miR-2795, and miR-100) was transcribed from the last exon of lncRNA lncR17454 in silkworm. To investigate the functional role of lncR17454, dsRNAs of lncR17454 were injected into the hemolymph of 1-d-old third-instar larvae of Bombyx mori, repression of lncR17454 led to molting arrestment during the larval-larval and larval-pupal transition of silkworm, which was consistent to the result as let-7 knockdown in other studies. The expression level of mature let-7, miR-100, and miR-2795 decreased 40%, 36%, and 40%, respectively, while the mRNA level of two predicted target genes of let-7, the Broad Complex isoform 2 (BR-C-Z2) and the BTB-Zinc finger transcription repression factor gene Abrupt (Ab), increased significantly after lncR17454 knockdown. In contrast, when adding the 20-Hydroxyecdysone (20E) to silkworm BmN4 cell lines, the expression level of lncR17454 and let-7 cluster all increased significantly, but the expression of Abrupt, the predicted target gene of let-7, was repressed. Dual-luciferase reporter assays confirmed Abrupt was the real target of let-7. Here we found that the lncRNA lncR17454 can play regulator roles in the metamorphosis of silkworm through let-7 miRNA cluster and the ecdysone signaling pathway, which will provide new clues for lepidopteran pest control.

An Unanticipated Modulation of Cyclin-Dependent Kinase Inhibitors: The Role of Long Non-Coding RNAs

It is now definitively established that a large part of the human genome is transcribed. However, only a scarce percentage of the transcriptome (about 1.2%) consists of RNAs that are translated into proteins, while the large majority of transcripts include a variety of RNA families with different dimensions and functions. Within this heterogeneous RNA world, a significant fraction consists of sequences with a length of more than 200 bases that form the so-called long non-coding RNA family. The functions of long non-coding RNAs range from the regulation of gene transcription to the changes in DNA topology and nucleosome modification and structural organization, to paraspeckle formation and cellular organelles maturation. This review is focused on the role of long non-coding RNAs as regulators of cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitors’ (CDKIs) levels and activities. Cyclin-dependent kinases are enzymes necessary for the tuned progression of the cell division cycle. The control of their activity takes place at various levels. Among these, interaction with CDKIs is a vital mechanism. Through CDKI modulation, long non-coding RNAs implement control over cellular physiology and are associated with numerous pathologies. However, although there are robust data in the literature, the role of long non-coding RNAs in the modulation of CDKIs appears to still be underestimated, as well as their importance in cell proliferation control.

Decoding Insulin-Like Growth Factor Signaling Pathway From a Non-coding RNAs Perspective: A Step Towards Precision Oncology in Breast Cancer

Breast cancer (BC) is a highly complex and heterogenous disease. Several oncogenic signaling pathways drive BC oncogenic activity, thus hindering scientists to unravel the exact molecular pathogenesis of such multifaceted disease. This highlights the urgent need to find a key regulator that tunes up such intertwined oncogenic drivers to trim the malignant transformation process within the breast tissue. The Insulin-like growth factor (IGF) signaling pathway is a tenacious axis that is heavily intertwined with BC where it modulates the amplitude and activity of vital downstream oncogenic signaling pathways. Yet, the complexity of the pathway and the interactions driven by its different members seem to aggravate its oncogenicity and hinder its target-ability. In this review, the authors shed the light on the stubbornness of the IGF signaling pathway and its potential regulation by non-coding RNAs in different BC subtypes. Nonetheless, this review also spots light on the possible transport systems available for efficient delivery of non-coding RNAs to their respective targets to reach a personalized treatment code for BC patients.

Molecular and cellular functions of long non-coding RNAs in prostate and breast cancer

Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) are defined as noncoding RNA transcripts with a length greater than 200 nucleotides. Research over the last decade has made great strides in our understanding of lncRNAs, especially in the biology of their role in cancer. In this article, we will briefly discuss the biogenesis and characteristics of lncRNAs, then review their molecular and cellular functions in cancer by using prostate and breast cancer as examples. LncRNAs are abundant, diverse, and evolutionarily, less conserved than protein-coding genes. They are often expressed in a tumor and cell-specific manner. As a key epigenetic factor, lncRNAs can use a wide variety of molecular mechanisms to regulate gene expression at each step of the genetic information flow pathway. LncRNAs display widespread effects on cell behavior, tumor growth, and metastasis. They act intracellularly and extracellularly in an autocrine, paracrine and endocrine fashion. Increased understanding of lncRNA's role in cancer has facilitated the development of novel biomarkers for cancer diagnosis, led to greater understanding of cancer prognosis, enabled better prediction of therapeutic responses, and promoted identification of potential targets for cancer therapy.

