Implication of non-coding RNA-mediated ROCK1 regulation in various diseases

THE ROLE OF N6-METHYLADENOSINE METHYLTRANSFERASE RBM15 IN NONALCOHOLIC FATTY LIVER DISEASE

ABSTRACT

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a prevalent liver disorder with significant health implications. N6-methyladenosine (m6A) methyltransferase is known to exert regulatory functions in liver-related diseases. This study investigates the intricate role of RNA binding motif protein 15 (RBM15) in modulating inflammation and oxidative stress in NAFLD. An NAFLD model was induced in mice (male, C57BL/6J, 72 mice in the sham group) through a high-fat diet for 9 weeks, and hepatocytes were exposed to long chain-free fatty acids. The expression levels of RBM15, ring finger protein 5 (RNF5), and rho-kinase 1 (ROCK1) were assessed. RBM15 expression was intervened (injection of AAV9 virus at week 9 and detection at week 11). Liver damage was evaluated using staining assays, along with assessments of weight changes and lipid levels. Notably, RBM15 (decreased approximately 40%/60%) and RNF5 (decreased approximately 60%/75%) were poorly expressed while ROCK1 (increased approximately 2.5-fold) was highly expressed in liver tissues and cells. RBM15 overexpression mitigated liver damage, inflammation, and oxidative stress in NAFLD mice, resulting in reduced liver-to-body weight ratio (20%) and decreased levels of alanine aminotransferase (54%), aspartate aminotransferase (36%), total cholesterol (30%), and triglycerides (30%), and inhibited inflammation and oxidative stress levels. Mechanistically, RBM15 upregulated RNF5 expression through m6A methylation modification, and RNF5 suppressed ROCK1 protein levels through ubiquitination modification. RNF5 knockdown or ROCK1 overexpression accelerated inflammation and oxidative stress in NAFLD. Taken together, RBM15 upregulated RNF5 expression through m6A methylation modification. RNF5 inhibited ROCK1 expression through ubiquitination modification to mitigate NAFLD.

Signal Pathways and microRNAs in Osteosarcoma Growth and the Dual Role of Mesenchymal Stem Cells in Oncogenesis

The major challenges in Osteosarcoma (OS) therapy are its heterogeneity and drug resistance. The development of new therapeutic approaches to overcome the major growth mechanisms of OS is urgently needed. The search for specific molecular targets and promising innovative approaches in OS therapy, including drug delivery methods, is an urgent problem. Modern regenerative medicine focuses on harnessing the potential of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) because they have low immunogenicity. MSCs are important cells that have received considerable attention in cancer research. Currently, new cell-based methods for using MSCs in medicine are being actively investigated and tested, especially as carriers for chemotherapeutics, nanoparticles, and photosensitizers. However, despite the inexhaustible regenerative potential and known anticancer properties of MSCs, they may trigger the development and progression of bone tumors. A better understanding of the complex cellular and molecular mechanisms of OS pathogenesis is essential to identify novel molecular effectors involved in oncogenesis. The current review focuses on signaling pathways and miRNAs involved in the development of OS and describes the role of MSCs in oncogenesis and their potential for antitumor cell-based therapy.