Enhancement of Breast Cancer Cell Aggressiveness by lncRNA H19 and its Mir-675 Derivative: Insight into Shared and Different Actions

lncRNA H19 plays a role in multiple myeloma via interacting with hnRNPA2B1 to stabilize BET proteins by targeting osteoclasts and osteoblasts

BACKGROUND

Multiple myeloma (MM), characterized with bone marrow microenvironment disorder, accounts for about 20% of hematological cancer deaths globally. Tissue extracellular communication, especially extracellular vesicles, has been defined as important mediator among cell-to-cell cross-talk. Our previous study revealed an elevated level of H19 in MM, whereas, its role in MM exosomes in the development of osteolysis remains largely unknown.

METHOD

MM exosomes referring to 5TGM1 cells were isolated and characterized using transmission electron microscopy (TEM), nanoparticle tracking and western blot analysis. The biological effects of blocking H19 were examined on osteolysis in vivo of C57Bl6/KalwRij mice, as well as on the osteoclast differentiation in vitro of RAW264.7 cells, by the application of TRAP, either with osteogenic differentiation in vitro of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs), by the detection of alkaline phosphatase (ALP), alizarin red dye staining (ARS). The targeted relationships among H19/hnRNPA2B1/BET proteins were validated through RNA immunoprecipitation (RIP) and RNA pull-down assays.

RESULTS

5TGM1 cells derived-exosomes lacking H19 dramatically blocked osteolysis and boosted osteogeneis in C57Bl6/KalwRij mice, either with osteoclastic differentiation of RAW264.7 cells and osteogenic differentiation of BMSCs, thereby enhancing their resorptive activity. Physically, H19 interacted with hnRNPA2B1 by preferentially adhering to it and enhancing its nuclear-cytoplasmic translocation. Further mechanistic research validated that H19 promoted the stabilization of BET proteins through hnRNA2B1 to be involved in osteoclast differentiation for contributing to MM progression.

CONCLUSION

Altogether, our findings suggest that H19, serving as an essential role for exosomes in the bone marrow environment, might be a viable diagnostic and therapeutic target for MM therapy.

Influence of H19 polymorphisms on breast cancer: risk assessment and prognostic implications via LincRNA H19/miR-675 and downstream pathways

Introduction

Breast cancer, as the most prevalent malignancy among women globally, continues to exhibit rising incidence rates, particularly in China. The disease predominantly affects women aged 40 to 60 and is influenced by both genetic and environmental factors. This study focuses on the role of H19 gene polymorphisms, investigating their impact on breast cancer susceptibility, clinical outcomes, and response to treatment.

Methods

We engaged 581 breast cancer patients and 558 healthy controls, using TaqMan assays and DNA sequencing to determine genotypes at specific loci (rs11042167, rs2071095, rs2251375). We employed in situ hybridization and immunohistochemistry to measure the expression levels of LincRNA H19, miR-675, MRP3, HOXA1, and MMP16 in formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded samples. Statistical analyses included chi-squared tests, logistic regression, and Kaplan-Meier survival curves to evaluate associations between genetic variations, gene expression, and clinical outcomes.

Results

Genotypes AG at rs11042167, GT at rs2071095, and AC at rs2251375 were significantly associated with increased risk of breast cancer. Notably, the AA genotype at rs11042167 and TT genotype at rs2071095 were linked to favorable prognosis. High expression levels of LincRNA H19, miR-675, MRP3, HOXA1, and MMP16 in cancer tissues correlated with advanced disease stages and poorer survival rates. Spearman correlation analysis revealed significant positive correlations between the expression of LincRNA H19 and miR-675 and specific genotypes, highlighting their potential regulatory roles in tumor progression.

Discussion

The study underscores the critical roles of LincRNA H19 and miR-675 as prognostic biomarkers in breast cancer, with their overexpression associated with disease progression and adverse outcomes. The H19/LincRNA H19/miR-675/MRP3-HOXA1-MMP16 axis offers promising targets for new therapeutic strategies, reflecting the complex interplay between genetic markers and breast cancer pathology.

Conclusion

The findings confirm that certain H19 SNPs are associated with heightened breast cancer risk and that the expression profiles of related genetic markers can significantly influence prognosis and treatment response. These biomarkers hold potential as targets for personalized therapy and early detection strategies in breast cancer, underscoring the importance of genetic research in understanding and managing this disease.

Serum long non-coding Ribonucleic Acid H19 serves as a biomarker for systemic lupus erythematosus and participates in the disease progression

AIM

This study aimed to investigate the expression of H19 and its possible molecular mechanism in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE).

METHODS

The expression of H19 and miR-19b in serum and peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) were detected by reverse transcription quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR). Receiver operator characteristic (ROC) curve was constructed to evaluate the diagnostic value of serum H19 in SLE. Pearson correlation coefficient was used to analyze the correlation between serum levels of H19 and miR-19b. Flow cytometry and Cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8) assay were performed to detect cell apoptosis and viability. The levels of pro-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory factors were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Luciferase reporter gene assay was conducted to verify the interaction between H19 and miR-19b.