Up-regulation of long noncoding RNA MBNL1-AS1 suppresses breast cancer progression by modulating miR-423-5p/CREBZF axis

Breast cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related death among females, which is required to be solved urgently. Recent studies have found significant changes in a large number of genes and their transcriptional levels during breast cancer development, which are often closely related to the abnormal expression of long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs). Herein, our study found that MBNL1-AS1 was down-regulated both in breast cancer tissues and cell lines, and it functioned as a tumor suppressor to inhibit cancer cell proliferation, migration, and invasion. MiR-423-5p was found to be a target of MBNL1-AS1 with an inverse relationship: an increase in miR-423-5p could counteract the inhibitory effect induced by MBNL1-AS1 on cancer cell promotion. Further, CREBZF was negatively regulated by miR-423-5p. Accordingly, CREBZF knockdown could impair the hindrance of cancer cell growth mediated by low miR-423-5p expression. Also, MBNL1-AS1 influenced the PI3K/AKT pathway, which was associated with cell proliferation and apoptosis, by regulating CREBZF. As a result, our work illustrated the tumor suppressor role of MBNL1-AS1 in breast cancer via upregulating miR-423-5p-targeted CREBZF. Thereby, the evidence indicates the complete understanding of the role of MBNL1-AS1/miR-423-5p/CREBZF axis in the regulation of breast cancer development, which could be used as a biomarker for predicating survival among breast cancer patients.

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

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

LncRNA H19 modulates neuropathic pain through miR-141/GLI2 axis in chronic constriction injury (CCI) rats

BACKGROUND

The participation of long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) in progressions of chronic pain has been evaluated. We explored mechanisms of lncRNA H19 in chronic constriction injury (CCI)-induced neuropathic pain model in vivo.

METHODS

The expressions of lncRNA H19, microRNA-141, and GLI Family Zinc Finger 2 (GLI2) in CCI rats were determined by using RT-qPCR. Paw withdrawal threshold (PWT) and paw withdrawal latency (PWL) were used as neuropathic pain index implying mechanical allodynia and thermal hyperalgesia. The protein concentrations of IL-1β, IL-6 and TNF-α in rats were examined by ELISA assay. RT-qPCR analyzed gene expression changes of lncRNA H19, miR-141 and GLI2. Online bioinformatics predictions supported that the bindings between miR-141 and GLI2 and dual luciferase reporter method, and RNA pull-down assays determined connections within lncRNA H19, miR-141 and GLI2 in HEK 293 cells.

RESULTS

LncRNA H19 was upregulated in the tissues of rats. Also, thermal hyperalgesia and mechanical allodynia were inhibited by lncRNA H19 suppression in rats. Moreover, IL-1β, IL-6 and TNF-α protein concentrations were suppressed by the downregulation of lncRNA H19 in rats. Furthermore, miR-141 was reduced in CCI rats and restored by the lncRNA H19 knockdown, suggesting the potential negative associations of miR-141 with lncRNA H19. GLI2 targeted miR-141 and GLI2 was increased in CCI rats. Additionally, the neuropathic pain was inhibited by the inhibition of GLI2 in rats, which was reversed by the miR-141 inhibitors.

CONCLUSION

LncRNA H19 aggravated the neuropathic pain of CCI rats through miR-141/GLI2 axis, implying that lncRNA H19 might be a biomarker for the inflammation-related neuropathic pain.

