Elevated RNA expression of long non‑coding HOTAIR promotes cell proliferation and predicts a poor prognosis in patients with diffuse large B cell lymphoma

Noncoding RNAs in B cell non-Hodgkins lymphoma

B-cell non-Hodgkins lymphomas (BCNHLs) are a category of B-cell cancers that show heterogeneity. These blood disorders are derived from different levels of B-cell maturity. Among NHL cases, ∼80-90 % are derived from B-cells. Recent studies have demonstrated that noncoding RNAs (ncRNAs) contribute to almost all parts of mechanisms and are essential in tumorigenesis, including B-cell non-Hodgkins lymphomas. The study of ncRNA dysregulations in B-cell lymphoma unravels important mysteries in lymphoma's molecular etiology. It seems also necessary for discovering novel trials as well as investigating the potential of ncRNAs as markers for their diagnosis and prognosis. In the current study, we summarize the role of ncRNAs involving miRNAs, long noncoding RNAs, as well as circular RNAs in the development or progression of BCNHLs.

Natural flavonoids alleviate glioblastoma multiforme by regulating long non-coding RNA

Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is one of the most common primary malignant brain tumors in adults. Due to the poor prognosis of patients, the median survival time of GBM is often less than 1 year. Therefore, it is very necessary to find novel treatment options with a good prognosis for the treatment or prevention of GBM. In recent years, flavonoids are frequently used to treat cancer. It is a new attractive molecule that may achieve this promising treatment option. Flavonoids have been proved to have many biological functions, such as antioxidation, prevention of angiogenesis, anti-inflammation, inhibition of cancer cell proliferation, and protection of nerve cells. It has also shown the ability to regulate long non-coding RNA (LncRNA). Studies have confirmed that flavonoids can regulate epigenetic modification, transcription, and change microRNA (miRNA) expression of GBM through lncRNA at the gene level. It also found that flavonoids can induce apoptosis and autophagy of GBM cells by regulating lncRNA. Moreover, it can improve the metabolic abnormalities of GBM, interfere with the tumor microenvironment and related signaling pathways, and inhibit the angiogenesis of GBM cells. Eventually, flavonoids can block the tumor initiation, growth, proliferation, differentiation, invasion, and metastasis. In this review, we highlight the role of lncRNA in GBM cancer progression and the influence of flavonoids on lncRNA regulation. And emphasize their expected role in the prevention and treatment of GBM.

Mechanism of LncHOTAIR Regulating Proliferation, Apoptosis, and Autophagy of Lymphoma Cells through hsa-miR-6511b-5p/ATG7 Axis

Objective

To explore the role of LncHOTAIR in apoptosis and autophagy in lymphoma.

Methods

The interaction between LncHOTAIR and miR-6511b-5p, as well as between miR-6511b-5p and ATG7, was verified by a dual luciferase assay. LncHOTAIR overexpression lentivirus was transducted and siATG7s were transfected into Raji and BJAB lymphoma cells, and the efficiency was verified by qPCR. Lymphocyte proliferation was detected by the cell counting kit-8 (CCK8) test, and autophagy was detected by transmission electron microscopy. The protein expressions of ULK1, Beclin1, ATG7, LC3, Bax, cleaved-caspase 3, and Bcl-2 were detected using Western blots.

Results

There was a targeting relationship between LncHOTAIR and miR-6511b-5p and between miR-6511b-5p and ATG7. LncHOTAIR overexpression promoted the proliferation and autophagy of Raji and BJAB cells, significantly upregulated ATG7, Beclin1, ULK1, Bcl-2, and LC3-II/LC3-I levels, and downregulated Bax and cleaved-caspase3 levels. siATG7 significantly inhibited the proliferation and autophagy of Raji and BJAB cells and promoted their apoptosis.

Conclusion

LncHOTAIR/hsa-miR-6511b-5p/ATG7 could regulate the proliferation, apoptosis, and autophagy of Raji and BJAB lymphoma cells.

Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) in human lymphomas

Lymphomas are a diverse group of haematologic malignancies, which occur in infection-fighting cells of the lymphatic system. Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) are non-coding RNAs, which have recently received significant attention as the main mediators of gene expression. In this review, we summarize the current knowledge on lncRNAs involved in lymphomas, their molecular functions, as well as their potential clinical value. Relevant literature was identified by a PubMed search of English language papers using the following terms: Lymphoma, LncRNA, leukemia, proliferation, apoptosis, and prognosis. LncRNAs are imperative for lymphoma carcinogenesis through affecting apoptosis, cell proliferation, invasion, and response to chemotherapy. The expression level of lncRNAs can affect chemotherapy-induced apoptosis. Taken together, lncRNA dysregulation in lymphoma cells is not only an epiphenomenon but also lncRNA transcription is critically related to the initiation and progression of lymphomas. Aberrant expression of lncRNAs can lead to the transformation of normal lymphocytes into lymphoma cells.

The emerging role non-coding RNAs in B cell-related disorders

Long non-coding RNAs and microRNAs have recently attained much attention regarding their role in the development of B cell lineage as well as participation in the lymphomagenesis. These transcripts have a highly cell type specific signature which endows them the potential to be used as biomarkers for clinical situations. Aberrant expression of several non-coding RNAs has been linked with B cell malignancies and immune related disorders such as rheumatoid arthritis, systemic lupus erythematous, asthma and graft-versus-host disease. Moreover, these transcripts can alter response of immune system to infectious conditions. miR-7, miR-16-1, miR-15a, miR-150, miR-146a, miR-155, miR-212 and miR-132 are among microRNAs whose role in the development of B cell-associated disorders has been investigated. Similarly, SNHG14, MALAT1, CRNDE, AL133346.1, NEAT1, SMAD5-AS1, OR3A4 and some other long non-coding RNAs participate in this process. In the current review, we describe the role of non-coding RNAs in B cell malignancies.

