LncRNA FER1L4 suppressed cancer cell growth and invasion in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma

The functions of long noncoding RNAs on regulation of F-box proteins in tumorigenesis and progression

Accumulated evidence has revealed that F-box protein, a subunit of SCF E3 ubiquitin ligase complexes, participates in carcinogenesis and tumor progression via targeting its substrates for ubiquitination and degradation. F-box proteins could be regulated by cellular signaling pathways and noncoding RNAs in tumorigenesis. Long noncoding RNA (lncRNA), one type of noncoding RNAs, has been identified to modulate the expression of F-box proteins and contribute to oncogenesis. In this review, we summarize the role and mechanisms of multiple lncRNAs in regulating F-box proteins in tumorigenesis, including lncRNAs SLC7A11-AS1, MT1JP, TUG1, FER1L4, TTN-AS1, CASC2, MALAT1, TINCR, PCGEM1, linc01436, linc00494, GATA6-AS1, and ODIR1. Moreover, we discuss that targeting these lncRNAs could be helpful for treating cancer via modulating F-box protein expression. We hope our review can stimulate the research on exploration of molecular insight into how F-box proteins are governed in carcinogenesis. Therefore, modulation of lncRNAs is a potential therapeutic strategy for cancer therapy via regulation of F-box proteins.

lncRNA FER1L4 is dysregulated in osteoarthritis and regulates IL-6 expression in human chondrocyte cells

Osteoarthritis (OA) is the most prevalent joint disease and is one of the major causes of disability in the world. There has been an increase in the incidence of OA, which is associated with an aging population, sedentary lifestyle, and reduced physical activity. Due to the complex OA pathogenesis, there are limited diagnostic tools. OA is a degenerative joint disorder with a recognized inflammatory component, usually described as abnormal expression of inflammatory factors. For instance, interleukin 6 (IL‐6) has been shown to be upregulated in serum and synovial fluid among patients with OA. Most of the inflammatory factors have been associated with the expression of long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs). However, the role of the novel lncRNA Fer-1-like protein 4 (FER1L4) in OA is yet to be determined. Here, we interrogated the expression profile of FER1L4 in patients with OA to define its potential application as a diagnostic marker. We collected synovial fluid and blood samples from both OA cases and normal controls. Using qRT-PCR, we evaluated the expression of FER1L4 in plasma and synovial fluid. On the other hand, the expression of IL-6 in plasma and synovial fluid was assessed using ELISA. Besides, the effect of age, gender or disease stage in the expression of the FER1L4 in plasma was also estimated. Moreover, the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were used to determine the impact of FER1L4 in OA cases compared with the normal controls. In addition, we analyzed the correlation between FER1L4 and IL-6 through Pearson correlation analysis. Also, IL-6 expression in overexpressed FER1L4 samples was detected in chondrocytes through western blot analysis, while FER1L4 expression following endogenous IL-6 exposure was detected by qRT-PCR. Our data showed that whereas lncRNA FER1L4 is downregulated in OA patients, IL‐6 is upregulated. The plasma FER1L4 levels among the OA cases were suppressed with disease progression and old age, and the down-regulation could efficiently discriminate OA patients from normal subjects. In addition, upregulation of FER1L4 inhibited IL‐6 expression in human chondrocyte cells, and treatment with different concentrations of exogenous IL‐6 did not affect the expression of FER1L4. Taken together, our data demonstrates that FER1L4 could efficiently identify OA cases from normal subjects, and can also modulate the expression of IL‐6 in human chondrocytes.

Correlation between expression levels of lncRNA FER1L4 and RB1 in patients with colorectal cancer