The potential roles of p53 signaling reactivation in pancreatic cancer therapy

Globally, pancreatic cancer (PC) is a common and highly malignant gastrointestinal tumor that is characterized by an insidious onset and ready metastasis and recurrence. Over recent decades, the incidence of PC has been increasing on an annual basis; however, the pathogenesis of this condition remains enigmatic. PC is not sensitive to radio- or chemotherapy, and except for early surgical resection, there is no curative treatment regime; consequently, the prognosis for patients with PC is extremely poor. Transcription factor p53 is known to play key roles in many important biological processes in vertebrates, including normal cell growth, differentiation, cell cycle progression, senescence, apoptosis, metabolism, and DNA damage repair. However, there is a significant paucity of basic and clinical studies to describe how p53 gene mutations or protein dysfunction facilitate the occurrence, progression, invasion, and resistance to therapy, of malignancies, including PC. Herein, we describe the involvement of p53 signaling reactivation in PC treatment as well as its underlying molecular mechanisms, thereby providing useful insights for targeting p53-related signal pathways in PC therapy.

Long Non-Coding RNAs at the Chromosomal Risk Loci Identified by Prostate and Breast Cancer GWAS

Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) are emerging as key players in a variety of cellular processes. Deregulation of the lncRNAs has been implicated in prostate and breast cancers. Recently, germline genetic variations associated with cancer risk have been correlated with lncRNA expression and/or function. In addition, single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) at well-characterized cancer-associated lncRNAs have been analyzed for their association with cancer risk. These SNPs may occur within the lncRNA transcripts or spanning regions that may alter the structure, function, and expression of these lncRNA molecules and contribute to cancer progression and may have potential as therapeutic targets for cancer treatment. Additionally, some of these lncRNA have a tissue-specific expression profile, suggesting them as biomarkers for specific cancers. In this review, we highlight some of the cancer risk-associated SNPs that modulated lncRNAs with a potential role in prostate and breast cancers and speculate on how these lncRNAs may contribute to cancer development.

H19: A vital long noncoding RNA in the treatment of diabetes and diabetic complications

BACKGROUND

Increasing academic efforts have been made to explore the correlation of long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) with human diseases, particularly metabolic diseases like diabetes mellitus. Taking lncRNA H19 as an example, this review intends to reveal the functions and mechanism of lncRNA H19 in diabetes mellitus and diabetic complications.

METHODS

The research results associated with lncRNA H19 and diabetes mellitus are collected and summarized on PubMed.

CONCLUSION

LncRNA H19 is a potential instructive marker for the treatment of diabetes mellitus and diabetic complications.

The Role of Long Non-coding RNAs in Human Imprinting Disorders: Prospective Therapeutic Targets

Genomic imprinting is a term used for an intergenerational epigenetic inheritance and involves a subset of genes expressed in a parent-of-origin-dependent way. Imprinted genes are expressed preferentially from either the paternally or maternally inherited allele. Long non-coding RNAs play essential roles in regulating this allele-specific expression. In several well-studied imprinting clusters, long non-coding RNAs have been found to be essential in regulating temporal- and spatial-specific establishment and maintenance of imprinting patterns. Furthermore, recent insights into the epigenetic pathological mechanisms underlying human genomic imprinting disorders suggest that allele-specific expressed imprinted long non-coding RNAs serve as an upstream regulator of the expression of other protein-coding or non-coding imprinted genes in the same cluster. Aberrantly expressed long non-coding RNAs result in bi-allelic expression or silencing of neighboring imprinted genes. Here, we review the emerging roles of long non-coding RNAs in regulating the expression of imprinted genes, especially in human imprinting disorders, and discuss three strategies targeting the central long non-coding RNA UBE3A-ATS for the purpose of developing therapies for the imprinting disorders Prader-Willi syndrome and Angelman syndrome. In summary, a better understanding of long non-coding RNA-related mechanisms is key to the development of potential therapeutic targets for human imprinting disorders.

Long noncoding RNA MIR2187HG suppresses TBK1-mediated antiviral signaling through deriving miR-2187-3p in teleost fish

Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) function as microregulatory factors that influence gene expression after a variety of pathogenic infection, which have been extensively studied in the past few years. Although less attention has been paid to lncRNAs in lower vertebrates than in mammals, current studies reveals that lncRNAs plays a vital role in fish stimulated by pathogens. Here, we discovered a new lncRNA, termed as MIR2187HG, which can function as a precursor of a small RNA miR-2187-3p with regulatory functions in miiuy croaker (Miichthys miiuy). Upon Siniperca chuatsi rhabdovirus (SCRV) virus infection, the expression levels of MIR2187HG were remarkably enhanced. Elevated MIR2187HG expression can act as a pivotally negative regulator that participates in the innate immune response of teleost fish to inhibit the intracellular TANK-binding kinase 1 (TBK1)-mediated antiviral signaling pathways, which can effectively avoid excessive immunity. In addition, we found that the SCRV virus could also utilize MIR2187HG to enhance its own number. Our results not only provide evidence regarding the involvement of the lncRNAs in response to anti-viruses in fish, but also broaden our understanding of the function of lncRNAs as precursor miRNA in teleost fish for the first time. Importance: SCRV infection upregulates MIR2187HG levels, which in turn suppresses SCRV-triggered type I interferon production, thus promoting viral replication in miiuy croaker. Notably, MIR2187HG regulates the release of miR-2187-3p, and TBK1 is a target of miR-2187-3p. MIR2187HG could obtain the function from miR-2187-3p to inhibit TBK1 expression and subsequently modulate TBK1-mediated NF-κB and IRF3 signaling. The collective results suggest that the novel regulation mechanism of TBK1-mediated antiviral response during RNA viral infection was regulated by MIR2187HG. Therefore, a new regulation mechanism for lncRNAs to regulate antiviral immune responses in fish is proposed.

Long non-coding RNAs as a predictive markers of group 3 medulloblastomas

ObjectiveThe appropriate treatments for the different molecular subgroups of medulloblastomas are challenging to determine. Hence, this study aimed to examine the expression profiles of long non-coding RNAs (LncRNAs) to determine a marker that may be important for treatment selection in these subgroups.MethodsChanges in the expression of LncRNAs in the tissues of patients with medulloblastoma, which are classified into four subgroups according to their clinical characteristics and gene expression profiles, were examined via reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction. Moreover, there association with patient prognosis was evaluated.ResultsThe expression levels of MALAT1 and SNGH16 were significantly higher in patients with group 3 medulloblastoma than in those with other subtypes. Patients with high expression levels of MALAT1 and SNGH16 had a relatively shorter overall survival than those with low expression levels.ConclusionsPatients with group 3 medulloblastoma have a high MALAT1 level, which is associated with poor prognosis. Therefore, MALAT1 can be a new therapeutic target in medulloblastoma.

Long Non-Coding RNAs as Potential Diagnostic and Prognostic Biomarkers in Breast Cancer: Progress and Prospects

Breast cancer is the most common malignancy among women worldwide, excluding non-melanoma skin cancer. It is now well understood that breast cancer is a heterogeneous entity that exhibits distinctive histological and biological features, treatment responses and prognostic patterns. Therefore, the identification of novel ideal diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers is of utmost importance. Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) are commonly defined as transcripts longer than 200 nucleotides that lack coding potential. Extensive research has shown that lncRNAs are involved in multiple human cancers, including breast cancer. LncRNAs with dysregulated expression can act as oncogenes or tumor-suppressor genes to regulate malignant transformation processes, such as proliferation, invasion, migration and drug resistance. Intriguingly, the expression profiles of lncRNAs tend to be highly cell-type-specific, tissue-specific, disease-specific or developmental stage-specific, which makes them suitable biomarkers for breast cancer diagnosis and prognosis.

The lncRNA 'UCA1' modulates the response to chemotherapy of ovarian cancer through direct binding to miR-27a-5p and control of UBE2N levels

Ovarian cancer (OC) is the leading cause of death in patients with gynecologic cancers. Due to late diagnosis and resistance to chemotherapy, the 5‐year survival rate in patients with OC is below 40%. We observed that UCA1, a lncRNA previously reported to play an oncogenic role in several malignancies, is overexpressed in the chemoresistant OC cell line OAW42‐R compared to their chemotherapy‐sensitive counterpart OAW42. Additionally, UCA1 overexpression was related to poor prognosis in two independent patient cohorts. Currently, the molecular mechanisms through which UCA1 acts in OC are poorly understood. We demonstrated that downregulation of the short isoform of UCA1 sensitized OC cells to cisplatin and that UCA1 acted as competing endogenous RNA to miR‐27a‐5p. Upon UCA1 downregulation, miR‐27a‐5p downregulated its direct target UBE2N leading to the upregulation of BIM, a proapoptotic protein of the Bcl2 family. The upregulation of BIM is the event responsible for the sensitization of OC cells to cisplatin. In order to model response to therapy in patients with OC, we used several patient‐derived organoid cultures, a model faithfully mimicking patient’s response to therapy. Inhibition of UBE2N sensitized patient‐derived organoids to platinum salts. In conclusion, response to treatment in patients with OC is regulated by the UCA1/miR‐27a‐5p/UBE2N axis, where UBE2N inhibition could potentially represent a novel therapeutic strategy to counter chemoresistance in OC.