Competitive Endogenous RNA Network Involving miRNA and lncRNA in Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma: Current Advances and Clinical Perspectives

Non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) is a heterogeneous malignancy with variable patient outcomes. There is still a lack of understanding about the different players involved in lymphomagenesis, and the identification of new diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers is urgent. MicroRNAs and long non-coding RNAs emerged as master regulators of B-cell development, and their deregulation has been associated with the initiation and progression of lymphomagenesis. They can function by acting alone or, as recently proposed, by creating competing endogenous RNA (ceRNA) networks. Most studies have focused on individual miRNAs/lncRNAs function in lymphoma, and there is still limited data regarding their interactions in lymphoma progression. The study of miRNAs' and lncRNAs' deregulation in NHL, either alone or as ceRNAs networks, offers new insights into the molecular mechanisms underlying lymphoma pathogenesis and opens a window of opportunity to identify potential diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers. In this review, we summarized the current knowledge regarding the role of miRNAs and lncRNAs in B-cell lymphoma, including their interactions and regulatory networks. Finally, we summarized the studies investigating the potential of miRNAs and lncRNAs as clinical biomarkers, with a special focus on the circulating profiles, to be applied as a non-invasive, easy-to-obtain, and reproducible liquid biopsy for dynamic management of NHL patients.

Upregulation of leukemia-induced non-coding activator RNA (LUNAR1) predicts poor outcome in pediatric T-acute lymphoblastic leukemia

T-cell Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (T-ALL) accounts for around 10-15% of all lymphoblastic leukemia in children. Previous studies have proven that dysregulation of Leukemia-induced non-coding activator RNA-1 (LUNAR1) expression promotes T-ALL cell growth by enhancing the NOTCH1/IGF-1R signaling pathway. We aimed to investigate the prognostic value of LUNAR1 in pediatric T-ALL, in addition, to find out its association with NOTCH1 and IGF-1R. The LUNAR1, NOTCH1, and IGF-IR gene expression were measured in peripheral blood (PB) samples of l85 children with T-ALL and forty non-leukemic samples as a control group. Cox regression analysis revealed that overexpression of LUNAR1, NOTCH1, and IGF-IR was significantly correlated with poor prognosis, short overall survival, and progression-free survival. We concluded that LUNAR1 could serve as an independent prognostic biomarker for T-ALL in children.

The role of lncRNAs and circRNAs in the PD-1/PD-L1 pathway in cancer immunotherapy

Cancer immunotherapy has recently shown promising antitumor effects in various types of tumors. Among all immune checkpoints, the PD-1/PD-L1 pathway plays an important role in the immune evasion of tumor cells, making it a potent target in antitumor immunity. Accordingly, antibodies targeting the PD-1/PD-L1 pathway have been developed to attack tumor cells; however, resistance to immune therapy remains to be solved. Hence, identification of the underlying modulators of the PD-1/PD-L1 pathway is of significant importance to understand the mechanisms of antitumor immunotherapy. Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) and circular RNAs (circRNAs) have been identified to regulate the PD-1/PD-L1 pathway, leading to participation in the immune response and immunotherapy. Therefore, this review focuses on the functions of lncRNAs and circRNAs in regulation of the PD-1/PD-L1 axis in tumorigenesis and tumor progression. We hope this review will stimulate research to supply more precise and effective cancer immune checkpoint therapies for a large number of tumors.

MicroRNA and Other Non-Coding RNAs in Epstein-Barr Virus-Associated Cancers

EBV is a direct causative agent in around 1.5% of all cancers. The oncogenic properties of EBV are related to its ability to activate processes needed for cellular proliferation, survival, migration, and immune evasion. The EBV latency program is required for the immortalization of infected B cells and involves the expression of non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs), including viral microRNAs. These ncRNAs have different functions that contribute to virus persistence in the asymptomatic host and to the development of EBV-associated cancers. In this review, we discuss the function and potential clinical utility of EBV microRNAs and other ncRNAs in EBV-associated malignancies. This review is not intended to be comprehensive, but rather to provide examples of the importance of ncRNAs.

An immunotherapeutic approach to decipher the role of long non-coding RNAs in cancer progression, resistance and epigenetic regulation of immune cells

Immunotherapeutic treatments are gaining attention due to their effective anti-tumor response. Particularly, the revolution of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) produces promising outcomes for various cancer types. However, the usage of immunotherapy is limited due to its low response rate, suggesting that tumor cells escape the immune surveillance. Rapid advances in transcriptomic profiling have led to recognize immune-related long non-coding RNAs (LncRNAs), as regulators of immune cell-specific gene expression that mediates immune stimulatory as well as suppression of immune response, indicating LncRNAs as targets to improve the efficacy of immunotherapy against tumours. Moreover, the immune-related LncRNAs acting as epigenetic modifiers are also under deep investigation. Thus, herein, is a summarised knowledge of LncRNAs and their regulation in the adaptive and innate immune system, considering their importance in autophagy and predicting putative immunotherapeutic responses.

