IncRNAs and circRNAs provide insight into discoid lupus pathogenesis and progression

The Role of Sex and Gender in Dermatology - From Pathogenesis to Clinical Implications

BACKGROUND

Sex and gender have increasingly been recognized as significant risk factors for many diseases, including dermatological conditions. Historically, sex and gender have often been grouped together as a single risk factor in the scientific literature. However, both may have a distinct impact on disease incidence, prevalence, clinical presentation, severity, therapeutic response, and associated psychological distress.

OBJECTIVES AND PROJECT DESCRIPTION

The mechanisms that underlie differences in skin diseases between males, females, men, and women remain largely unknown. The specific objectives of this review paper are:To highlight the biological differences between males and females (sex), as well as the sociocultural differences between men and women (gender) and how they impact the integumentary system.To perform a literature review to identify important sex- and gender-related epidemiological and clinical differences for various skin conditions belonging to a range of disease categories and to discuss possible biological and sociocultural factors that could explain the observed differences.To discuss dermatological skin conditions and gender-affirming treatments within the transgender community, a population of individuals who have a gender identity which is different than the gender identity they were assigned at birth.

FUTURE IMPACT

With the rising number of individuals that identify as non-binary or transgender within our increasingly diverse communities, it is imperative to recognize gender identity, gender, and sex as distinct entities. By doing so, clinicians will be able to better risk-stratify their patients and select treatments that are most aligned with their values. To our knowledge, very few studies have separated sex and gender as two distinct risk factors within the dermatology literature. Our article also has the potential to help guide future prevention strategies that are patient-tailored rather than using a universal approach.

Novel role of long non-coding RNAs in autoimmune cutaneous disease

Systemic autoimmune rheumatic diseases (SARDs) are a heterogeneous group of chronic multisystem inflammatory disorders that are thought to have a complex pathophysiology, which is not yet fully understood. Recently, the role of non-coding RNAs, including long non-coding RNA (lncRNA), has been of particular interest in the pathogenesis of SARDs. We aimed to summarize the potential roles of lncRNA in SARDs affecting the skin including, systemic sclerosis (SSc), dermatomyositis (DM) and cutaneous lupus erythematosus (CLE). We conducted a narrative review summarizing original articles published until July 19, 2021, regarding lncRNA associated with SSc, DM, and CLE. Several lncRNAs were hypothesized to play an important role in disease pathogenesis of SSc, DM and CLE. In SSc, Negative Regulator of IFN Response (NRIR) was thought to modulate Interferon (IFN) response in monocytes, anti-sense gene to X-inactivation specific transcript (TSIX) to regulate increased collagen stability, HOX transcript antisense RNA (HOTAIR) to increase numbers of myofibroblasts, OTUD6B-Anti-Sense RNA 1 to decrease fibroblast apoptosis, ncRNA00201 to regulate pathways in SSc pathogenesis and carcinogenesis, H19X potentiating TGF-β-driven extracellular matrix production, and finally PSMB8-AS1 potentiates IFN response. In DM, linc-DGCR6-1 expression was hypothesized to target the USP18 protein, a type 1 IFN-inducible protein that is considered a key regulator of IFN signaling. Additionally, AL136018.1 is suggested to regulate the expression Cathepsin G, which increases the permeability of vascular endothelial cells and the chemotaxis of inflammatory cells in peripheral blood and muscle tissue in DM. Lastly, lnc-MIPOL1-6 and lnc-DDX47-3 in discoid CLE were thought to be associated with the expression of chemokines, which are significant in Th1 mediated disease. In this review, we summarize the key lncRNAs that may drive pathogenesis of these connective tissue diseases and could potentially serve as therapeutic targets in the future.

lncRNA AGAP2-AS1 Facilitates Tumorigenesis and Ferroptosis Resistance through SLC7A11 by IGF2BP2 Pathway in Melanoma

Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) stand as indispensable regulators of initiation and development in melanoma (melanoma). However, the action molecular mechanisms linked to melanoma remain unclear. In the current study, the findings revealed that AGAP2-AS1 was considerably greater in melanoma than in healthy tissues and that the level of AGAP2-AS1 in cancer tissue was significantly linked to the cancerous TNM stage of patients. Individuals with high AGAP2-AS1 had a considerably shorter survival duration than patients with low AGAP2-AS1, regardless of progression-free survival or overall survival. Functionally, downregulating the expression of AGAP2-AS1 can inhibit the growth of melanocytes. Compared with the control group, AGAP2-AS1 knockdown increased Erastin-mediated iron death in melanoma cells. However, iron death inhibitor FERSINT-1 restored this effect, while Erastin induced melanoma cell death. Besides, intracellular iron and Fe2+ levels increased after AGAP2-AS1 knockdown in melanoma cells treated with Erastin compared with the si-NC group. In addition, AGAP2-AS1 silencing resulted in a significant decrease in glutathione (GSH) content in Erastin-treated melanoma cells. The mechanistic results suggest AGAP2-AS1 increases SLC7A11 mRNA stability through the IGF2BP2 pathway. In this investigation, we discovered new activities for AGAP2-AS1 and firstly discovered its mechanistic basis in ferroptosis and melanoma formation that might help in the search for potential therapy options in melanoma.

hsa_circ_0000006 induces tumorigenesis through miR-361-3p targeting immunoglobulin-like domains protein 1 (LRIG1) in osteosarcoma

Background

Osteosarcoma (OS) is considered to be the most highly prevalent bone tumor. In the progression of different human cancers, the role of circular RNAs (circRNAs) has been extensively studied. Microarray analysis has indicated that hsa_circ_0000006 expression was lower in OS, but the mechanism of hsa_circ_0000006 in regulating the progression of OS remains elusive.

Methods

The expression of cancer-related genes at the transcriptional and translational levels was assessed by RT-qPCR and western blotting (WB). Colony formation and Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK-8) assays were used to evaluate the proliferative potential of cells. The transwell assay was used to examine the invasive and migratory potential of cells. Furthermore, dual-luciferase reporter (DLR) and RNA pull-down assays were performed for the validation of the targeting sites of hsa_circ_0000006, miR-361-3p, and the 3'-untranslated region (3'-UTR) of immunoglobulin-like domains protein 1 (LRIG1) mRNA. Moreover, the protein levels of epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) markers were analyzed by WB.

Results

The expression of hsa_circ_0000006 and LRIG1 were found to be down-regulated in OS tissues and cells, while miR-361-3p was up-regulated. Knockdown of hsa_circ_0000006 promoted the progression and development of OS, as well as EMT. Furthermore, hsa_circ_0000006 was revealed as a sponge of miR-361-3p, which negatively regulates miR-361-3p expression. LRIG1 was found to be an miR-361-3p target. In OS cells, the LRIG1 expression level was decreased, with elevated expression of miR-361-3p. Advanced studies demonstrated that hsa_circ_0000006 regulates LRIG1 expression through sponging miR-361-3p, then promotes the tumorigenesis of OS.

Conclusions

hsa_circ_0000006 is associated with the progression and development of OS through miR-361-3p by target LRIG1, which is a significant biomarker and effective therapeutic target for patients with OS.