RESULTS

The expression of H19 and miR-19b in SLE group were up-regulated and down-regulated, respectively. Serum H19 has certain clinical diagnostic value in SLE. In in vitro studies, overexpression of H19 can significantly inhibit the viability of PBMCs and promote apoptosis and inflammatory response of PBMCs by interacting with miR-19b.

CONCLUSIONS

The expression of H19 is upregulated in patients with SLE and plays a role in cell function and inflammation by targeting miR-19b in PBMCs, which may be one of the pathological mechanisms of SLE.

β-Elemene Reverses Gefitinib Resistance in NSCLC Cells by Inhibiting lncRNA H19-Mediated Autophagy

Lung cancer is a leading cause of mortality worldwide, especially among Asian patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) who have epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) mutations. Initially, first-generation EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) are commonly administered as the primary treatment option; however, encountering resistance to these medications poses a significant obstacle. Hence, it has become crucial to address initial resistance and ensure continued effectiveness. Recent research has focused on the role of long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) in tumor drug resistance, especially lncRNA H19. β-elemene, derived from Curcuma aromatic Salisb., has shown strong anti-tumor effects. However, the relationship between β-elemene, lncRNA H19, and gefitinib resistance in NSCLC is unclear. This study aims to investigate whether β-elemene can enhance the sensitivity of gefitinib-resistant NSCLC cells to gefitinib and to elucidate its mechanism of action. The impact of gefitinib and β-elemene on cell viability was evaluated using the cell counting kit-8 (CCK8) assay. Furthermore, western blotting and qRT-PCR analysis were employed to determine the expression levels of autophagy-related proteins and genes, respectively. The influence on cellular proliferation was gauged through a colony-formation assay, and apoptosis induction was quantified via flow cytometry. Additionally, the tumorigenic potential in vivo was assessed using a xenograft model in nude mice. The expression levels of LC3B, EGFR, and Rab7 proteins were examined through immunofluorescence. Our findings elucidate that the resistance to gefitinib is intricately linked with the dysregulation of autophagy and the overexpression of lncRNA H19. The synergistic administration of β-elemene and gefitinib markedly attenuated the proliferative capacity of resistant cells, expedited apoptotic processes, and inhibited the in vivo proliferation of lung cancer. Notably, β-elemene profoundly diminished the expression of lncRNA H19 and curtailed autophagic activity in resistant cells, thereby bolstering their responsiveness to gefitinib. Moreover, β-elemene disrupted the Rab7-facilitated degradation pathway of EGFR, facilitating its repositioning to the plasma membrane. β-elemene emerges as a promising auxiliary therapeutic for circumventing gefitinib resistance in NSCLC, potentially through the regulation of lncRNA H19-mediated autophagy. The participation of Rab7 in this dynamic unveils novel insights into the resistance mechanisms operative in lung cancer, paving the way for future therapeutic innovations.

Knockdown H19 Accelerated iPSCs Reprogramming through Epigenetic Modifications and Mesenchymal-to-Epithelial Transition

H19 is an essential imprinted gene that is expressed to govern normal embryonic development. During reprogramming, the parental pronuclei have asymmetric reprogramming capacities and the critical reprogramming factors predominantly reside in the male pronucleus. After inhibiting the expression of H19 and Gtl2, androgenetic haploid ESCs (AG-haESCs) can efficiently and stably support the generation of healthy SC pups at a rate of ~20%, and double-knockout parthenogenetic haESCs can also produce efficiently. Induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cell reprogramming is thought to have a characteristic epigenetic pattern that is the reverse of its developmental potential; however, it is unclear how H19 participates in iPS cell reprogramming. Here, we showed that the expression of H19 was transiently increased during iPSC reprogramming. H19 knockdown resulted in greater reprogramming efficiency. The genes associated with pluripotency showed enhanced expression during the early reprogramming process, and the Oct4 promoter was demethylated by bisulfite genomic sequencing analysis. Moreover, expression analysis revealed that the mesenchymal master regulators associated with epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) were downregulated during reprogramming in H19 knockdown. These findings provide functional insight into the role of H19 as a barrier to the early reprogramming process.

Long noncoding RNAs as regulators of epithelial mesenchymal transition in breast cancer: A recent review

AIMS

Breast cancer (BC) is the most frequently occurring cancer in women worldwide. BC patients are often diagnosed at advanced stages which are characterized by low survival rates. Distant metastasis is considered a leading cause of mortalities among BC patients. Epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) is a transdifferentiation program that is necessary for cancer cells to acquire metastatic potential. In the last decade, long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) proved their significant contribution to different hallmarks of cancer, including EMT and metastasis. The primary aim of our review is to analyze recent studies concerning the molecular mechanisms of lncRNAs implicated in EMT regulation in BC.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We adopted a comprehensive search on databases of PubMed, Web of Science, and Google Scholar using the following keywords: lncRNAs, EMT, breast cancer, and therapeutic targeting.