Non-coding RNAs (miRNAs and lncRNAs) and their roles in lymphogenesis in all types of lymphomas and lymphoid malignancies

Contemporary developments in molecular biology have been combined with discoveries on the analysis of the role of all non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) in human diseases, particularly in cancer, by examining their roles in cells. Currently, included among these common types of cancer, are all the lymphomas and lymphoid malignancies, which represent a diverse group of neoplasms and malignant disorders. Initial data suggest that non-coding RNAs, particularly long ncRNAs (lncRNAs), play key roles in oncogenesis and that lncRNA-mediated biology is an important key pathway to cancer progression. Other non-coding RNAs, termed microRNAs (miRNAs or miRs), are very promising cancer molecular biomarkers. They can be detected in tissues, cell lines, biopsy material and all biological fluids, such as blood. With the number of well-characterized cancer-related lncRNAs and miRNAs increasing, the study of the roles of non-coding RNAs in cancer is bringing forth new hypotheses of the biology of cancerous cells. For the first time, to the best of our knowledge, the present review provides an up-to-date summary of the recent literature referring to all diagnosed ncRNAs that mediate the pathogenesis of all types of lymphomas and lymphoid malignancies.

Circulating RNA biomarkers in diffuse large B-cell lymphoma: a systematic review

Diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) is the most common histological subtype of non-Hodgkin's lymphomas (NHL). DLBCL is an aggressive malignancy that displays a great heterogeneity in terms of morphology, genetics and biological behavior. While a sustained complete remission is obtained in the majority of patients with standard immunochemotherapy, patients with refractory of relapsed disease after first-line treatment have a poor prognosis. This patient group represents an important unmet need in lymphoma treatment. In recent years, improved understanding of the underlying molecular pathogenesis had led to new classification and prognostication tools, including the development of cell-free biomarkers in liquid biopsies. Although the majority of studies have focused on the use of cell-free fragments of DNA (cfDNA), there has been an increased interest in circulating-free coding and non-coding RNA, including messenger RNA (mRNA), microRNA (miRNA), long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) and circular RNA (circRNA), as well as RNA encapsulated in extracellular vesicles or tumor-educated platelets (TEPs). We performed a systematic search in PubMed to identify articles that evaluated circulating RNA as diagnostic, subtype, treatment response or prognostic biomarkers in a human DLBCL population. A total of 35 articles met the inclusion criteria. The aim of this systematic review is to present the current understanding of circulating RNA molecules as biomarker in DLBCL and to discuss their future potential.

Circulating long non-coding RNAs HOTAIR, Linc-p21, GAS5 and XIST expression profiles in diffuse large B-cell lymphoma: association with R-CHOP responsiveness

The reliable identification of diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL)-specific targets owns huge implications for its diagnosis and treatment. Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) are implicated in DLBCL pathogenesis; however, circulating DLBCL-related lncRNAs are barely investigated. We investigated plasma lncRNAs; HOTAIR, Linc-p21, GAS5 and XIST as biomarkers for DLBCL diagnosis and responsiveness to R-CHOP therapy. Eighty-four DLBCL patients and thirty-three healthy controls were included. Only plasma HOTAIR, XIST and GAS5 were differentially expressed in DLBCL patients compared to controls. Pretreatment plasma HOTAIR was higher, whereas GAS5 was lower in non-responders than responders to R-CHOP. Plasma GAS5 demonstrated superior diagnostic accuracy (AUC = 0.97) whereas a panel of HOTAIR + GAS5 superiorly discriminated responders from non-responders by ROC analysis. In multivariate analysis, HOTAIR was an independent predictor of non-response. Among patients, plasma HOTAIR, Linc-p21 and XIST were correlated. Plasma GAS5 negatively correlated with International Prognostic Index, whereas HOTAIR positively correlated with performance status, denoting their prognostic potential. We constructed the lncRNAs-related protein-protein interaction networks linked to drug response via bioinformatics analysis. In conclusion, we introduce plasma HOTAIR, GAS5 and XIST as potential non-invasive diagnostic tools for DLBCL, and pretreatment HOTAIR and GAS5 as candidates for evaluating therapy response, with HOTAIR as a predictor of R-CHOP failure. We provide novel surrogates for future predictive studies in personalized medicine.

Non-Coding RNAs in Diffuse Large B-Cell Lymphoma

Diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) is the most common type of non-Hodgkin lymphoma worldwide. The molecular mechanisms underlying DLBCL have not been fully elucidated, and approximately 40% of patients who undergo standard chemoimmunotherapy still present with primary refractory disease or relapse. Non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs), a group of biomolecules functioning at the RNA level, are increasingly recognized as vital components of molecular biology. With the development of RNA-sequencing (RNA-Seq) technology, accumulating evidence shows that ncRNAs are important mediators of diverse biological processes such as cell proliferation, differentiation, and apoptosis. They are also considered promising biomarkers and better candidates than proteins and genes for the early recognition of disease onset, as they are associated with relative stability, specificity, and reproducibility. In this review, we provide the first comprehensive description of the current knowledge regarding three groups of ncRNAs-microRNAs (miRNAs), circular RNAs (circRNAs), and long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs)-focusing on their characteristics, molecular functions, as well as diagnostic and therapeutic potential in DLBCL. This review provides an exhaustive account for researchers to explore novel biomarkers for the diagnosis and prognosis of DLBCL and therapeutic targets.

Long noncoding RNA: a dazzling dancer in tumor immune microenvironment

Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) are a class of endogenous, non-protein coding RNAs that are highly linked to various cellular functions and pathological process. Emerging evidence indicates that lncRNAs participate in crosstalk between tumor and stroma, and reprogramming of tumor immune microenvironment (TIME). TIME possesses distinct populations of myeloid cells and lymphocytes to influence the immune escape of cancer, the response to immunotherapy, and the survival of patients. However, hitherto, a comprehensive review aiming at relationship between lncRNAs and TIME is missing. In this review, we focus on the functional roles and molecular mechanisms of lncRNAs within the TIME. Furthermore, we discussed the potential immunotherapeutic strategies based on lncRNAs and their limitations.