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a major life-threatening malignancy. Studies demonstrated the lncRNA fer-1 like family member 4 (FER1L4) was downregulated in different cancers and its expression was positively correlated with the retinoblastoma 1 (RB1) mRNA in a competing endogenous RNAs network. We investigated expression levels of FER1L4 and RB1 in patients with colorectal cancer. 50 paired colorectal tumors and non-tumor marginal tissues, 30 paired adenomatous colorectal polyps (ACPs) and matched adjacent normal tissues were obtained from the patients. Total RNA was extracted from the samples and cDNAs were synthesized. Their expression was quantified by qRT-PCR. Correlation between FER1L4 and RB1 expression levels was analyzed by Pearson correlation test. Finally, ROC curve analysis was used to evaluate their biomarker potency. We observed significant downregulation of FER1L4, but upregulation of RB1 in the colorectal tumors compared with non-tumor and the polyp tissues. However, RB1 expression was positively correlated with FER1L4 expression both in the tumor and polyp samples. ROC curve analysis showed both FER1L4 and RB1 expression levels could discriminate tumor from non-tumor and tumor from polyp samples. None of the clinicopathological characteristics of patients were associated with FER1L4 or RB1 expression levels. Despite the downregulation of FER1L4 and upregulation of RB1 in tumors compared with non-tumor tissues, the expression of RB1 was positively correlated with the expression of FER1L4 in the colorectal tumor as well as in the polyp tissues. FER1L4 expression level might be considered as a potential biomarker for colorectal cancer development.

Prognostic value of members of NFAT family for pan-cancer and a prediction model based on NFAT2 in bladder cancer

Bladder cancer (BLCA) is one of the common malignant tumors of the urinary system. The poor prognosis of BLCA patients is due to the lack of early diagnosis and disease recurrence after treatment. Increasing evidence suggests that gene products of the nuclear factor of activated T-cells (NFAT) family are involved in BLCA progression and subsequent interaction(s) with immune surveillance. In this study, we carried out a pan-cancer analysis of the NFAT family and found that NFAT2 is an independent prognostic factor for BLCA. We then screened for differentially expressed genes (DEGs) and further analyzed such candidate gene loci using gene ontology enrichment to curate the KEGG database. We then used Lasso and multivariate Cox regression to identify 4 gene loci (FER1L4, RNF128, EPHB6, and FN1) which were screened together with NFAT2 to construct a prognostic model based on using Kaplan-Meier analysis to predict the overall survival of BLCA patients. Moreover, the accuracy of our proposed model is supported by deposited datasets in the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database. Finally, a nomogram of this prognosis model for BLCA was established which could help to provide better disease management and treatment.

ZFPM2-AS1 facilitates cell growth in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma via up-regulating TRAF4

Emerging evidence has confirmed that long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) are strongly involved in tumor initiation and development. LncRNA ZFPM2 antisense RNA 1 (ZFPM2-AS1) has been identified as a tumor facilitator in some cancers; nevertheless, its functional significance and regulatory mechanism remain greatly unclear in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC). Here, we detected ZFPM2-AS1 expression in ESCC cell lines using qRT-PCR. ZFPM2-AS1 knockdown models were established for investigating the biological function of ZFPM2-AS1 in ESCC cells. The association between miR-3612 and ZFPM2-AS1 or TRAF4 was assessed by RNA pull-down and luciferase reporter assays. The present study indicated that ZFPM2-AS1 was significantly up-regulated in ESCC cells. Functional assays manifested that ZFPM2-AS1 knockdown restrained cell proliferation, migration and invasion, and facilitated cell apoptosis in ESCC. Mechanistically, ZFPM2-AS1 promoted ESCC cell growth and up-regulated TRAF4 to trigger NF-κB pathway by sequestering miR-3612. Besides, miR-3612 was confirmed to be a tumor inhibitor in ESCC. Through restoration experiments, we observed that TRAF4 overexpression could recover the suppressive effect of ZFPM2-AS1 on ESCC cell growth. Collectively, all the results suggested that ZFPM2-AS1 was an oncogene in ESCC cell growth by up-regulating TRAF4 and activating NF-κB pathway.

Bioinformatics-based analysis of the lncRNA-miRNA-mRNA and TF regulatory networks reveals functional genes in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma

Esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) is a 5-year survival rate unsatisfied malignancies. The study aimed to identify the novel diagnostic and prognostic targets for ESCC. Expression profiling (GSE89102, GSE97051, and GSE59973) data were downloaded from the GEO database. Then, differentially expressed (DE) lncRNAs, DEmiRNAs, and genes (DEGs) with P-values < 0.05, and |log₂FC| ≥ 2, were identified using GEO2R. Functional enrichment analysis of miRNA-related mRNAs and lncRNA co-expressed mRNA was performed. LncRNA–miRNA–mRNA, protein–protein interaction of miRNA-related mRNAs and DEGs, co-expression, and transcription factors-hub genes network were constructed. The transcriptional data, the diagnostic and prognostic value of hub genes were estimated with ONCOMINE, receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analyses, and Kaplan–Meier plotter, respectively. Also, the expressions of hub genes were assessed through qPCR and Western blot assays. The CDK1, VEGFA, PRDM10, RUNX1, CDK6, HSP90AA1, MYC, EGR1, and SOX2 used as hub genes. And among them, PRDM10, RUNX1, and CDK6 predicted worse overall survival (OS) in ESCC patients. Our results showed that the hub genes were significantly up-regulated in ESCA primary tumor tissues and cell lines, and exhibited excellent diagnostic efficiency. These results suggest that the hub genes may server as potential targets for the diagnosis and treatment of ESCC.