KEY FINDINGS

The different roles of lncRNAs in the mechanisms and signaling pathways governing EMT in BC were summarized. LncRNAs could induce or inhibit EMT through WNT/β-catenin, transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β), Notch, phosphoinositide 3-kinase/protein kinase B (PI3K/AKT), signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3), and nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) pathways as well as via their interaction with histone modifying complexes and miRNAs.

SIGNIFICANCE

LncRNAs are key regulators of EMT and BC metastasis, presenting potential targets for therapeutic interventions. Further research is necessary to investigate the practical application of lncRNAs in clinical therapeutics.

LncRNA H19: a novel player in the regulation of diabetic kidney disease

Diabetic kidney disease (DKD), one of the most severe complications of diabetes mellitus (DM), has received considerable attention owing to its increasing prevalence and contribution to chronic kidney disease (CKD) and end-stage kidney disease (ESRD). However, the use of drugs targeting DKD remains limited. Recent data suggest that long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) play a vital role in the development of DKD. The lncRNA H19 is the first imprinted gene, which is expressed in the embryo and down-regulated at birth, and its role in tumors has long been a subject of controversy, however, in recent years, it has received increasing attention in kidney disease. The LncRNA H19 is engaged in the pathological progression of DKD, including glomerulosclerosis and tubulointerstitial fibrosis via the induction of inflammatory responses, apoptosis, ferroptosis, pyroptosis, autophagy, and oxidative damage. In this review, we highlight the most recent research on the molecular mechanism and regulatory forms of lncRNA H19 in DKD, including epigenetic, post-transcriptional, and post-translational regulation, providing a new predictive marker and therapeutic target for the management of DKD.

Long non-coding RNA H19: a potential biomarker and therapeutic target in human malignant tumors

Long non-coding RNAs play important roles in cellular functions and disease development. H19, as a long non-coding RNA, is pervasively over-expressed in almost all kinds of human malignant tumors. Although many studies have reported that H19 is closely associated with tumor cell proliferation, apoptosis, invasion, metastasis, and chemoresistance, the role and mechanism of H19 in gene regulation and tumor development are largely unclear. In this review, we summarized the recent progress in the study of the major functions and mechanisms of H19 lncRNA in cancer development and progression. H19 possesses both oncogenic and tumor-suppressing activities, presumably through regulating target gene transcription, mRNA stability and splicing, and competitive inhibition of endogenous RNA degradation. Studies indicate that H19 may involve in cell proliferation and apoptosis, tumor initiation, migration, invasion, metastasis and chemoresistance and may serve as a potential biomarker for early diagnosis, prognosis, and novel molecular target for cancer therapy.

Long noncoding RNA (lncRNA) H19: An essential developmental regulator with expanding roles in cancer, stem cell differentiation, and metabolic diseases

Recent advances in deep sequencing technologies have revealed that, while less than 2% of the human genome is transcribed into mRNA for protein synthesis, over 80% of the genome is transcribed, leading to the production of large amounts of noncoding RNAs (ncRNAs). It has been shown that ncRNAs, especially long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs), may play crucial regulatory roles in gene expression. As one of the first isolated and reported lncRNAs, H19 has gained much attention due to its essential roles in regulating many physiological and/or pathological processes including embryogenesis, development, tumorigenesis, osteogenesis, and metabolism. Mechanistically, H19 mediates diverse regulatory functions by serving as competing endogenous RNAs (CeRNAs), Igf2/H19 imprinted tandem gene, modular scaffold, cooperating with H19 antisense, and acting directly with other mRNAs or lncRNAs. Here, we summarized the current understanding of H19 in embryogenesis and development, cancer development and progression, mesenchymal stem cell lineage-specific differentiation, and metabolic diseases. We discussed the potential regulatory mechanisms underlying H19's functions in those processes although more in-depth studies are warranted to delineate the exact molecular, cellular, epigenetic, and genomic regulatory mechanisms underlying the physiological and pathological roles of H19. Ultimately, these lines of investigation may lead to the development of novel therapeutics for human diseases by exploiting H19 functions.

A Panel of Circulating Non-Coding RNAs in the Diagnosis and Monitoring of Therapy in Egyptian Patients with Breast Cancer