The Role of Noncoding RNAs in B-Cell Lymphoma

In recent years, emerging evidence has suggested that noncoding RNAs (ncRNAs) participate in nearly every aspect of biological processes and play a crucial role in the genesis and progression of numerous tumors, including B-cell lymphoma. The exploration of ncRNA dysregulations and their functions in B-cell lymphoma provides new insights into lymphoma pathogenesis and is essential for indicating future clinical trials and optimizing the diagnostic and therapeutic strategies. In this review, we summarize the role of ncRNAs in B-cell lymphoma and discuss their potential in clinical applications.

Systematic Analysis of Competing Endogenous RNA Networks in Diffuse Large B-Cell Lymphoma and Hodgkin's Lymphoma

Lymphoma is a systemic malignancy, originating from the lymphatic system, which accounts for 3 to 4% of all tumors. There are two major subtypes of lymphoma, namely, diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) and Hodgkin’s lymphoma (HL). Elucidation of the pathogenesis of these two lymphoma types is crucial for the identification of potential therapeutic targets. Compared with the corresponding knowledge of other diseases, the understanding of the regulatory networks involved in DLBCL and HL is relatively deficient. To address this, we comprehensively analyzed the mRNAs, lncRNAs, and miRNAs that were differentially expressed between normal and tumor samples of DLBCL and HL. In addition, functional enrichment analysis of the differentially expressed mRNAs was performed. We constructed two specific ceRNA networks of DLBCL and HL. The pathways enriched by dysregulated mRNAs in DLBCL and HL were mainly involved in immune responses, transcription process, and metabolism process. The ceRNA network analysis revealed that 45 ceRNAs were shared between the two ceRNA networks, including five pivotal lncRNAs (MALAT1, CTBP1-AS, THUMPD3-AS, PSMA3-AS1, and NUTM2A-AS1). In addition, we proposed a DLBCL survival risk model based on a DLBCL-specific network constructed by Lasso regression analysis. The model, which is based on eight mRNAs, exhibited excellent performance in regard to predicting outcomes in DLBCL patients, with a p value of 0.0017 and AUC of 0.9783. In summary, although the molecular mechanisms underlying tumorigenesis in DLBCL and HL were quite different, the same pivotal lncRNAs acted as key regulators. Our findings identify novel potential prognostic and therapeutic targets for DLBCL and HL.

Knockdown of lncRNA MCM3AP-AS1 Attenuates Chemoresistance of Burkitt Lymphoma to Doxorubicin Treatment via Targeting the miR-15a/EIF4E Axis

Purpose

The long-noncoding RNA MCM3AP-AS1 has been shown to participate in the tumorigenesis and growth of several types of cancer, but little is known about the role of MCM3AP-AS1 in the chemoresistance of lymphoma.

Methods

A series of patients with Burkitt lymphoma were enrolled for clinical analysis. Daudi and Namalwa cells were used for further experiments. CCK-8 and apoptosis assays were used to assess the response to doxorubicin. Mitochondrial membrane potential assays and high-resolution respirometry were used to assess mitochondrial function. Western blotting was used to detect the expression of certain molecules. Luciferase assays and microRNA transfection were used to clarify the regulatory mechanisms of MCM3AP-AS1. An in vivo model using BALB/c nude mice was utilized to investigate the effects of MCM3AP-AS1 on cell proliferation and tumor growth.

Results

The expression level of MCM3AP-AS1 was increased in tumors compared with normal lymph nodes, which indicated poor prognosis in patients with Burkitt lymphoma. Moreover, compared with siNC transfection, MCM3AP-AS1 knockdown decreased cell viability and increased apoptosis rates upon doxorubicin treatment compared with siNC. Further studies indicated that upregulation of several antiapoptotic factors, downstream of EIF4E, was partially responsible for MCM3AP-AS1-induced chemoresistance. Moreover, miR-15a functioned as a link between MCM3AP-AS1 and EIF4E, and was sponged by MCM3AP-AS1. Finally, we showed that the MCM3AP-AS1/miR-15a/EIF4E axis regulated the chemoresistance of lymphoma cells in vitro and in vivo.

Conclusion

MCM3AP-AS1/miR-15a/EIF4E axis plays a role in the chemoresistance of Burkitt lymphoma, and it might become a promising target for lymphoma therapeutics.

Long Noncoding RNAs in Diffuse Large B-Cell Lymphoma: Current Advances and Perspectives

Diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) is a complex and aggressive malignancy originating from B lymphocytes and characterized by extensive clinical, phenotypic and molecular heterogeneity. Although research conducted over the past decades has substantially improved our understanding of DLBCL, its pathogenesis has not yet been fully elucidated. The development of RNA sequencing technology has allowed the identification of numerous long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) that exhibit aberrant expression in DLBCL. These lncRNAs play crucial roles in DLBCL development and pathogenesis and are thus good candidates for use as diagnostic biomarkers or therapeutic targets. In this review, we describe the lncRNAs associated with DLBCL, summarize their characteristics and molecular functions, and discuss their relationships with clinical practice.