Insights into how H19 works in glioma cells. A review article

Glioblastoma is a highly aggressive brain tumor and considered to be the most common primary one. Recurrence after treatment is a significant problem, with a survival rate after one year of about 39.7%. The recurrence of GBM is linked to different cellular pathways and molecular signaling. Long non-coding RNA (LncRNA) comprises more than 200 nucleotides and is suggested to play a role in controlling genes that regulate the cell cycle, apoptosis and cellular growth in various tissues. Little is known about LncRNA compared to microRNAs, which are extensively studied in the literature. H19 is one of the most plentiful and conserved transcripts suggested to be involved in mammalian development and tumorigenesis. H19 is one of the LncRNA members transcribed by RNA polymerase II, spliced and polyadenylated, and the product is transferred to the cytoplasm without translation. HI9 maps to 1lp15, a region thought to be relevant to some childhood tumors as embryonal rhabdomyosarcoma and Wilm's Tumor. In these tumors, the analysis of the 11p15 locus showed loss of heterozygosity which is a feature associated with the tumor-suppressing activity. However, the role played by H19 in GBM is still enigmatic and needs further extensive evaluation. Uncovering the hidden role of such molecules in the pathogenesis in glioma will help tailor new targeted therapies that may affect the prognosis and survival of GBM.

LncRNA-miRNA axes in breast cancer: Novel points of interaction for strategic attack

Therapeutic effectiveness in breast cancer can be limited by the underlying mechanisms of pathogenesis, including epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), cancer stem cells (CSCs) and drug resistance. Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) and microRNAs (miRNAs) are master regulators of gene expression and are functionally important mediators in these mechanisms of pathogenesis. Intricate crosstalks between these non-coding RNAs form complex regulatory networks of post-transcriptional gene regulation. Depending on the specific lncRNA/miRNA interaction, the lncRNA-miRNA axis can have tumor suppressor or oncogenic effects, thus defining the lncRNA-miRNA axis is important for determining targetability. Herein, we summarize the current literature describing lncRNA-miRNA interactions that are critical in the molecular mechanisms that regulate EMT, CSCs and drug resistance in breast cancer. Further, we review both the well-studied and potential novel mechanisms of lncRNA-miRNA interactions in breast cancer.

Regulation of breast cancer metastasis signaling by miRNAs

Despite the decline in death rate from breast cancer and recent advances in targeted therapies and combinations for the treatment of metastatic disease, metastatic breast cancer remains the second leading cause of cancer-associated death in U.S. women. The invasion-metastasis cascade involves a number of steps and multitudes of proteins and signaling molecules. The pathways include invasion, intravasation, circulation, extravasation, infiltration into a distant site to form a metastatic niche, and micrometastasis formation in a new environment. Each of these processes is regulated by changes in gene expression. Noncoding RNAs including microRNAs (miRNAs) are involved in breast cancer tumorigenesis, progression, and metastasis by post-transcriptional regulation of target gene expression. miRNAs can stimulate oncogenesis (oncomiRs), inhibit tumor growth (tumor suppressors or miRsupps), and regulate gene targets in metastasis (metastamiRs). The goal of this review is to summarize some of the key miRNAs that regulate genes and pathways involved in metastatic breast cancer with an emphasis on estrogen receptor α (ERα+) breast cancer. We reviewed the identity, regulation, human breast tumor expression, and reported prognostic significance of miRNAs that have been documented to directly target key genes in pathways, including epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) contributing to the metastatic cascade. We critically evaluated the evidence for metastamiRs and their targets and miRNA regulation of metastasis suppressor genes in breast cancer progression and metastasis. It is clear that our understanding of miRNA regulation of targets in metastasis is incomplete.