Background: Non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) have recently been identified to have a pivotal role in many diseases, including breast cancer (BC). This study aims to investigate the relative quantification of long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) H19, microRNA (miR) 675-5p, 675-3p, and miR-let 7 in breast cancer patients. Methods: The study was performed on three groups: Group 1: 30 non-intervened BC female patients about to undergo breast surgery; group 2: 30 postoperative female BC patients about to receive adjuvant anthracycline chemotherapy; and group 3: 30 apparently healthy female volunteers as the control group. Plasma samples were drawn before and after the intervention in groups 1 and 2, with a single sample drawn from group 3. The relative quantification levels were compared with healthy control subjects and were related with the clinicopathological statuses of these patients. Results: There was a statistically significant increase in H19, miR-675-5p, miR-675-3p, and miR-let 7 in the non-intervened BC patients when compared to the control group. Surgery resulted in a significant reduction in all four ncRNAs under investigation. Chemotherapy brought about a significant increase in the level of miR-let 7, with no significant effect on the remaining parameters measured. The assay discriminated normal from BC where a receiver operating characteristic for the area under the curve (ROC_AUC) of miR-675-3p showed the maximal AUC of 1.000. The diagnostic sensitivity and specificity were also 100% when CA 15-3 and H19 were combined. Conclusion: The results strongly indicate that the panel of ncRNAs in this study can all potentially act as novel biomarkers whether alone or combined in the diagnosis of BC.

D. P, C. M, M. LI, C. D, G. P, D. C, A. T, M. G, S. DF, M. T, V. V, G. S. Targeting epigenetic alterations in cancer stem cells

Oncogenes or tumor suppressor genes are rarely mutated in several pediatric tumors and some early stage adult cancers. This suggests that an aberrant epigenetic reprogramming may crucially affect the tumorigenesis of these tumors. Compelling evidence support the hypothesis that cancer stem cells (CSCs), a cell subpopulation within the tumor bulk characterized by self-renewal capacity, metastatic potential and chemo-resistance, may derive from normal stem cells (NSCs) upon an epigenetic deregulation. Thus, a better understanding of the specific epigenetic alterations driving the transformation from NSCs into CSCs may help to identify efficacious treatments to target this aggressive subpopulation. Moreover, deepening the knowledge about these alterations may represent the framework to design novel therapeutic approaches also in the field of regenerative medicine in which bioengineering of NSCs has been evaluated. Here, we provide a broad overview about: 1) the role of aberrant epigenetic modifications contributing to CSC initiation, formation and maintenance, 2) the epigenetic inhibitors in clinical trial able to specifically target the CSC subpopulation, and 3) epigenetic drugs and stem cells used in regenerative medicine for cancer and diseases.

Ginsenoside Rd inhibits migration and invasion of tongue cancer cells through H19/miR-675-5p/CDH1 axis

Objective

Tongue squamous cell carcinoma (TSCC) is an oral cancer, with high malignancy and frequent early migration and invasion. Only a few drugs can treat tongue cancer. Ginsenoside Rd is a ginseng extract with anti-cancer effects. Many noncoding RNAs are abnormally expressed in tongue cancer, thus influencing its occurrence and development. H19 and miR-675-5p can promote cancer cell growth. This study aimed to analyze the regulation effect of ginsenoside Rd on H19 and miR-675-5p in tongue cancer.

Methodology

We used CCK8 and flow cytometry to study the growth and apoptosis. Transwell assay was used to assess invasion; wound-healing assay to assess migration; and colony formation assays to test the ability of cells to form colonies. H19, miR-675-5p, and CDH1 expressions were analyzed by qPCR. E-cadherin expression was detected using western blot. CRISPR/cas9 system was used for CDH1 knockout.

Results

Ginsenoside Rd inhibited the growth and increased the apoptosis of SCC9 cells. Ginsenoside Rd also inhibited the migration and invasion of SCC9 cells. H19 and miR-675-5p were highly expressed, while CDH1 and E-cadherin expressions were low. H19 and miR-675-5p promoted SCC9 metastasis. In contrast, CDH1 and E-cadherin inhibited the metastasis of SCC9 cells. Bioinformatics analysis showed that miR-675-5p was associated with CDH1. H19 and miR-675-5p expressions decreased after ginsenoside Rd treatment, while CDH1 and E-cadherin expressions increased.

Conclusions

Ginsenoside Rd inhibits tongue cancer cell migration and invasion via the H19/miR-675-5p/CDH1 axis.

One Host-Multiple Applications: Zebrafish (Danio rerio) as Promising Model for Studying Human Cancers and Pathogenic Diseases

In recent years, zebrafish (ZF) has been increasingly applied as a model in human disease studies, with a particular focus on cancer. A number of advantages make it an attractive alternative for mice widely used so far. Due to the many advantages of zebrafish, modifications can be based on different mechanisms and the induction of human disease can take different forms depending on the research goal. Genetic manipulation, tumor transplantation, or injection of the pathogen are only a few examples of using ZF as a model. Most of the studies are conducted in order to understand the disease mechanism, monitor disease progression, test new or alternative therapies, and select the best treatment. The transplantation of cancer cells derived from patients enables the development of personalized medicine. To better mimic a patient's body environment, immune-deficient models (SCID) have been developed. A lower immune response is mostly generated by genetic manipulation but also by irradiation or dexamethasone treatment. For many studies, using SCID provides a better chance to avoid cancer cell rejection. In this review, we describe the main directions of using ZF in research, explain why and how zebrafish can be used as a model, what kind of limitations will be met and how to overcome them. We collected recent achievements in this field, indicating promising perspectives for the future.

lncRNA polymorphism affects the prognosis of gastric cancer

Background

Previous studies have found that lncRNA polymorphisms are associated with the prognosis of gastric cancer (GC), but the specific roles of many lncRNA polymorphism sites in gastric cancer are still unclear. Our study aims to deeply explore the relationship between genetic polymorphism of lncRNA and the prognosis of GC.

