Upregulation of long non-coding RNA HNF1A-AS1 is associated with poor prognosis in urothelial carcinoma of the bladder

EGR1 modulated LncRNA HNF1A-AS1 drives glioblastoma progression via miR-22-3p/ENO1 axis

Accumulating evidences revealed that long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) have been participated in cancer malignant progression, including glioblastoma multiforme (GBM). Despite much studies have found the precise biological role in the regulatory mechanisms of GBM, however the molecular mechanisms, particularly upstream mechanisms still need further elucidated. RT-QPCR, cell transfection, western blotting and bioinformatic analysis were executed to detect the expression of EGR1, HNF1A-AS1, miR-22-3p and ENO1 in GBM. Cell proliferation assay, colony formation assay, wound healing, migration and invasion assays were performed to detect the malignant characters of GBM cells. The molecular regulation mechanism was confirmed by luciferase reporter assay, ChIP and RIP. Finally, orthotopic mouse models were established to examine the effect of HNF1A-AS1 in vivo. In the current study, we analyzed clinical samples to show that the HNF1A-AS1 expression is upregulated and associated with poor patient survival in GBM. Functional studies revealed that HNF1A-AS1 knockdown markedly inhibits malignant phenotypes of GBM cells, whereas overexpression of HNF1A-AS1 exerts opposite effect. Mechanistically, the transcription factor EGR1 forced the HNF1A-AS1 expression by directly binding the promoter region of HNF1A-AS1. Furthermore, combined bioinformatics analysis with our mechanistic work, using luciferase reporter assays and RIP, we first demonstrated that HNF1A-AS1 functions as a competing endogenous RNA (ceRNA) with miR-22-3p to regulate ENO1 expression in GBM cells. HNF1A-AS1 directly binds to miR-22-3p and significantly inhibits miR-22-3p expression, while ENO1 expression was increased. miR-22-3p inhibitor offsets the HNF1A-AS1 silencing induced suppression in malignant behaviors of GBM cells. ENO1 was verified as a direct target of miR-22-3p and its expression levels was negatively with the prognosis in GBM patients. Taken together, our study illuminated the definite mechanism of HNF1A-AS1 in promoting GBM malignancy, and provided a novel therapeutic target for further clinical application.

Biological functions and clinical significance of long noncoding RNAs in bladder cancer

Bladder cancer (BCa) is one of the 10 most common cancers with high morbidity and mortality worldwide. Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs), a large class of noncoding RNA transcripts, consist of more than 200 nucleotides and play a significant role in the regulation of molecular interactions and cellular pathways during the occurrence and development of various cancers. In recent years, with the rapid advancement of high-throughput gene sequencing technology, several differentially expressed lncRNAs have been discovered in BCa, and their functions have been proven to have an impact on BCa development, such as cell growth and proliferation, metastasis, epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), angiogenesis, and drug-resistance. Furthermore, evidence suggests that lncRNAs are significantly associated with BCa patients' clinicopathological characteristics, especially tumor grade, TNM stage, and clinical progression stage. In addition, lncRNAs have the potential to more accurately predict BCa patient prognosis, suggesting their potential as diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers for BCa patients in the future. In this review, we briefly summarize and discuss recent research progress on BCa-associated lncRNAs, while focusing on their biological functions and mechanisms, clinical significance, and targeted therapy in BCa oncogenesis and malignant progression.

Long Noncoding RNA LINC00707 Accelerates Tumorigenesis and Progression of Bladder Cancer via Targeting miR-145/CDCA3 Regulatory Loop

INTRODUCTION

Growing studies reveal that long noncoding RNA is involved in oncogenesis and progression. Previous studies have demonstrated that long intergenic noncoding RNA 00707 (LINC00707) stimulated tumor progress in numerous neoplasm types; however, the function of LINC00707 in bladder cancer (BC) was not yet clear. Our researches aimed to determine whether LINC00707 was dysregulated in BC and further study its biological functions.

METHODS

LINC00707 levels in BC tissues and cells were measured using reverse transcription-PCR (RT-PCR), and the associations between the levels of LINC00707 and clinicopathological features and the months of survival were also examined. Then, Cell Counting Kit-8 assays, flow cytometry, colony formation assays, and Transwell assays were applied for the assessment of the impact of LINC00707 on the abilities of BC cells. The interaction between LINC00707 and miR-145 or cell division cycle associated 3 was determined by luciferase reporter system and RT-PCR. Protein expressions of Wnt/β-catenin signaling were examined using RT-PCR and Western blot.

RESULTS

We found that LINC00707 expressions were notably upregulated in BC samples and cells. Higher expressions of LINC00707 were associated with T stage, grade, and shorter overall survival in BC patients. LINC00707 was also an independent prognostic factor for BC. In vitro assays confirmed that silencing LINC00707 expressions suppressed cell proliferation, colony formation, and metastasis. Mechanistic studies elucidated that LINC00707 was directly targeted to miR-145/CDCA3. Western blot assays revealed that Wnt/β-catenin signaling was inactivated by LINC00707 knockdown.

CONCLUSION

Our work offers new insight into the function of LINC00707 in the tumorigenesis of BC.