A systematic review of long non-coding RNAs with a potential role in breast cancer

The human transcriptome contains many non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs), which play important roles in gene regulation. Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) are an important class of ncRNAs with lengths between 200 and 200,000 bases. Unlike mRNA, lncRNA lacks protein-coding features, specifically, open-reading frames, and start and stop codons. LncRNAs have been reported to play a role in the pathogenesis and progression of many cancers, including breast cancer (BC), acting as tumor suppressors or oncogenes. In this review, we systematically mined the literature to identify 65 BC-related lncRNAs. We then perform an integrative bioinformatics analysis to identify 14 lncRNAs with a potential regulatory role in BC. The biological function of these 14 lncRNAs, their regulatory mechanisms, and roles in the initiation and progression of BC are discussed in this review. Additionally, we elaborate on the current and future applications of lncRNAs as diagnostic and/or therapeutic biomarkers in BC.

Research Progress on the Anti-Cancer Molecular Mechanisms of Huaier

Huaier (Trametes robiniophila Murr), a Chinese traditional herb of medicine, has demonstrated promising curative effects in clinical treatment for various tumors. There are documented experiments showing the biological functions of Huaier with its antineoplastic molecular mechanisms: restraining proliferation and metastasis, arresting cell cycle, inducing apoptosis, pyrosis, and autophagy, anti-intratumoral angiogenesis, attenuating characteristics of tumor stem-like cells, interfering with the function of the tumor-related immune system, reversing drug resistance, and enhancing the sensitivity to chemotherapeutic drugs, etc. In addition, studies suggest that non-coding RNA (ncRNA) acts a pivotal part in cancer occurrence and development, and demonstrates that Huaier adjusts the performance of certain lncRNA (long non-coding RNA) and proceeds to affect the microRNA and its target genes, rendering an anti-tumor effect. Huaier also modulates the expression of lncRNA to attenuate the activity of ncRNA-sponged microRNA and then inhibits the expression of downstream target genes. We summarize and illustrate the experimentally confirmed anti-cancer molecular mechanisms of Huaier, to inspire new ideas for researchers in relevant fields.

Long non-coding RNAs in breast cancer metastasis

Breast cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related death among women. Recurrence of primary tumor and metastasis to distant body parts are major causes of breast cancer-associated mortality. The 5-year survival rate for women with metastatic breast cancer is only 25-30%. Breast cancer metastasis is a series of processes involved with EMT, invasion, loss of cell to cell adhesion, alteration in cell phenotype, extravasation, microenvironment of the tumor, and colonization to the secondary sites. Epigenetic modification is involved in the transformation of the distant stromal cell into a secondary tumor. LncRNAs, are one the key epigenetic modifiers, are the largest endogenous non-coding RNAs with approximate base-pair lengths from 200 nt to 100 kb. LncRNA plays a crucial role in breast cancer metastasis by sponging miRNA, by degrading or silencing specific mRNA, or else by targeting the enzymes and microprocessor subunits involved in the biogenesis of miRNA. LncRNA also alters the expression of several genes involved in breast cancer metastasis and modulating different cell signaling pathways. The goal of this review is to provide a better understanding of the role of lncRNA in the regulation of breast cancer metastasis. We also summarized some of the key lncRNAs that regulate the genes and signaling pathways involved in breast cancer invasion and metastasis.

Long Non-coding RNAs in Cancer: Implications for Diagnosis, Prognosis, and Therapy

Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) are major components of cellular transcripts that are arising as important players in various biological pathways. They have received extensive attention in recent years, regarded to be involved in both developmental processes and various diseases. Due to their specific expression and functional diversity in a variety of cancers, lncRNAs have promising applications in cancer diagnosis, prognosis and therapy. Studies have shown that lncRNAs with high specificity and accuracy have the potential to become biomarkers in cancers. LncRNAs can be noninvasively extracted from body fluids, tissues and cells, and can be used as independent or auxiliary biomarkers to improve the accuracy of diagnosis or prognosis. Currently, the most well-recognized lncRNA is PCA3, which has been approved for use in the diagnosis of prostate cancer. Moreover, the underlying mechanisms of lncRNAs were explored as therapeutic targets, which have been investigated in clinical trials of several cancers. In this review, we presented a compilation of recent publications, clinical trials and patents, addressing the potential of lncRNAs that could be considered as biomarkers or therapeutic targets, with the hopes of providing promised implications for future cancer therapy.