Methods

The genotypes of candidate SNP locus were detected by Sequenom Mass ARRAY SNP. We deeply analyzed the association of lncRNA polymorphisms with GC prognosis by univariate and multivariate Cox regression, stratified analysis, conjoint analysis, and log-rank test.

Results

We found that mutations at rs2579878 and rs10036719 loci reduced the risk of poor prognosis of GC. Stratified analysis showed that rs2795025, rs10036719, and rs12516079 polymorphisms were all associated with tumor prognosis. In addition, conjoint analyses showed that the interaction between these two polymorphic sites (rs2795025 and rs12516079) could increase the risk of poor prognosis. Multivariate analysis also found that the AG/AA genotype of rs10036719 and AG genotype of rs12516079 were independent prognostic factors. Moreover, the high expression of both CCDC26 and LINC02122 were shown to be associated with the poor survival status of GC patients.

Conclusions

We find that the genetic polymorphism of lncRNA plays a role in the development of GC and is closely related to the survival time of patients. It could serve as a predictor of the prognosis of GC.

Long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) H19 in human cancer: From proliferation and metastasis to therapy

Initiation and development of cancer depend on multiple factors that mutations in genes and epigenetic level can be considered as important drivers. Epigenetic factors include a large family of members and understanding their function in cancer has been a hot topic. LncRNAs are RNA molecules with no capacity in synthesis of proteins, and they have regulatory functions in cells. LncRNAs are localized in nucleus and cytoplasm, and their abnormal expression is related to development of tumor. This manuscript emphasizes on the role of lncRNA H19 in various cancers and its association with tumor hallmarks. The function of lncRNA H19 in most tumors is oncogenic and therefore, tumor cells increase its expression for promoting their progression. LncRNA H19 contributes to enhancing growth and cell cycle of cancers and by EMT induction, it is able to elevate metastasis rate. Silencing H19 induces apoptotic cell death and disrupts progression of tumors. LncRNA H19 triggers chemo- and radio-resistance in cancer cells. miRNAs are dually upregulated/down-regulated by lncRNA H19 in increasing tumor progression. Anti-cancer agents reduce lncRNA H19 in impairing tumor progression and increasing therapy sensitivity. A number of downstream targets and molecular pathways for lncRNA H19 have been detected in cancers including miRNAs, RUNX1, STAT3, β-catenin, Akt2 and FOXM1. Clinical studies have revealed potential of lncRNA H19 as biomarker and its association with poor prognosis. LncRNA H19 can be transferred to cancer cells via exosomes in enhancing their progression.

lncRNA H19 promotes glioblastoma multiforme development by activating autophagy by sponging miR-491-5p

Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is a malignant cancer with severely poor survival, and the cells continue to thrive during hypoxia and toxic stress through autophagy. To validate the oncogenic role of long noncoding RNA H19 in GBM progression and examine whether autophagy and/or miR-491-5p participate in the process. The expression of H19 and autophagy-related genes in GBM and healthy control tissues was assessed via quantitative polymerase chain reaction. In addition, cell viability, proliferation, apoptosis and autophagy were respectively determined via cell counting kit-8 assay, clone formation assay, flow cytometry, western blotting and green fluorescent protein-microtubule-associated protein 1 light chain 3 alpha fluorescence analysis in vitro. Furthermore, a rescue assay was performed using rapamycin or miR-491-5p antagomir to examine the role of autophagy or miR-491-5p in H19-mediated regulation of proliferation and apoptosis. RNA pull-down and dual-luciferase reporter assays were employed to analyze the interaction between H19 and miR-491-5p. Additionally, tumor growth in a xenograft-bearing mouse model and autophagy in tumor mass were analyzed in vivo. The expression H19 was increased in GBM and was positively correlated with LC3 or Beclin-1. Silencing H19 inhibited growth and promoted apoptosis in GBM cells both in vitro and in vivo, and miR-491-5p was identified as one of the important mediators. H19 regulated the autophagy signaling pathway at least partly via miR-491-5p. Increased H19 expression in GBM exerts oncogenic effects by sponging miR-491-5p and enhancing autophagy. Therefore, H19 may be explored as a target for GBM therapy.