Long non-coding RNA DBH-AS1 promotes cancer progression in diffuse large B-cell lymphoma by targeting FN1 via RNA-binding protein BUD13

Diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBC) is a subtype of lymphoma with the worst prognosis. Existing treatment methods are not effective enough due to its high occurrence of metastasis. Therefore, identification of effective therapeutic targets is becoming increasingly important. In this research, long non-coding RNA dopamine β hydroxylase antisense RNA 1 (DBH-AS1) was found to be upregulated in DLBC tissues and cells. Knockdown of DBH-AS1 suppressed the proliferation, migration, and invasion of cancer cells. Afterwards, RNA-binding protein BUD13 homolog (BUD13) was found to be upregulated in cancer tissues and cells while binding to DBH-AS1. Fibronectin 1 (FN1) was the downstream messenger RNA (mRNA) of BUD13. FN1 was upregulated in DLBC and was positively correlated with DBH-AS1. Further rescue assays proved that DBH-AS1 mediated FN1 expression by recruiting BUD13. In the meantime, BUD13 stabilized FN1 mRNA to promote FN1 expression. In this way, DBH-AS1/BUD13/FN1 axis was confirmed. A set of rescue assays proved that DBH-AS1 regulated DLBC progression via BUD13 and FN1. The function and mechanism of DBH-AS1 were investigated for the first time in DLBC. DBH-AS1 might become a therapeutic target in lymphoma treatment in the future.

EZH2 abnormalities in lymphoid malignancies: underlying mechanisms and therapeutic implications

EZH2 is the catalytic subunit of the polycomb repressive complex 2 (PRC2), which along with other PRC2 components mediates gene expression suppression via the methylation of Histone H3 at lysine 27. Recent studies have revealed a dichotomous role of EZH2 in physiology and in the pathogenesis of cancer. While it plays an essential role in the development of the lymphoid system, its deregulation, whether due to genetic or non-genetic causes, promotes B cell- and T cell-related lymphoma or leukemia. These findings triggered a boom in the development of therapeutic EZH2 inhibitors in recent years. Here, we discuss physiologic and pathogenic function of EZH2 in lymphoid context, various internal causes of EZH2 aberrance and how EZH2 modulates lymphomagenesis through epigenetic silencing, post-translational modifications (PTMs), orchestrating with surrounding tumor micro-environment and associating with RNA or viral partners. We also summarize different strategies to directly inhibit PRC2-EZH2 or to intervene EZH2 upstream signaling.

LncRNA SNHG14/miR-5590-3p/ZEB1 positive feedback loop promoted diffuse large B cell lymphoma progression and immune evasion through regulating PD-1/PD-L1 checkpoint

Diffuse large B cell lymphoma (DLBCL) is the commonest disorder derived from the B-lymphocytes. Inhibiting the immune checkpoint through naturalizing programmed death-1 (PD-1) and programmed death ligand 1 (PD-L1) is proved to be a successful therapeutic regime for lymphoma. Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) are unceasingly reported to be promising biological targets for the cancer therapies. This study planned to explore the regulation of small nucleolar RNA host gene 14 (SNHG14) on DLBCL. SNHG14 level in DLBCL samples and cell lines was analyzed by GEPIA bioinformatics tool and RT-qPCR. Biological functions of SNHG14 in DLBCL were detected by CCK-8, colony formation, and transwell invasion assays. Molecular interaction was determined by RNA immunoprecipitation (RIP) and luciferase reporter assays. MiR-5590-3p-related pathway was identified through KEGG pathway analysis applying DAVID6.8 online bioinformatics tool. Effect of SNHG14 on CD8+ T cells was detected by flow cytometry. Results depicted that SNHG14 was upregulated in DLBCL and its depletion retarded proliferation, migration and epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT). Mechanistically, SNHG14 sponged miR-5590-3p to upregulate Zinc finger E-box binding homeobox 1 (ZEB1), and ZEB1 transcriptionally activated SNHG14 and PD-L1 to promote the immune evasion of DLBCL cells. In conclusion, we firstly showed that SNHG14/miR-5590-3p/ZEB1 positive feedback loop promoted diffuse large B cell lymphoma progression and immune evasion through regulating PD-1/PD-L1 checkpoint, indicating that targeting SNHG14 was a potential approach to improve the efficacy of immunotherapy in DLBCL.

Long Non-Coding RNA in the Pathogenesis of Cancers

The incidence and mortality rate of cancer has been quickly increasing in the past decades. At present, cancer has become the leading cause of death worldwide. Most of the cancers cannot be effectively diagnosed at the early stage. Although there are multiple therapeutic treatments, including surgery, radiotherapy, chemotherapy, and targeted drugs, their effectiveness is still limited. The overall survival rate of malignant cancers is still low. It is necessary to further study the mechanisms for malignant cancers, and explore new biomarkers and targets that are more sensitive and effective for early diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis of cancers than traditional biomarkers and methods. Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) are a class of RNA transcripts with a length greater than 200 nucleotides. Generally, lncRNAs are not capable of encoding proteins or peptides. LncRNAs exert diverse biological functions by regulating gene expressions and functions at transcriptional, translational, and post-translational levels. In the past decade, it has been demonstrated that the dysregulated lncRNA profile is widely involved in the pathogenesis of many diseases, including cancer, metabolic disorders, and cardiovascular diseases. In particular, lncRNAs have been revealed to play an important role in tumor growth and metastasis. Many lncRNAs have been shown to be potential biomarkers and targets for the diagnosis and treatment of cancers. This review aims to briefly discuss the latest findings regarding the roles and mechanisms of some important lncRNAs in the pathogenesis of certain malignant cancers, including lung, breast, liver, and colorectal cancers, as well as hematological malignancies and neuroblastoma.