Long Non-coding RNA Expression Profiling Identifies a Four-Long Non-coding RNA Prognostic Signature for Isocitrate Dehydrogenase Mutant Glioma

Background: Isocitrate dehydrogenase (IDH) mutant is one of the most robust and important genetic aberrations in glioma. However, the underlying regulation mechanism of long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) in IDH mutant glioma has not been systematically portrayed.

Methods:In this work, 775 IDH mutant glioma samples with transcriptome data, including 167 samples from the Chinese Glioma Genome Atlas (CGGA) RNAseq dataset, 390 samples from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) dataset, 79 samples from GSE16011 dataset, and 139 samples from CGGA microarray dataset, were enrolled. R language and GraphPad Prism software were applied for the statistical analysis and graphical work.

Results: By comparing the differentially lncRNA genes between IDH mutant and IDH wild-type glioma samples, a four-lncRNA (JAG1, PVT1, H19, and HAR1A) signature was identified in IDH mutant glioma patients. The signature model was established based on the expression level and the regression coefficient of the four lncRNA genes. IDH mutant glioma samples could be successfully stratified into low-risk and high-risk groups in CGGA RNAseq, TCGA, GSE16011, and CGGA microarray databases. Meanwhile, multivariate Cox analysis showed that the four-lncRNA signature was an independent prognostic biomarker after adjusting for other clinicopathologic factors. Moreover, the Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) analyses revealed that the immune response and cellular metabolism were significantly associated with the four-lncRNA risk signature.

Conclusion: Taken together, the four-lncRNA risk signature was identified as a novel prognostic marker for IDH mutant glioma patients and may potentially lead to improvements in the lives of glioma patients.

LncRNA Profiling Reveals That the Deregulation of H19, WT1-AS, TCL6, and LEF1-AS1 Is Associated with Higher-Risk Myelodysplastic Syndrome

Simple Summary

Although lncRNAs have been increasingly recognized as regulators of hematopoiesis, only several studies addressed their role in myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS). By genome-wide profiling, we identified lncRNAs deregulated in various groups of MDS patients. We computationally constructed lncRNA-protein coding gene networks to associate deregulated lncRNAs with cellular processes involved in MDS. We showed that expression of H19, WT1-AS, TCL6, and LEF1-AS1 lncRNAs associate with higher-risk MDS and proposed processes related with these transcripts.

Abstract

Background: myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) is a hematopoietic stem cell disorder with an incompletely known pathogenesis. Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) play multiple roles in hematopoiesis and represent a new class of biomarkers and therapeutic targets, but information on their roles in MDS is limited. Aims: here, we aimed to characterize lncRNAs deregulated in MDS that may function in disease pathogenesis. In particular, we focused on the identification of lncRNAs that could serve as novel potential biomarkers of adverse outcomes in MDS. Methods: we performed microarray expression profiling of lncRNAs and protein-coding genes (PCGs) in the CD34+ bone marrow cells of MDS patients. Expression profiles were analyzed in relation to different aspects of the disease (i.e., diagnosis, disease subtypes, cytogenetic and mutational aberrations, and risk of progression). LncRNA-PCG networks were constructed to link deregulated lncRNAs with regulatory mechanisms associated with MDS. Results: we found several lncRNAs strongly associated with disease pathogenesis (e.g., H19, WT1-AS, TCL6, LEF1-AS1, EPB41L4A-AS1, PVT1, GAS5, and ZFAS1). Of these, downregulation of LEF1-AS1 and TCL6 and upregulation of H19 and WT1-AS were associated with adverse outcomes in MDS patients. Multivariate analysis revealed that the predominant variables predictive of survival are blast count, H19 level, and TP53 mutation. Coexpression network data suggested that prognosis-related lncRNAs are predominantly related to cell adhesion and differentiation processes (H19 and WT1-AS) and mechanisms such as chromatin modification, cytokine response, and cell proliferation and death (LEF1-AS1 and TCL6). In addition, we observed that transcriptional regulation in the H19/IGF2 region is disrupted in higher-risk MDS, and discordant expression in this locus is associated with worse outcomes. Conclusions: we identified specific lncRNAs contributing to MDS pathogenesis and proposed cellular processes associated with these transcripts. Of the lncRNAs associated with patient prognosis, the level of H19 transcript might serve as a robust marker comparable to the clinical variables currently used for patient stratification.

