Long non-coding RNA SNHG5 promotes human hepatocellular carcinoma progression by regulating miR-363-3p/RNF38 axis

Role of microRNA-363 during tumor progression and invasion

Recent progresses in diagnostic and therapeutic methods have significantly improved prognosis in cancer patients. However, cancer is still considered as one of the main causes of human deaths in the world. Late diagnosis in advanced tumor stages can reduce the effectiveness of treatment methods and increase mortality rate of cancer patients. Therefore, investigating the molecular mechanisms of tumor progression can help to introduce the early diagnostic markers in these patients. MicroRNA (miRNAs) has an important role in regulation of pathophysiological cellular processes. Due to their high stability in body fluids, they are always used as the non-invasive markers in cancer patients. Since, miR-363 deregulation has been reported in a wide range of cancers, we discussed the role of miR-363 during tumor progression and metastasis. It has been reported that miR-363 has mainly a tumor suppressor function through the regulation of transcription factors, apoptosis, cell cycle, and structural proteins. MiR-363 also affected the tumor progression via regulation of various signaling pathways such as WNT, MAPK, TGF-β, NOTCH, and PI3K/AKT. Therefore, miR-363 can be introduced as a probable therapeutic target as well as a non-invasive diagnostic marker in cancer patients.

Long non-coding RNA small nucleolar RNA host genes: functions and mechanisms in hepatocellular carcinoma

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the most common malignant tumors of the digestive system, with a high degree of malignancy. Although treatment methods are constantly improving, the mortality of patients is still very high, and the small nucleolar RNA host gene (SNHG) plays an important role in the occurrence and development of cancer. It can activate downstream signaling molecules by acting on microRNA and microRNA target genes, promote the proliferation, invasion, and migration of HCC cells, and provide a new molecular target for the treatment of HCC. At present, the molecular mechanisms of HCC remain unclear. In this study, the mechanism and signaling pathway of SNHG in HCC are reviewed, which provides a theoretical basis for the clinical treatment of HCC.

SPATS2 is positively activated by long noncoding RNA SNHG5 via regulating DNMT3a expression to promote hepatocellular carcinoma progression

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the most prevalent malignant tumors with high mortality worldwide. Spermatogenesis-associated serine-rich 2 (SPATS2) could be a novel diagnostic and prognostic biomarker in HCC. However, the regulatory mechanism of SPATS2 in HCC requires further elucidation. Therefore, the study’s objective was to investigate this process in HCC. In this study, we found that SPATS2 is significantly upregulated in HepG2 cells to promote cell growth and migration. SPATS2 is the target transcript of lncRNA SNHG5. SPATS2 positively affects the proliferation and migration of HepG2 cells caused by the higher expression of SNHG5. Mechanistically, we identified that the elevated of SPATS2 was attributed to SNHG5 related hypomethylation of SPATS2. SNHG5 reduced the expression of DNMT3a to suppress the methylation level of SPATS2. Taken together, our results uncover a novel epigenetic regulatory mechanism of lncRNA SNHG5-DNMT3a axis-related SPATS2 expression underlying HCC progression. This may serve as a novel prognostic marker and a promising therapeutic target for the treatment of HCC.

MicroRNA-363-3p, negatively regulated by long non-coding RNA small nucleolar RNA host gene 5, inhibits tumor progression by targeting Aurora kinase A in colorectal cancer

MicroRNA-363-3p (miR-363-3p), reportedly, exhibits a tumor-suppressive role in human malignancies. Herein, our research was designed to further explain the functions and molecular mechanisms of miR-363-3p in the progression of colorectal cancer (CRC). With in vitro models, this study found that miR-363-3p was markedly under-expressed in CRC tissues and cells, and its overexpression suppressed the viability, migration, and invasion of CRC cells, and promoted cell apoptosis, whereas inhibiting miR-363-3p expression exhibited an opposite role. Additionally, aurora kinase A (AURKA), capable of counteracting the impacts of miR-363-3p on malignant biological behaviors of CRC cells, was identified as a direct target of miR-363-3p. Besides, miR-363-3p was sponged by long non-coding RNA small nucleolar RNA host gene 5 (SNHG5), which suppressed miR-363-3p expression. This research shows that SNHG5/miR-363-3p/AURKA axis partakes in CRC progression.