Identification and Functional Inference for Tumor-Associated Long Non-Coding RNA

Gastric cancer is one of the top leading causes of cancer mortality worldwide especially in China. In recent years, some lncRNAs are discovered to be dysregulated in many cancers. The study on long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) relationship with cancers has attracted increasing attention. The molecular mechanism of gastric cancer remains largely unclear factors, especially for lncRNAs. Experiments are feasible to obtain related information, however, experimental identification of cancer-related lncRNAs usually possesses high time complexity and high cost. In this paper, a computational method is proposed to determine the relationship between lncRNA and gastric cancer by reusing the exon-based array of gastric cancer. One specific lncRNAs LINC00365 and its target differentially expressed genes whose products are predicted as blood, urine, or salvia-excretory are identified to be candidates for a combined biomarker for gastric cancer. Further biological function and molecular mechanism of the gastric cancer related lncRNAs and coding gene biomarkers are inferred in terms of multi-source biological knowledge.

HOTAIR as a Prognostic Predictor for Diverse Human Cancers: A Meta- and Bioinformatics Analysis

Several studies suggest that upregulated expression of the long non-coding RNA HOX transcript antisense RNA (HOTAIR) is a negative predictive biomarker for numerous cancers. Herein, we performed a meta-analysis to further investigate the prognostic value of HOTAIR expression in diverse human cancers. To this end, a systematic literature review was conducted in order to select scientific studies relevant to the association between HOTAIR expression and clinical outcomes, including overall survival (OS), recurrence-free survival (RFS)/disease-free survival (DFS), and progression-free survival (PFS)/metastasis-free survival (MFS) of cancer patients. Collectively, 53 eligible studies including a total of 4873 patients were enrolled in the current meta-analysis. Pooled hazard ratios (HRs) with their corresponding 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated to assess the relationship between HOTAIR and cancer patients’ survival. Elevated HOTAIR expression was found to be significantly associated with OS, RFS/DFS and PFS/MFS in diverse types of cancers. These findings were also corroborated by the results of bioinformatics analysis on overall survival. Therefore, based on our findings, HOTAIR could serve as a potential biomarker for the prediction of cancer patient survival in many different types of human cancers.

Role of long non-coding RNAs in lymphoma: A systematic review and clinical perspectives

Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs), are over 200 nucleotides in length, and they rarely act as templates for protein synthesis. Mounting studies have shown that lncRNAs play a crucial regulatory role in various processes that sustain life, such as epigenetic regulation, cell cycle control, splicing, and post-transcriptional regulation. LncRNAs were aberrantly expressed in most hematological malignancies including lymphoma, participating in tumor suppression or promoting oncogenesis and modulating key genes in different pathways. The specific expression patterns of lncRNAs in lymphoma make them good candidates to be used as diagnostic biomarkers or as therapeutic targets. LncRNAs can be targeted by multiple approaches including nucleic acid therapeutics, CRISPR/Cas genome editing techniques, small molecule inhibitors, and gene therapy. Efforts are made to develop therapeutic strategies aimed at targeting lncRNAs, but there are still some avenues to be covered before they can be applied to the clinical treatment of lymphoma.

Long noncoding RNAs: a missing link in osteoporosis

Osteoporosis is a systemic disease that results in loss of bone density and increased fracture risk, particularly in the vertebrae and the hip. This condition and associated morbidity and mortality increase with population ageing. Long noncoding (lnc) RNAs are transcripts longer than 200 nucleotides that are not translated into proteins, but play important regulatory roles in transcriptional and post-transcriptional regulation. Their contribution to disease onset and development is increasingly recognized. Herein, we present an integrative revision on the studies that implicate lncRNAs in osteoporosis and that support their potential use as therapeutic tools. Firstly, current evidence on lncRNAs involvement in cellular and molecular mechanisms linked to osteoporosis and its major complication, fragility fractures, is reviewed. We analyze evidence of their roles in osteogenesis, osteoclastogenesis, and bone fracture healing events from human and animal model studies. Secondly, the potential of lncRNAs alterations at genetic and transcriptomic level are discussed as osteoporosis risk factors and as new circulating biomarkers for diagnosis. Finally, we conclude debating the possibilities, persisting difficulties, and future prospects of using lncRNAs in the treatment of osteoporosis.

Lnc SMAD5-AS1 as ceRNA inhibit proliferation of diffuse large B cell lymphoma via Wnt/β-catenin pathway by sponging miR-135b-5p to elevate expression of APC

Diffuse large B cell lymphoma (DLBCL) is a common and fatal hematological malignancy. Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) have emerged as crucial biomarkers and regulators in many cancers. Novel lncRNA biomarker in DLBCL needs to be investigated badly, as well as its function and molecular mechanism. To further explore, microarray analysis was performed to identify the differentially expressed lncRNAs in DLBCL tissues. To investigate the biological functions of SMAD5-AS1, we performed gain- and loss-of-function experiments in vitro and in vivo. Furthermore, bioinformatics analysis, dual-luciferase reporter assays, Argonaute 2-RNA immunoprecipitation (AGO2-RIP), RNA pull-down assay, quantitative PCR arrays, western blot assay, TOPFlash/FOPFlash reporter assay, and rescue experiments were conducted to explore the underlying mechanisms of competitive endogenous RNAs (ceRNAs). We found that SMAD5-AS1 was down-regulated in DLBCL tissues and cell lines. Functionally, SMAD5-AS1 downregulation promoted cell proliferation in vitro and in vivo, whereas SMAD5-AS1 overexpression could lead to the opposite effects in vitro and in vivo. Bioinformatics analysis and luciferase assays revealed that miR-135b-5p was a direct target of SMAD5-AS1, which was validated by dual-luciferase reporter assays, AGO2-RIP, RNA pull-down assay, and rescue experiments. Also, dual-luciferase reporter assays and rescue experiments demonstrated that miR-135b-5p targeted the adenomatous polyposis coli (APC) gene directly. SMAD5-AS1/miR-135b-5p inhibits the cell proliferation via inactivating the classic Wnt/β-catenin pathway in the form of APC dependency. Our results indicated that SMAD5-AS1 inhibits DLBCL proliferation by sponging miR-135b-5p to up-regulate APC expression and inactivate classic Wnt/β-catenin pathway, suggesting that SMAD5-AS1 may act as a potential biomarker and therapeutic target for DLBCL.