Effects of FER1L4-miR-106a-5p/miR-372-5p-E2F1 regulatory axis on drug resistance in liver cancer chemotherapy

Liver cancer presents a challenge in today's healthcare system. This study aimed at investigating the effects of Fer-1 like family member 4 (FER1L4) on chemotherapy resistance and liver cancer development by using clinically collected liver cancer tissues and commercially purchased human liver cancer cisplatin-resistant cell line HUH-7/DDP. Bioinformatics analysis, dual luciferase reporter gene assay, and RNA pull-down were applied to predict and verify the possible binding relationships. The expressions of FER1L4, E2F transcription factor 1 (E2F1), microRNA-106a-5p (miR-106a-5p), or miR-372-5p were altered in the cells, followed by flow cytometry, Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK-8), and Transwell assays to evaluate apoptotic, proliferative, and invasive abilities in vitro and nude mice xenografts to observe tumor growth in vivo. FER1L4 was highly expressed and miR-106-5p and miR-372-5p were poorly expressed in tumor cells and tissues. FER1L4 knockdown or the overexpression of miR-106-5p and miR-372-5p inhibited the cancerous cell proliferation and invasion while promoting apoptosis. FERIL4 silencing increased the miR-106-5p/miR-372-5p expression to inhibit the E2F1-activated nuclear factor κB (NF-κB) pathway. Besides, overexpressing FER1L4 led to an increased tumor growth in nude mice, which was reversed by the NF-κB inhibitor pyrollidine dithiocarbamate (PDTC). In conclusion, the results indicated that FER1L4 could inhibit the expression of miR-106a-5p/miR-372-5p, to activate E2F1-mediated NF-κB pathway, leading to drug resistance in liver cancer.

LncRNA FER1L4 Promotes Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma Progression via Targeting miR-133a-5p/Prx1 Axis

Background

Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) is a common cancer especially young people in the world. The long non-coding RNA Fer-1-like protein 4 (FER1L4) has been reported to be closely associated with the progression of various human cancers. However, the role of FER1L4 in OSCC remains unclear.

Methods

The expression level of FER1L4 in OSCC tissues and cancer cell lines was detected by using quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). Cell proliferation was evaluated by cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8) assay and EdU staining assay. Cell invasion and migration were evaluated by Transwell assay. Cell apoptosis was detected by flow cytometry. Luciferase reporter assay was performed to determine the targeting relationship between FER1L4, miR-133a-5p and Prx1. The protein expression of Prx1 was detected by Western blot. In addition, a xenograft tumor model in vivo was constructed to confirm the function of FER1L4.

Results

FERIL4 was significantly upregulated in OSCC tissues and cancer cell lines. Moreover, high level of FER1L4 predicted a poor prognosis of OSCC patients. Silencing of FER1L4 not only significantly inhibited cell growth, invasion, migration and induced apoptosis in SCC-9 and HN4 cells in vitro, but also effectively suppressed the tumorigenesis of OSCC cells in vivo. Knockdown of FER1L4 significantly enhanced the expression of miR-133a-5p by sponging it, and then downregulated Prx1 expression.

Conclusion

Our study elucidated a new mechanism of lncRNA FER1L4 that promoting OSCC progression by directly targeting miR-133a-5p/Prx1 axis and provided novel therapeutic targets for OSCC.