Noncoding RNAs and their therapeutics in paclitaxel chemotherapy: Mechanisms of initiation, progression, and drug sensitivity

The identification of agents that can reverse drug resistance in cancer chemotherapy, and enhance the overall efficacy is of great interest. Paclitaxel (PTX) belongs to taxane family that exerts an antitumor effect by stabilizing microtubules and inhibiting cell cycle progression. However, PTX resistance often develops in tumors due to the overexpression of drug transporters and tumor-promoting pathways. Noncoding RNAs (ncRNAs) are modulators of many processes in cancer cells, such as apoptosis, migration, differentiation, and angiogenesis. In the present study, we summarize the effects of ncRNAs on PTX chemotherapy. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) can have opposite effects on PTX resistance (stimulation or inhibition) via influencing YES1, SK2, MRP1, and STAT3. Moreover, miRNAs modulate the growth and migration rates of tumor cells in regulating PTX efficacy. PIWI-interacting RNAs, small interfering RNAs, and short-hairpin RNAs are other members of ncRNAs regulating PTX sensitivity of cancer cells. Long noncoding RNAs (LncRNAs) are similar to miRNAs and can modulate PTX resistance/sensitivity by their influence on miRNAs and drug efflux transport. The cytotoxicity of PTX against tumor cells can also be affected by circular RNAs (circRNAs) and limitation is that oncogenic circRNAs have been emphasized and experiments should also focus on onco-suppressor circRNAs.

The Role of Long Non-Coding RNAs in the Tumor Immune Microenvironment

Tumorigenesis is a complicated process caused by successive genetic and epigenetic alterations. The past decades demonstrated that the immune system affects tumorigenesis, tumor progression, and metastasis. Although increasing immunotherapies are revealed, only a tiny proportion of them are effective. Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) are a class of single-stranded RNA molecules larger than 200 nucleotides and are essential in the molecular network of oncology and immunology. Increasing researches have focused on the connection between lncRNAs and cancer immunotherapy. However, the in-depth mechanisms are still elusive. In this review, we outline the latest studies on the functions of lncRNAs in the tumor immune microenvironment. Via participating in various biological processes such as neutrophil recruitment, macrophage polarization, NK cells cytotoxicity, and T cells functions, lncRNAs regulate tumorigenesis, tumor invasion, epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), and angiogenesis. In addition, we reviewed the current understanding of the relevant strategies for targeting lncRNAs. LncRNAs-based therapeutics may represent promising approaches in serving as prognostic biomarkers or potential therapeutic targets in cancer, providing ideas for future research and clinical application on cancer diagnosis and therapies.

The Role of Long Non-Coding RNAs (lncRNAs) in Female Oriented Cancers

Recent advances in molecular biology have discovered the mysterious role of long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) as potential biomarkers for cancer diagnosis and targets for advanced cancer therapy. Studies have shown that lncRNAs take part in the incidence and development of cancers in humans. However, previously they were considered as mere RNA noise or transcription byproducts lacking any biological function. In this article, we present a summary of the progress on ascertaining the biological functions of five lncRNAs (HOTAIR, NEAT1, H19, MALAT1, and MEG3) in female-oriented cancers, including breast and gynecological cancers, with the perspective of carcinogenesis, cancer proliferation, and metastasis. We provide the current state of knowledge from the past five years of the literature to discuss the clinical importance of such lncRNAs as therapeutic targets or early diagnostic biomarkers. We reviewed the consequences, either oncogenic or tumor-suppressing features, of their aberrant expression in female-oriented cancers. We tried to explain the established mechanism by which they regulate cancer proliferation and metastasis by competing with miRNAs and other mechanisms involved via regulating genes and signaling pathways. In addition, we revealed the association between stated lncRNAs and chemo-resistance or radio-resistance and their potential clinical applications and future perspectives.

Splice and Dice: Intronic microRNAs, Splicing and Cancer

Introns span only a quarter of the human genome, yet they host around 60% of all known microRNAs. Emerging evidence indicates the adaptive advantage of microRNAs residing within introns is attributed to their complex co-regulation with transcription and alternative splicing of their host genes. Intronic microRNAs are often co-expressed with their host genes, thereby providing functional synergism or antagonism that is exploited or decoupled in cancer. Additionally, intronic microRNA biogenesis and the alternative splicing of host transcript are co-regulated and intertwined. The importance of intronic microRNAs is under-recognized in relation to the pathogenesis of cancer.

LncRNA H19: A novel oncogene in multiple cancers

Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) are a series of non-coding RNAs that lack open reading frameworks. Accumulating evidence suggests important roles for lncRNAs in various diseases, including cancers. Recently, lncRNA H19 (H19) became a research focus due to its ectopic expression in human malignant tumors, where it functioned as an oncogene. Subsequently, H19 was confirmed to be involved in tumorigenesis and malignant progression in many tumors and had been implicated in promoting cell growth, invasion, migration, epithelial-mesenchymal transition, metastasis, and apoptosis. H19 also sequesters some microRNAs, facilitating a multilayer molecular regulatory mechanism. In this review, we summarize the abnormal overexpression of H19 in human cancers, which suggests wide prospects for further research into the diagnosis and treatment of cancers.