The inhibitive effect of sh-HIF1A-AS2 on the proliferation, invasion, and pathological damage of breast cancer via targeting miR-548c-3p through regulating HIF-1α/VEGF pathway in vitro and vivo

Background

Breast cancer (BC) has been the commonest malignant tumor with a low survival rate among woman. Long non-coding RNA hypoxia-inducible factor-1 alpha antisense RNA-2 (HIF1A-AS2) was correlated with various cancers.

Purpose

The study aimed to investigate the roles and related underlying molecular mechanisms of HIF1A-AS2 in BC.

Material and methods

Target relationships were speculated by Targetscan 7.0 and confirmed by dual luciferase reporter assay. Proteins levels were monitored by RT-qPCR, Western blot and immunohistochemistry assays. CCK-8 assay, SA-β-gal staining and transwell assay were used to detect proliferation, senescence and invasion, respectively. Xenograft nude mice were put into use to evaluate the tumor growth and motility.

Results

The present study exhibited that HIF1A-AS2 and hypoxia-inducible factor-1 alpha (HIF-1α) were upregulated while miR-548c-3p was downregulated in MDA-MB-231, MCF-7, ZR-75-1, and BT-549 BC cell lines. Bioinformatics analysis showed HIF1A-AS2 and HIF-1α were two targets of miR-548c-3p, and the target relationship was further confirmed by dual luciferase reporter assay. Moreover, knockdown of HIF1A-AS2 by shRNA (sh-HIF1A-AS2) markedly elevated miR-548c-3p level, and the enhanced miR-548c-3p noticeably suppressed cell proliferation, invasion, and epithelial–mesenchymal transition, and promoted senescence in vitro. In addition, overexpression of HIF-1α promoted MCF-7 cell invasion. Intriguingly, low expression of HIF1A-AS2 reduced HIF-1α level by upregulating the expression of miR-548c-3p. Furthermore, experiment in xenograft nude mice has indicated that sh-HIF1A-AS2 inhibited tumor growth and motility by targeting miR-548c-3p through regulating HIF-1α/vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) pathway in vivo.

Conclusion

The inhibitive effect of HIF-1α/VEGF pathway by sh-HIF1A-AS2 through targeting miR-548c-3p plays crucial regulatory roles in BC. Therefore, designing targeted drugs against HIF1A-AS2 provides a new direction for the treatment of BC.

Long Non-Coding RNAs Guide the Fine-Tuning of Gene Regulation in B-Cell Development and Malignancy

With the introduction of next generation sequencing methods, such as RNA sequencing, it has become apparent that alterations in the non-coding regions of our genome are important in the development of cancer. Particularly interesting is the class of long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs), including the recently described subclass of circular RNAs (circRNAs), which display tissue- and cell-type specific expression patterns and exert diverse regulatory functions in the cells. B-cells undergo complex and tightly regulated processes in order to develop from antigen naïve cells residing in the bone marrow to the highly diverse and competent effector cells circulating in peripheral blood. These processes include V(D)J recombination, rapid proliferation, somatic hypermutation and clonal selection, posing a risk of malignant transformation at each step. The aim of this review is to provide insight into how lncRNAs including circRNAs, participate in normal B-cell differentiation, and how deregulation of these molecules is involved in the development of B-cell malignancies. We describe the prognostic value and functional significance of specific deregulated lncRNAs in diseases such as acute lymphoblastic leukemia, chronic lymphocytic leukemia, mantle cell lymphoma, diffuse large B-cell lymphoma, follicular lymphoma, Burkitt lymphoma and multiple myeloma, and we provide an overview of the current knowledge on the role of circRNAs in these diseases.

Sulfasalazine alters microglia phenotype by competing endogenous RNA effect of miR-136-5p and long non-coding RNA HOTAIR in cuprizone-induced demyelination

Sulfasalazine (SF) promotes remyelination and improves the outcome of multiple sclerosis (MS) patients. However, the underlining mechanism remains elusive. Here, we examined whether SF blocks microglia switching to a pro-inflammatory M1-like phenotype through a competing endogenous RNA (ceRNA) effects in cuprizone-induced demyelination. The microglia reprogramming effects of SF in the mice model of cuprizone-induced demyelination was measured by histological, immunohistochemical and molecular biological methods. We also measured the effects of the condition media from SF-treated microglia on the differentiation of OLN-93 cells. Insights of the mechanism of ceRNAs of miR-136-5p and long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) HOTAIR were gained from bioinformatic analysis, luciferase assays and RNA binding protein immunoprecipitation. Microglia switched to a pro-inflammatory M1-like phenotype in cuprizone induced-demyelination. Conversely, SF inhibited the M1-like polarization with the increased remyelination which was attenuated by microglia depletion. SF inhibited production of M1-like factors TNF-α and INF-γ in microglia, and thereby promoted the differentiation of OLN-93 oligodendrocytes. SF down-regulated lncRNA HOTAIR but up-regulated miR-136-5p, and thus inactivated AKT2-NF-κB in cuprizone-treated microglia. Importantly, lncRNA HOTAIR overexpression reversed the increased miR-136-5p expression by SF and thereby attenuated the inhibition of AKT2-mediated NF-κB activation. Mimic of miR-136-5p inhibited cuprizone-induced activation of AKT2-NF-κB in the microglia. In summary, SF blocks microglia switching to a pro-inflammatory M1-like phenotype by ceRNA effect of miR-136-5p and lncRNA HOTAIR in cuprizone-induced demyelination. Our findings show the therapeutic potential of SF for human MS probably by targeting epigenetic regulation in microglia.