Hepigenetics: A Review of Epigenetic Modulators and Potential Therapies in Hepatocellular Carcinoma

Hepatocellular carcinoma is the fifth most common cancer worldwide and the second most lethal, following lung cancer. Currently applied therapeutic practices rely on surgical resection, chemotherapy and radiotherapy, or a combination thereof. These treatment options are associated with extreme adversities, and risk/benefit ratios do not always work in patients' favor. Anomalies of the epigenome lie at the epicenter of aberrant molecular mechanisms by which the disease develops and progresses. Modulation of these anomalous events poses a promising prospect for alternative treatment options, with an abundance of felicitous results reported in recent years. Herein, the most recent epigenetic modulators in hepatocellular carcinoma are recapitulated on.

Long Noncoding RNA PRR34-AS1 Aggravates the Progression of Hepatocellular Carcinoma by Adsorbing microRNA-498 and Thereby Upregulating FOXO3

Purpose

Long noncoding RNAs are differentially expressed in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and have been validated as essential regulators in HCC. However, there is limited knowledge regarding the detailed roles and mechanisms of most lncRNAs in HCC cells. In this study, the expression profiles of PRR34 antisense RNA 1 (PRR34-AS1) in HCC tissues and cell lines were determined. In addition, the detailed roles and underlying mechanisms of PRR34-AS1 in HCC cells were comprehensively elucidated.

Methods

Reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was performed to measure PRR34-AS1 expression in HCC cells. Cell proliferation, apoptosis, and migration and invasion were evaluated in vitro using the cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8) assay, flow cytometric analysis, and transwell cell migration and invasion assays, respectively. In vivo tumor growth was determined using tumor xenograft experiments. The potential miRNA targets of PRR34-AS1 were predicted via bioinformatic analysis and further confirmed using the luciferase reporter assay, RNA immunoprecipitation assay, and reverse transcription-quantitative PCR.

Results

PRR34-AS1 was highly expressed in HCC tissues and cell lines, and its interference suppressed HCC cell proliferation, migration, and invasion but promoted cell apoptosis in vitro. In addition, loss of PRR34-AS1 decreased tumor growth in HCC cells in vivo. Mechanistically, PRR34-AS1 functions as a miR-498 sponge and subsequently increases forkhead box O3 (FOXO3) expression in HCC cells. Rescue experiments revealed that the suppressive effects triggered by PRR34-AS1 knockdown on the malignant characteristics of HCC cells could be abrogated by inhibiting miR-498 or restoring FOXO3 expression.

Conclusion

The depletion of PRR34-AS1 suppresses the oncogenicity of HCC cells by targeting the miR-498/FOXO3 axis. Therefore, the PRR34-AS1/miR-498/FOXO3 pathway may offer a basis for HCC treatment.

Latest Advances of Long Non-Coding RNA SNHG5 in Human Cancers

Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) have been potent regulators in the initiation and development of human cancers regarding their biological roles in the modulation of dosage compensation effect, epigenetics and cell differentiation. Recently, aberrant expression of lncRNA small nucleolar RNA host gene 5 (SNHG5) has been observed in various solid tumors, which was intently correlated with tumor range, metastasis, pathological stage and prognosis. Additional mechanical investigation disclosed that SNHG5 was involved in multiple cellular activities, including proliferation, migration, invasion, cell-cycle, apoptosis and autophagy, via targeting miRNAs, signaling pathways and other biological molecules or proteins. In this review, we summarized the latest advances made towards understanding the roles of SNHG5 in human cancers and further discussed potential methods that could be adopted for clinical interventions.