The Use of Zebrafish Xenotransplant Assays to Analyze the Role of lncRNAs in Breast Cancer

Breast cancer represents a great challenge since it is the first cause of death by cancer in women worldwide. LncRNAs are a newly described class of non-coding RNAs that participate in cancer progression. Their use as cancer markers and possible therapeutic targets has recently gained strength. Animal xenotransplants allows for in vivo monitoring of disease development, molecular elucidation of pathogenesis and the design of new therapeutic strategies. Nevertheless, the cost and complexities of mice husbandry makes medium to high throughput assays difficult. Zebrafishes (Danio rerio) represent a novel model for these assays, given the ease with which xenotransplantation trials can be performed and the economic and experimental advantages it offers. In this review we propose the use of xenotransplants in zebrafish to study the role of breast cancer lncRNAs using low to medium high throughput assays.

Glycolysis reprogramming in cancer-associated fibroblasts promotes the growth of oral cancer through the lncRNA H19/miR-675-5p/PFKFB3 signaling pathway

As an important component of the tumor microenvironment, cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) secrete energy metabolites to supply energy for tumor progression. Abnormal regulation of long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) is thought to contribute to glucose metabolism, but the role of lncRNAs in glycolysis in oral CAFs has not been systematically examined. In the present study, by using RNA sequencing and bioinformatics analysis, we analyzed the lncRNA/mRNA profiles of normal fibroblasts (NFs) derived from normal tissues and CAFs derived from patients with oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC). LncRNA H19 was identified as a key lncRNA in oral CAFs and was synchronously upregulated in both oral cancer cell lines and CAFs. Using small interfering RNA (siRNA) strategies, we determined that lncRNA H19 knockdown affected proliferation, migration, and glycolysis in oral CAFs. We found that knockdown of lncRNA H19 by siRNA suppressed the MAPK signaling pathway, 6-phosphofructo-2-kinase/fructose-2,6-biphosphatase 3 (PFKFB3) and miR-675-5p. Furthermore, the lncRNA H19/miR-675-5p/PFKFB3 axis was involved in promoting the glycolysis pathway in oral CAFs, as demonstrated by a luciferase reporter system assay and treatment with a miRNA-specific inhibitor. Our study presents a new way to understand glucose metabolism in oral CAFs, theoretically providing a novel biomarker for OSCC molecular diagnosis and a new target for antitumor therapy.

The Role of Autophagy and lncRNAs in the Maintenance of Cancer Stem Cells

Simple Summary

Cancer stem cells (CSCs) represent a distinct cancer subpopulation that can influence the tumour microenvironment, in addition to cancer progression and relapse. A multitude of factors including CSC properties, long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs), and autophagy play pivotal roles in maintaining CSCs. We discuss the methods of detection of CSCs and how our knowledge of regulatory and cellular processes, and their interaction with the microenvironment, may lead to more effective targeting of these cells. Autophagy and lncRNAs can regulate several cellular functions, thereby promoting stemness factors and CSC properties, hence understanding this triangle and its associated signalling networks can lead to enhanced therapy response, while paving the way for the development of novel therapeutic approaches.

Abstract

Cancer stem cells (CSCs) possess properties such as self-renewal, resistance to apoptotic cues, quiescence, and DNA-damage repair capacity. Moreover, CSCs strongly influence the tumour microenvironment (TME) and may account for cancer progression, recurrence, and relapse. CSCs represent a distinct subpopulation in tumours and the detection, characterisation, and understanding of the regulatory landscape and cellular processes that govern their maintenance may pave the way to improving prognosis, selective targeted therapy, and therapy outcomes. In this review, we have discussed the characteristics of CSCs identified in various cancer types and the role of autophagy and long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) in maintaining the homeostasis of CSCs. Further, we have discussed methods to detect CSCs and strategies for treatment and relapse, taking into account the requirement to inhibit CSC growth and survival within the complex backdrop of cellular processes, microenvironmental interactions, and regulatory networks associated with cancer. Finally, we critique the computationally reinforced triangle of factors inclusive of CSC properties, the process of autophagy, and lncRNA and their associated networks with respect to hypoxia, epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT), and signalling pathways.

Roles of the H19/microRNA‑675 axis in the proliferation and epithelial‑mesenchymal transition of human cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma cells

The long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) H19 and microRNA(miR)-675 were reported to serve an important role in the tumorigenesis and metastasis of numerous cancer types by promoting the epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) process; however, the underlying mechanisms of action of H19 and miR-675 in cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (cSCC) remain unknown. The mRNA expression levels of H19 and miR-675 were analyzed using reverse transcription-quantitative PCR, and Cell Counting Kit-8, wound healing and Transwell assays were performed to analyze the cell proliferation, migration and invasion of cSCC cells, respectively. The levels of cell apoptosis were also determined using a TUNEL assay. Protein expression levels of p53 and marker proteins related to the EMT process were analyzed using western blotting. In addition, a dual luciferase reporter assay was performed to determine the interactions between H19, miR-675 and p53. The results of the present study revealed that the expression levels of H19 and miR-675 were upregulated in cSCC tissues and cSCC cell lines. The knockdown of H19 or miR-675 expression inhibited cell proliferation, migration and invasion, but induced cell apoptosis. In addition, the expression levels of EMT-related markers were also downregulated. The overexpression of H19 upregulated the expression levels of its predicted target, miR-675, which subsequently promoted the EMT process and downregulated the expression levels of p53. Conversely, the genetic silencing of H19 or miR-675 inhibited proliferation and invasion in SCL1 and A431 cSCC cell lines. In conclusion, the findings of the present study provided novel insight into the potential role of H19 and miR-675 in the development, metastasis and progression of cSCC, which may help the development of treatments for cSCC.