Silencing lncRNA DUXAP8 inhibits lung adenocarcinoma progression by targeting miR-26b-5p

Lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD), a common type of lung cancer, has become a popularly aggressive cancer. Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) play a critical role in the pathogenesis of human cancers, while the function of double homeobox A pseudogene 8 (DUXAP8) in LUAD remains to be fully inquired. Therefore, our study was conducted to elucidate the DUXAP8 expression in LUAD and its mechanism on the biological features of LUAD cells. Loss-of-function experiments were performed to assess the function of DUXAP8 proliferation and apoptosis of H1975 and A549 cells. Functionally, silencing DUXAP8 inhibited proliferation and induced apoptosis of LUAD cells. Mechanistically, further correlation assay indicated a negative association between miR-26b-5p and DUXAP8 expression. Subsequently, we testified that DUXAP8 exerted its role in the progression and development of LUAD through targeting miR-26b-5p. In summary, our results elucidated that that DUXAP8 promoted tumor progression in LUAD by targeting miR-26b-5p, which provide a novel therapeutic target for diagnosis and therapy of LUAD.

Identifying an Eight-Gene Signature to Optimize Overall Survival Prediction of Esophageal Adenocarcinoma Using Bioinformatics Analysis of ceRNA Network

Background and Aims

Esophageal adenocarcinoma (EAC) patients usually have a poor prognosis without early diagnosis. In this study, we aimed to identify a novel signature to improve the prediction of overall survival (OS) in EAC.

Methods

Eighty-one and 68 samples from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) and GSE19417 dataset were included for discovery and survival validation, respectively. In the TCGA cohort, a total of 1,811 DEmRNAs, 1,096 DElncRNAs, and 31 DEmiRNAs were identified between EAC and normal esophagus tissues. A mRNA–miRNA–lncRNA ceRNA network of EAC was established, which consisted of 94 DEmRNAs, 13 DEmiRNAs, and 46 DElncRNAs.

Results

In this study, we identified eight genes (UBE2B, LAMP2, B3GNT2, TAF9B, EFNA1, PHF8, PIGA, and NEURL1) which were related to survival in EAC. The independent external microarray data from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) was used to validate these candidate genes. The prognostic ability of the signature was also validated in EAC patients in our hospital. Patients assigned to the high-risk group had a poor overall survival rate compared with the low-risk.

Conclusion

The current study provides novel insights into the mRNA-related ceRNA network in EAC and the eight mRNA biomarkers may be independent prognostic signatures in predicting the survival of EAC patients.

LOC441178 Overexpression Inhibits the Proliferation and Migration of Esophageal Carcinoma Cells via Methylation of miR-182

Background

Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) have been shown to play an important role in the development and progression of esophageal carcinoma (EC). Recently, lncRNA LOC441178 was shown to be dysregulated in many cancer types; however, the role of LOC441178 in EC remains unclear.

Materials and Methods

Flow cytometry, transwell and wound healing assays were used to measure the apoptosis and migration in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) cells. RT-qPCR was used to detect the level of miR-182 in LOC441178-overexpressed EC cells. In addition, DNA methylation status of miR-182 promoter in LOC441178-overexpressed ESCC cells was detected by methylation-specific PCR (MSP) and bisulfite sequencing PCR.

Results

In this study, we found that LOC441178 negatively regulated miR-182 expression in ESCC cells. In addition, overexpression of LOC441178 inhibited the proliferation and migration and induced apoptosis in ESCC cells via downregulation of miR-182. Moreover, overexpression of LOC441178 markedly inhibited the phosphorylation of Akt and phosphorylation FOXO3a and increased the expression of FOXO3a in ESCC cells via downregulation of miR-182. Mechanistically, LOC441178 overexpression epigenetically suppressed miR-182 expression via DNA methylation. In vivo experiments revealed that overexpression of LOC441178 inhibited ESCC tumor growth in mouse xenograft model.

Conclusion

Collectively, our data suggested that LOC441178 overexpression epigenetically inhibited tumorigenesis of ESCC via DNA methylation of miR-182. These data indicated that the LOC441178/miR-182 axis might represent a novel therapeutic option for the treatment of ESCC.