An updated review of the H19 lncRNA in human cancer: molecular mechanism and diagnostic and therapeutic importance

Accumulating evidence has reported that H19 long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) expression level is deregulated in human cancer. It has been also demonstrated that de-regulated levels of H19 could affect cancer biology by various mechanisms including microRNA (miRNA) production (like miR-675), miRNA sponging and epigenetic modifications. Furthermore, lncRNA could act as a potential diagnosis and prognosis biomarkers and also a candidate therapeutic approach for different human cancers. In this narrative review, we shed light on the molecular mechanism of H19 in cancer development and pathogenesis. Moreover, we discussed the expression pattern and diagnostic and therapeutic importance of H19 as a potential biomarker in a range of human malignancies from breast to osteosarcoma cancer.

H19/miR-675-5p Targeting SFN Enhances the Invasion and Metastasis of Nasalpharyngeal Cancer Cells

AIMS

The aim is to study the role of miR-675-5p coded by long non-coding RNA H19 in the development of Nasopharyngeal Cancer (NPC) and whether miR-675-5p regulates the invasion and metastasis of NPC through targeting SFN (14-3-3σ). The study further validated the relationship between H19, miR-675-5p and SFN in NPC and their relationship with the invasion and metastasis of NPC.

METHODS

Western blot was used to detect the expression of 14-3-3σ protein in immortalized normal nasopharyngeal epithelial cells NP69 and different metastatic potential NPC cells, 6-10B and 5-8F. At the same time, to find out the relationship between 14-3-3σ protein and the expression of H19 and miR-675-5p, the expression of H19 and miR-675-5p in normal nasopharynx epithelial cells NP69 and varied nasopharyngeal carcinoma cells 6-10B and 5-8F were quantified by real-time PCR. MiR-675-5p mimic and inhibitor were transfected into NPC 6-10B to over-express and down-express miR-675-5p; miR-675-5p mimic negative control and inhibitor negative control were transfected into NPC 6-10B as control groups. The effect of over-expression and down-expression by miR-675-5p on the expression of 14-3-3σ protein was detected by Western blotting. The 3'-UTR segments of SFN, containing miR-675-5p binding sites were amplified by PCR and the luciferase activity in the transfected cells was assayed to detect whether SFN is the direct target of miR-675-5p. Transwell and scratch assays were used to verify the changes in NPC invasion and metastasis ability of mimics and inhibitors transfected with miR-675-5p.

RESULTS

The expression of 14-3-3σ protein in normal nasopharynx epithelial cells NP69 is significantly higher than in varied nasopharyngeal carcinoma cells, 6-10B and 5-8F (P<0.05), and the 14-3-3σ protein levels in low-metastatic nasopharyngeal carcinoma cell 6-10B is higher than in high-metastatic nasopharyngeal carcinoma cell 5-8F. The expression of H19 and miR-675-5p are significantly higher in NPC cells than in NP69 cell (P<0.05). The expression of H19 and miR-675-5p in high-Metastatic nasopharyngeal carcinoma cell 5-8F was higher than in low-Metastatic nasopharyngeal carcinoma cell 6-10B. The expression of 14-3-3σ protein in miR-675-5p mimic cells was significantly lower than in mimic NC (negative control) group and blank control group. However, compared with the blank control group, mimic NC showed no significant difference in 14-3-3σ protein between the two groups. The miR-675-5p inhibitor group was significantly higher than the inhibitor NC group and the blank control group (p<0.05), but there was no significant difference in the expression of 14-3-3σ protein in the inhibitor NC group and the blank control group (p>0.05). Dual-luciferase reporter assay system shows the 3'-UTR segments of SFN containing miR-675-5p binding sites. SFN was the target gene of miR-675-5p.

CONCLUSION

14-3-3σ is downregulated in NPC and is involved in the development of NPC. H19 and miR- 675-5p are upregulated in NPC, which is related to the development of NPC. The over-expression of miR- 675-5p inhibits the expression of 14-3-3σ protein. SFN is the target gene of miR-675-5p. MiR-675-5p targets SFN, downregulates its protein expression and promotes the invasion and metastasis of NPC.