Role of lncRNA NR2F1-AS1 and lncRNA H19 Genes in Hepatocellular Carcinoma and Their Effects on Biological Function of Huh-7

Objective

This research was designed to probe into the expression and related mechanism of lncRNA NR2F1-AS1 and H19 in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

Methods

Forty-two HCC patients who came to our hospital from February 2018 to August 2019 were included into a research group (RG). Meanwhile, 46 healthy controls were regarded as a control group (CG). BEL-7402, Huh-7 human hepatoma cells and HL-7702 human normal liver cells were purchased, and the NR2F1-AS1 and H19 levels in serum and tissues of HCC patients were detected. PcDNA3.1-NR2F1-AS1, si-NR2F1-AS1, NC, pcDNA3.1-H19 and si-H19 were transfected into BEL-7402 and Huh-7 cells. The NR2F1-AS1 and H19 levels in samples were detected via qRT-PCR, and the expression of apoptosis-related proteins in cells was tested through WB. Cell proliferation, invasion, or apoptosis was detected by CCK8, Transwell or flow cytometry, respectively.

Results

The NR2F1-AS1 and H19 levels were high in human hepatoma cells, and AUCs of lncRNA NR2F1-AS1 and lncRNA H19 were both >0.8. The lncRNA NR2F1-AS1 and lncRNA H19 were associated with HCC staging. After transfection of pcDNA3.1-NR2F1-AS1, si-NR2F1-AS1, NC, pcDNA3.1-H19, si-H19 BEL-7402 and Huh-7 cells, silencing NR2F1-AS1 and H19 expression can promote apoptosis and inhibit cell growth, while silencing their over-expression can inhibit the EMT process of Huh-7 cells.

Conclusion

lncRNA NR2F1-AS1 and lncRNA H19 genes are abnormally expressed in HCC. Furthermore, the two can suppress the EMT process of Huh-7 cells and promote apoptosis effectively.

Propagation and Maintenance of Cancer Stem Cells: A Major Influence of the Long Non-Coding RNA H19

Cancer stem cells (CSCs) represent a rare population of tumor cells that exhibit stem cell properties with the abilities of self-renewal and differentiation. These cells are now widely accepted to be responsible for tumor initiation, development, resistance to conventional therapies, and recurrence. Thus, a better understanding of the molecular mechanisms involved in the control of CSCs is essential to improve patient management in terms of diagnostics and therapies. CSCs are regulated by signals of the tumor microenvironment as well as intrinsic genetic and epigenetic modulators. H19, the first identified lncRNA is involved in the development and progression of many different cancer types. Recently, H19 has been demonstrated to be implicated in the regulation of CSCs in different types of cancers. The aim of this review is to provide an overview of the role and mechanisms of action of H19 in the regulation of CSCs. We summarize how H19 may regulate CSC division and cancer cell reprogramming, thus affecting metastasis and drug resistance. We also discuss the potential clinical implications of H19.

LncRNA SPINT1-AS1 promotes breast cancer proliferation and metastasis by sponging let-7 a/b/i-5p

BACKGROUND

A growing number of studies have shown that long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) play an important role in the occurrence and development of tumors. In this study, we explored the function and molecular mechanism of lncRNA SPINT1-AS1 in breast cancer progression.

METHODS

A total of 30 patients and 25 healthy controls were enrolled to detect the expression of SPINT1-AS1 in the serum by RT-qPCR. CCK-8 assay, clone formation assay, EdU assay, Transwell assay, Flow cytometry for apoptosis assay and wound healing assays were used to explore the effects of SPINT1-AS1 on the proliferation and migration of breast cancer cells. Bioinformatics analysis were used to enrich the downstream target genes and related pathways of miRNAs interacting with SPINT1-AS1, construct a competitive endogenous RNA (ceRNA) network diagram.

RESULTS

SPINT1-AS1 is up-regulated in the serum of breast cancer patients and breast cancer cell lines. The proliferation and migration ability of breast cancer cells were decreased significantly after SPINT1-AS1 knockdown, and it may inhibit its expression by sponging miR-let-7a/b/i-5p, thereby promoting breast cancer progression.

CONCLUSIONS

SPINT1-AS1 can promote the proliferation and migration of breast cancer cells by regulating miR-let-7a/b/i-5p, suggesting that it may be an important regulator of breast cancer progression.