Long non‑coding RNA fer‑1‑like family member 4 serves as a tumor suppressor in laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma cells via regulating the AKT/ERK signaling pathway

Laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma (LSCC) is a common type of malignant tumor of the head and neck. An increasing number of studies have illustrated that long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) serve an important role in the occurrence and development of LSCC. Therefore, the present study aimed to investigate the expression changes and mechanism of lncRNA fer-1-like family member 4 (FER1L4) in the progression of LSCC. The expression levels of FER1L4 in LSCC cell lines (AMC-HN-8, Tu 686, M4E and M2E) and a normal cell line (HBE135-E6E7) were analyzed using reverse transcription-quantitative PCR. The FER1L4 overexpression plasmid (plasmid-FER1L4) was subsequently transfected into Tu 686 cells to upregulate the expression levels of FER1L4. Cell viability was detected using a Cell Counting Kit-8 assay, cell proliferation was analyzed using a colony formation assay, apoptosis was examined by flow cytometry, and cell migration and invasion were determined using wound healing and Transwell assays, respectively. In addition, the plasmid-FER1L4 cells were also treated with insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) to determine the effect of FER1L4 on the AKT/ERK signaling pathway, and the effect of the plasmid-FER1L4 on the expression levels of AKT/ERK signaling pathway-related proteins were analyzed using western blotting. The results of the present study revealed that FER1L4 expression levels were downregulated in AMC-HN-8 and Tu 686 cells. Notably, FER1L overexpression significantly reduced the cell viability, proliferation, migration and invasion of LSCC cells, while promoting apoptosis. Meanwhile, the plasmid-FER1L4 also significantly suppressed the phosphorylation levels of AKT and ERK. Further studies indicated that the aforementioned changes could be reversed by IGF-1, indicating FER1L4 may regulate the progression of LSCC cells by inhibiting the AKT/ERK signaling pathway. In conclusion, the present study provided a potential novel direction for the treatment of LSCC in the future and suggested that FER1L4 may be a new target in this field.

Back to the Future: Rethinking the Great Potential of lncRNAS for Optimizing Chemotherapeutic Response in Ovarian Cancer

Ovarian cancer (OC) is one of the most fatal cancers in women worldwide. Currently, platinum- and taxane-based chemotherapy is the mainstay for the treatment of OC. Yet, the emergence of chemoresistance results in therapeutic failure and significant relapse despite a consistent rate of primary response. Emerging evidence substantiates the potential role of lncRNAs in determining the response to standard chemotherapy in OC. The objective of this narrative review is to provide an integrated, synthesized overview of the current state of knowledge regarding the role of lncRNAs in the emergence of resistance to platinum- and taxane-based chemotherapy in OC. In addition, we sought to develop conceptual frameworks for harnessing the therapeutic potential of lncRNAs in strategies aimed at enhancing the chemotherapy response of OC. Furthermore, we offered significant new perspectives and insights on the interplay between lncRNAs and the molecular circuitries implicated in chemoresistance to determine their impacts on therapeutic response. Although this review summarizes robust data concerning the involvement of lncRNAs in the emergence of acquired resistance to platinum- and taxane-based chemotherapy in OC, effective approaches for translating these lncRNAs into clinical practice warrant further investigation.

Downregulation of lncRNA-HEIH curbs esophageal squamous cell carcinoma progression by modulating miR-4458/PBX3

Background

Long non‐coding RNAs (lncRNAs) have been found to play a specific part in the development of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC), except for lncRNA HEIH. Here, we aimed to discover the molecular mechanisms of HEIH in ESCC.

Methods

We detected the expression level of HEIH and miR‐4458 in ESCC tissues and cells using qRT‐PCR assay. A dual luciferase reporter assay was used to check the relationship between HEIH, miR‐4458 or PBX3. Counting Clock Kit‐8 (CCK‐8) assay and transwell assay were used to detect ESCC cell proliferation and invasion capability. Western blot analysis was used to measure the protein expression level of PBX3.

Results

HEIH was confirmed to be upregulated in both ESCC tissues and cell lines. Inversely, there was a downregulation of miR‐4458 in ESCC tissues and cell lines. Functionally, we noticed that depletion of HEIH restrained ESCC cell viability, and invasion capability. Moreover, PBX silencing was found to restrain ESCC cell progression, while miR‐4458 or HEIH vector both could alleviate its suppressive effect.

Conclusions

The present study clarified that HEIH regulated ESCC progression by suppressing miR‐4458 and upregulating PBX3. Our findings suggested that HEIH could be a possible therapeutic target for ESCC treatment.

Long non-coding RNA FER1L4 inhibits prostate cancer progression via sponging miR-92a-3p and upregulation of FBXW7

Background

Dysregulation of long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) is involved in development of prostate cancer. However, the molecular mechanisms of many lncRNAs in prostate cancer have not been studied yet.