Integrated bioinformatic analysis of HNF1A in human cancers

OBJECTIVES

Cancer is a threat to human health, and many molecules are involved in the transformation of malignant cells. Hepatocyte nuclear factor 1A (HNF1A) is an important transcription factor that regulates multiple biological processes. Our research focused on elucidating the expression and function of HNF1A in cancer through bioinformatic analysis.

METHODS

UALCAN, Kaplan-Meier plotter, COSMIC, Tumor IMmune Estimation Resource, and Cancer Regulome were used to obtain relevant data for HNF1A.

RESULTS

HNF1A was abnormally expressed in multiple cancers, and its expression was associated with differences in overall survival in patients with cancer. HNF1A mutations widely exist in tumors and interact with different genes involved in various processes. Additionally, we found that HNF1A was associated with the infiltration of immune cells, and it affected the prognostic value of these cells in some cancers.

CONCLUSIONS

HNF1A plays a crucial role in cancer, and it may represent a biomarker and target for future cancer immunotherapy.

Emerging Biomarkers for Predicting Bladder Cancer Lymph Node Metastasis

Bladder cancer is one of the leading causes of cancer deaths worldwide. Early detection of lymph node metastasis of bladder cancer is essential to improve patients' prognosis and overall survival. Current diagnostic methods are limited, so there is an urgent need for new specific biomarkers. Non-coding RNA and m6A have recently been reported to be abnormally expressed in bladder cancer related to lymph node metastasis. In this review, we tried to summarize the latest knowledge about biomarkers, which predict lymph node metastasis in bladder cancer and their mechanisms. In particular, we paid attention to the impact of non-coding RNA on lymphatic metastasis of bladder cancer and its specific molecular mechanisms, as well as some prediction models based on imaging, pathology, and biomolecules, in an effort to find more accurate diagnostic methods for future clinical application.

MYC-activated lncRNA HNF1A-AS1 overexpression facilitates glioma progression via cooperating with miR-32-5p/SOX4 axis

Mounting literatures have revealed the crucial effects of long noncoding RNA (lncRNA) in various cancers, including glioma. HNF1A‐AS1, a novel lncRNA, is reported to modulate tumorigenesis and development of multiple cancers. However, the tumorigenic function of lncRNA HNF1A‐AS1 in glioma remains largely unknown. quantitative reverse transcription and polymerase chain reaction and western blot assays were applied to evaluate the expression of relevant mRNAs and proteins. 5‐Ethynyl‐2’‐ deoxyuridine, terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick‐end labeling, flow cytometry, and transwell assays were conducted for examining the influence of HNF1A‐AS1 on glioma cell functions. The relationship among RNAs was investigated by mechanical experiments. The results demonstrated that HNF1A‐AS1 was predominantly highly expressed in glioma cell lines compared with nontumor glial epithelial cell, which was associated with the stimulation of transcription factor myelocytomatosis oncogene. Knockdown of HNF1A‐AS1 remarkably inhibited glioma cells proliferation, migration, and invasion, while accelerating cell apoptosis in vitro. Mechanically, HNF1A‐AS1 served as a miR‐32‐5p sponge. Moreover, SOX4 was discovered as a target of miR‐32‐5p. Inhibited miR‐32‐5p or upregulated SOX4 could markedly counteract the inhibitory effects of silencing HNF1A‐AS1 on glioma malignant biological behaviors. HNF1A‐AS1 exerted oncogenic property in glioma progression via upregulating miR‐32‐5p–mediated SOX4 expression, suggesting potential novel therapeutic target for future glioma treatment.

LncRNA CCAT1 negatively regulates miR-181a-5p to promote endometrial carcinoma cell proliferation and migration

Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) are identified as vital modulators in a number of biological processes, including tumorigenesis. However, the role of lncRNAs in endometrial carcinoma (EC) remains unknown. In the current study, the expression patterns, biological roles and functional mechanism of the lncRNA colon cancer associated transcript 1 (CCAT1) was examined in EC. The expression level of CCAT1 was significantly upregulated in EC tissue samples compared with matched adjacent healthy tissue samples from patients with endometrial cancer. Similarly, CCAT1 was significantly upregulated in several EC cell lines (KLE, Ishiwaka and HEC-1-A), compared with the normal human endometrial stromal cell line T-HESC. Cell counting kit-8 and Transwell migration assays demonstrated that CCAT1 knockdown significantly decreased EC cell proliferation and migration. In addition, CCAT1 was confirmed as a target gene of miR-181a-5p in EC. Overexpression of miR-181a-5p significantly decreased CCAT1 expression in EC cells, whilst knockdown of CCAT1 significantly increased miR-181a-5p expression in EC cells. Furthermore, miR-181a-5p expression was significantly downregulated in EC tissue samples compared with matched adjacent healthy tissue samples from patients with endometrial cancer. Similarly, miR-181a-5p expression was significantly downregulated in several EC cell lines (KLE, Ishiwaka and HEC-1-A), compared with normal human endometrial stromal cell line T-HESC. In addition, rescue experiments demonstrated that inhibition of miR-181a-5p significantly reversed the effect of CCAT1 knockdown on EC cell proliferation and migration. The results suggest that CCAT1 promotes EC progression by acting as a molecular sponge of miR-181a-5p.