Making Sense of Antisense lncRNAs in Hepatocellular Carcinoma

lncRNAs: New players of cancer drug resistance via targeting ABC transporters

Cancer drug resistance poses a significant obstacle to successful chemotherapy, primarily driven by the activity of ATP-binding cassette (ABC) transporters, which actively efflux chemotherapeutic agents from cancer cells, reducing their intracellular concentrations and therapeutic efficacy. Recent studies have highlighted the pivotal role of long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) in regulating this resistance, positioning them as crucial modulators of ABC transporter function. lncRNAs, once considered transcriptional noise, are now recognized for their complex regulatory capabilities at various cellular levels, including chromatin modification, transcription, and post-transcriptional processing. This review synthesizes current research demonstrating how lncRNAs influence cancer drug resistance by modulating the expression and activity of ABC transporters. lncRNAs can act as molecular sponges, sequestering microRNAs that would otherwise downregulate ABC transporter genes. Additionally, they can alter the epigenetic landscape of these genes, affecting their transcriptional activity. Mechanistic insights reveal that lncRNAs contribute to the activity of ABC transporters, thereby altering the efflux of chemotherapeutic drugs and promoting drug resistance. Understanding these interactions provides a new perspective on the molecular basis of chemoresistance, emphasizing the regulatory network of lncRNAs and ABC transporters. This knowledge not only deepens our understanding of the biological mechanisms underlying drug resistance but also suggests novel therapeutic strategies. In conclusion, the intricate interplay between lncRNAs and ABC transporters is crucial for developing innovative solutions to combat cancer drug resistance, underscoring the importance of continued research in this field.

Osteosarcoma in a ceRNET perspective

Osteosarcoma (OS) is the most prevalent and fatal type of bone tumor. It is characterized by great heterogeneity of genomic aberrations, mutated genes, and cell types contribution, making therapy and patients management particularly challenging. A unifying picture of molecular mechanisms underlying the disease could help to transform those challenges into opportunities.This review deeply explores the occurrence in OS of large-scale RNA regulatory networks, denominated "competing endogenous RNA network" (ceRNET), wherein different RNA biotypes, such as long non-coding RNAs, circular RNAs and mRNAs can functionally interact each other by competitively binding to shared microRNAs. Here, we discuss how the unbalancing of any network component can derail the entire circuit, driving OS onset and progression by impacting on cell proliferation, migration, invasion, tumor growth and metastasis, and even chemotherapeutic resistance, as distilled from many studies. Intriguingly, the aberrant expression of the networks components in OS cells can be triggered also by the surroundings, through cytokines and vesicles, with their bioactive cargo of proteins and non-coding RNAs, highlighting the relevance of tumor microenvironment. A comprehensive picture of RNA regulatory networks underlying OS could pave the way for the development of innovative RNA-targeted and RNA-based therapies and new diagnostic tools, also in the perspective of precision oncology.

Pivotal functions and impact of long con-coding RNAs on cellular processes and genome integrity

Recent advances in uncovering the mysteries of the human genome suggest that long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) are important regulatory components. Although lncRNAs are known to affect gene transcription, their mechanisms and biological implications are still unclear. Experimental research has shown that lncRNA synthesis, subcellular localization, and interactions with macromolecules like DNA, other RNAs, or proteins can all have an impact on gene expression in various biological processes. In this review, we highlight and discuss the major mechanisms through which lncRNAs function as master regulators of the human genome. Specifically, the objective of our review is to examine how lncRNAs regulate different processes like cell division, cell cycle, and immune responses, and unravel their roles in maintaining genomic architecture and integrity.

A Novel ceRNET Relying on the lncRNA JPX, miR-378a-3p, and Its mRNA Targets in Lung Cancer

Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related death worldwide. Non-coding RNAs are emerging as critical players for the onset and progression of cancer. Analyses of three different datasets revealed that the lncRNA JPX was overexpressed in adenocarcinoma tissues in comparison to normal lungs, as expected for an oncogene. Intriguingly, the predicted binding miR-378a-3p showed a significant inverse correlation with JPX expression. The lncRNA/miRNA physical interaction was validated by reporter vectors. Then, the oncogenic activity of JPX, the tumor-suppressive role of miR-378a-3p, and the contribution of their functional interaction to cancer hallmarks were demonstrated using assays for cell proliferation, migration, invasion, and 3D-spheroid formation. Finally, molecular circuits were investigated by boosting the expression of both JPX and miR-378a-3p, singularly and in combination, demonstrating that JPX counteracted miR-378a-3p silencing activity toward its oncogenic targets GLUT1, NRP1, YY1, and Wnt5a. Overall, the data unveil a novel ceRNET (competing endogenous RNA network), wherein JPX acts as a ceRNA by binding to miR-378a-3p, thus reducing the miRNA silencing activity toward its downstream targets, and eliciting oncogenic pathways driving lung cancer. The knowledge of the network may pave the way to develop new diagnostic panels, and innovative RNA-targeted and RNA-based therapeutic strategies.

DARS-AS1: A Vital Oncogenic LncRNA Regulator with Potential for Cancer Prognosis and Therapy

DARS-AS1, short for Aspartyl-tRNA synthetase antisense RNA 1, has emerged as a pivotal player in cancers. Upregulation of this lncRNA is a recurrent phenomenon observed across various cancer types, where it predominantly assumes oncogenic roles, exerting influence on multiple facets of tumor cell biology. This aberrant expression of DARS-AS1 has triggered extensive research investigations, aiming to unravel its roles and clinical values in cancer. In this review, we elucidate the significant correlation between dysregulated DARS-AS1 expression and adverse survival prognoses in cancer patients, drawing from existing literature and pan-cancer analyses from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA). Additionally, we provide comprehensive insights into the diverse functions of DARS-AS1 in various cancers. Our review encompasses the elucidation of the molecular mechanisms, ceRNA networks, functional mediators, and signaling pathways, as well as its involvement in therapy resistance, coupled with the latest advancements in DARS-AS1-related cancer research. These recent updates enrich our comprehensive comprehension of the pivotal role played by DARS-AS1 in cancer, thereby paving the way for future applications of DARS-AS1-targeted strategies in tumor prognosis evaluation and therapeutic interventions. This review furnishes valuable insights to advance the ongoing efforts in combating cancer effectively.

Insight into the lncRNA-mRNA Co-Expression Profile and ceRNA Network in Lipopolysaccharide-Induced Acute Lung Injury

Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) participate in acute lung injury (ALI). However, their latent biological function and molecular mechanism have not been fully understood. In the present study, the global expression profiles of lncRNAs and mRNAs between the control and lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated groups of human normal lung epithelial cells (BEAS-2B) were determined using high-throughput sequencing. Overall, a total of 433 lncRNAs and 183 mRNAs were differentially expressed. A lncRNA-mRNA co-expression network was established, and then the top 10 lncRNAs were screened using topological methods. Gene Ontology and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes analysis results showed that the key lncRNAs targeting mRNAs were mostly enriched in the inflammatory-related biological processes. Gene set variation analysis and Pearson's correlation coefficients confirmed the close correlation for the top 10 lncRNAs with inflammatory responses. A protein-protein interaction network analysis was conducted based on the key lncRNAs targeting mRNAs, where IL-1β, IL-6, and CXCL8 were regarded as the hub genes. A competing endogenous RNA (ceRNA) modulatory network was created with five lncRNAs, thirteen microRNAs, and twelve mRNAs. Finally, real-time quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction was employed to verify the expression levels of several key lncRNAs in BEAS-2B cells and human serum samples.