Methods

The lncRNA Fer-1-like protein 4 (FER1L4) expression was explored in prostate tumors and normal prostate tissues by RT-qPCR and bioinformatic analysis. Overexpression of FER1L4 was performed to evaluate its role in prostate cancer cell proliferation and survival. The molecular mechanism of FER1L4 was investigated by dual luciferase reporter assay, RNA pull down assay, western blotting and RT-qPCR.

Results

It was found that FER1L4 was lower in prostate cancer tissues than normal tissues. Higher expression of FER1L4 was associated with prostate cancer tissues of early stage (AJCC stage I/II). Overexpression of FER1L4 inhibited cell proliferation and promoted cell apoptosis in prostate cancer cells. Bioinformatic analysis, RT-qPCR, RNA pull down assay and dual luciferase assay showed that FER1L4 upregulated F-box/WD repeat-containing protein 7 (FBXW7) tumor suppressor via sponging miR-92a-3p. Silencing of FBXW7 reversed the cell phenotypes caused by FER1L4 overexpression in prostate cancer cells.

Conclusion

The data demonstrated that FER1L4, a downregulated lncRNA in prostate cancer, was pivotal for cell proliferation and survival of prostate cancer. The study provided new sights into understanding of the signaling network in prostate cancer and implied that FER1L4 might be a biomarker for patients with prostate cancer.

Functions of Vertebrate Ferlins

Ferlins are multiple-C2-domain proteins involved in Ca²⁺-triggered membrane dynamics within the secretory, endocytic and lysosomal pathways. In bony vertebrates there are six ferlin genes encoding, in humans, dysferlin, otoferlin, myoferlin, Fer1L5 and 6 and the long noncoding RNA Fer1L4. Mutations in DYSF (dysferlin) can cause a range of muscle diseases with various clinical manifestations collectively known as dysferlinopathies, including limb-girdle muscular dystrophy type 2B (LGMD2B) and Miyoshi myopathy. A mutation in MYOF (myoferlin) was linked to a muscular dystrophy accompanied by cardiomyopathy. Mutations in OTOF (otoferlin) can be the cause of nonsyndromic deafness DFNB9. Dysregulated expression of any human ferlin may be associated with development of cancer. This review provides a detailed description of functions of the vertebrate ferlins with a focus on muscle ferlins and discusses the mechanisms leading to disease development.

Long non-coding RNA FER1L4 promotes osteogenic differentiation of human periodontal ligament stromal cells via miR-874-3p and vascular endothelial growth factor A

Background

Periodontal ligament stromal cells (PDLSCs) are ideal cell sources for periodontal tissue repair and regeneration, but little is known about what determines their osteogenic capacity. Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) are important regulatory molecules at both transcriptional and post-transcriptional levels. However, their roles in the osteogenic differentiation of PDLSCs are still largely unknown.

Methods

The expression of lncRNA Fer-1-like family member 4 (FER1L4) during the osteogenic differentiation of PDLSCs was detected by quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction. Overexpression or knockdown of FER1L4 was used to confirm its regulation of osteogenesis in PDLSCs. Alkaline phosphatase and Alizarin red S staining were used to detect mineral deposition. Dual luciferase reporter assays were used to analyze the binding of miR-874-3p to FER1L4 and vascular endothelial growth factor A (VEGFA). Bone regeneration in critical-sized calvarial defects was assessed in nude mice. New bone formation was analyzed by micro-CT, hematoxylin and eosin staining, Masson’s trichrome staining, and immunohistochemical analyses.

Results

FER1L4 levels increased gradually during consecutive osteogenic induction of PDLSCs. Overexpression of FER1L4 promoted the osteogenic differentiation of PDLSCs, as revealed by alkaline phosphatase activity, Alizarin red S staining, and the expression of osteogenic markers, whereas FER1L4 knockdown inhibited these processes. Subsequently, we identified a predicted binding site for miR-874-3p on FER1L4 and confirmed a direct interaction between them. Wild-type FER1L4 reporter activity was significantly inhibited by miR-874-3p, whereas mutant FER1L4 reporter was not affected. MiR-874-3p inhibited osteogenic differentiation and reversed the promotion of osteogenesis in PDLSCs by FER1L4. Moreover, miR-874-3p targeted VEGFA, a crucial gene in osteogenic differentiation, whereas FER1L4 upregulated the expression of VEGFA. In vivo, overexpression of FER1L4 led to more bone formation compared to the control group, as demonstrated by micro-CT and the histologic analyses.

Conclusion

FER1L4 positively regulates the osteogenic differentiation of PDLSCs via miR-874-3p and VEGFA. Our study provides a promising target for enhancing the osteogenic potential of PDLSCs and periodontal regeneration.

Emerging Role of Non-Coding RNAs in Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma

Esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) is a highly prevalent tumor and is associated with ethnicity, genetics, and dietary intake. Non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs), specifically microRNAs (miRNAs), long ncRNAs (lncRNAs), and circular RNAs (circRNAs) have been reported as functional regulatory molecules involved in the development of many human cancers, including ESCC. Recently, several ncRNAs have been detected as oncogenes or tumor suppressors in ESCC progression. These ncRNAs influence the expression of specific genes or their associated signaling pathways. Moreover, interactions of ncRNAs are evident in ESCC, as miRNAs regulate the expression of lncRNAs, and further, lncRNAs and circRNAs function as miRNA sponges to compete with the endogenous RNAs. Here, we discuss and summarize the findings of recent investigations into the role of ncRNAs (miRNAs, lncRNAs, and circRNAs) in the development and progression of ESCC and how their interactions regulate ESCC development.

SNHG8 is upregulated in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma and directly sponges microRNA-411 to increase oncogenicity by upregulating KPNA2

Background

The long noncoding RNA, small nucleolar RNA host gene 8 (SNHG8), is upregulated in multiple human cancer types. However, whether SNHG8 is aberrantly expressed in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) and its biological functions have yet to be elucidated. Thus, we aimed to determine the expression status of SNHG8 in ESCC, explore the effects of SNHG8 on the oncogenicity of ESCC, and investigate the potential underlying mechanisms.

Methods

SNHG8 expression in ESCC tissues and cell lines was determined via reverse-transcription quantitative polymerase chain reaction. The actions of SNHG8 on the malignant characteristics of ESCC were explored using CCK-8 assay, flow-cytometric analysis, Transwell migration and invasion assays, and tumor xenografts in nude mice.

Results

SNHG8 expression was significantly higher in ESCC tissues and cell lines. High SNHG8 expression was revealed to closely correlate with primary tumor invasion depth, lymph node metastases, TNM stage, and worse overall survival among patients with ESCC. Functional investigation showed that ablation of SNHG8 notably restricted ESCC cell proliferation, migration, and invasion while inducing apoptosis in vitro and hindered tumor growth in vivo. In the meantime, SNHG8 acted as a molecular sponge of microRNA-411 (miR-411) in ESCC. Furthermore, miR-411 exerted a tumor-suppressive effect on ESCC cells, and karyopherin alpha 2 (KPNA2) turned out to be a direct target gene of miR-411. Restoring KPNA2 expression neutralized the inhibitory effects of miR-411 overexpression on the malignant behaviors of ESCC cells. Moreover, silencing of miR-411 abrogated the influence of SNHG8 downregulation in ESCC cells.

Conclusion

SNHG8 may play oncogenic roles in the malignancy of ESCC by sponging miR-411 to increase KPNA2 expression. The SNHG8–miR-411–KPNA2 pathway may be a novel target for the treatment of patients with ESCC and offer potential biomarkers for the diagnosis and prognosis of ESCC.

Ferlin Overview: From Membrane to Cancer Biology

In mammal myocytes, endothelial cells and inner ear cells, ferlins are proteins involved in membrane processes such as fusion, recycling, endo- and exocytosis. They harbour several C2 domains allowing their interaction with phospholipids. The expression of several Ferlin genes was described as altered in several tumoural tissues. Intriguingly, beyond a simple alteration, myoferlin, otoferlin and Fer1L4 expressions were negatively correlated with patient survival in some cancer types. Therefore, it can be assumed that membrane biology is of extreme importance for cell survival and signalling, making Ferlin proteins core machinery indispensable for cancer cell adaptation to hostile environments. The evidences suggest that myoferlin, when overexpressed, enhances cancer cell proliferation, migration and metabolism by affecting various aspects of membrane biology. Targeting myoferlin using pharmacological compounds, gene transfer technology, or interfering RNA is now considered as an emerging therapeutic strategy.