Comprehensive analysis of differentially expressed profiles of lncRNAs and mRNAs reveals ceRNA networks in the transformation of diffuse large B-cell lymphoma

Diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) is one of the malignancies with a high mortality rate. The molecular mechanisms involved in transformation of DLBCL remain unclear. Therefore, it is critically important to investigate the biological mechanisms of DLBCL. Accumulating evidence indicates that long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) serve key functions in tumorigenesis, cancer progression and metastasis. Compared with follicular lymphoma (FL), a total of 123 upregulated lncRNAs and 192 downregulated lncRNAs in DLBCL were identified. Subsequently, a specific DLBCL-associated competing endogenous RNA (ceRNA) network and a specific FL-associated ceRNA network was constructed. Gene Oncology and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes pathway analysis revealed that differentially expressed lncRNAs served key functions in regulating signal transduction, transcription, cell adhesion, development and protein amino acid phosphorylation. Furthermore, the molecular functions of PRKCQ antisense RNA 1, HLA complex P5, OIP5 antisense RNA 1, growth arrest specific 5 and taurine upregulated 1 were investigated, and it was revealed that these lncRNAs served important functions in regulating a series of biological processes, including anti-apoptosis, cell cycle, DNA repair, response to oxidative stress and transcription. The present study may provide a potential novel therapeutic and prognostic target for the treatment of DLBCL.

The long non-coding RNA NONHSAG026900 predicts prognosis as a favorable biomarker in patients with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma

Long non-coding RNAs are known to be involved in cancer progression, but their biological functions and prognostic values are still largely unexplored in diffuse large B-cell lymphoma. In this study, long non-coding RNAs expression was characterized in 1,403 samples including normal and diffuse large B-cell lymphoma by repurposing 7 microarray datasets. Compared with any stage of normal B cells, NONHSAG026900 expression was significantly decreased in tumor samples. And in germinal center B-cell subtype, the significantly higher expression of NONHSAG026900 indicated it was a favorable prognosis biomarker. Then the prognostic power of NONHSAG026900 was validated with another independent dataset and NONHSAG026900 improved the predictive power of International Prognostic Index as an independent factor. Moreover, functional prediction and validation demonstrated that NONHSAG026900 could inhibit cell cycle activity to restrain tumor proliferation. These findings identified NONHSAG026900 as a novel prognostic biomarker and offered a new therapeutic target for diffuse large B-cell lymphoma patients.

Association between the HOTAIR polymorphisms and cancer risk: an updated meta-analysis

Purpose

LncRNA HOTAIR plays an important role in many cancer. Several studies have shown that some HOTAIR SNPs might be associated with tumor risk in case-control studies, but the results are inconsistent and inconclusive. Therefore, it is necessary to better evaluate association between the HOTAIR SNPs and the risk of cancer.

Results

rs920778, rs7958904 and rs874945 but not rs4759314 and rs1899663 loci were significantly related to cancer risk, among of which rs920778 and rs874945 increased and rs7958904 decreased cancer risk, respectively. Moreover, rs920778 is significantly susceptible in both Asian population and digestive cancer risks.

Materials and Methods

Data were collected from PubMed, Embase and Web of Science. A total of 11 case-control studies were selected for the quantitative analysis. Software Stata (Version 12) was used to calculate Odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) to evaluate the strength of the associations. Subgroup analysis, sensitivity analysis, and publication bias were also performed. Five HOTAIR SNPs were finally enrolled in the study.

Conclusions

HOTAIR SNP rs920778, rs7958904 and rs874945 are susceptible to cancer risk. SNP rs920778 is also a useful risk factor in evaluation of Asian population and digestive cancer. In addition, the cancer risk SNP rs874945 is first reported in the meta-analysis.

Long noncoding RNA identification in lymphoma

It has been found that long noncoding RNA (lncRNA) are abnormally expressed in lymphoma and play an important role in its pathogenesis. Through the detection and analysis of lncRNA, it was found that lncRNA could be used as an excellent biomarker for the diagnosis and prognosis of cancer. In lymphoma, abnormal lncRNA expression is associated with the patient's clinical characteristics, it can be used to determine the prognosis of the patient and serve as a therapeutic target in the disease.

Down-regulation of the long noncoding RNA-HOX transcript antisense intergenic RNA inhibits the occurrence and progression of glioma

This study aims to explore the role of long noncoding RNA (lncRNA)-HOX transcript antisense intergenic RNA (HOTAIR) in the occurrence and progression of glioma. Fresh glioma and normal brain tissues were classified into a glioma group (n = 67) and a normal group (n = 64) respectively. U87 cells were assigned into the blank, sh-NC, and sh-HOTAIR groups. Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) was utilized to determine HOTAIR expression. Cell proliferation, cell cycle and cell apoptosis rates were detected by cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8) and flow cytometry (FCM). Scratch test and transwell assay were conducted for cell migration and invasion. Orthotopic glioma tumor model in nude mice was established by inoculating tumor cell suspension. Hematoxylin-Eosin (HE) staining was used to observe the growth and invasion of orthotopic glioma tumors. The expression of HOTAIR and cell viability was found to be lowest in the sh-HOTAIR group among the three groups. The sh-HOTAIR group exhibited a higher apoptotic rate and lower number of cell migration compared with the blank and sh-NC groups. Additionally, the speed of wound healing was slower, the migration distance decreased and the survival time of nude mice was extended in the sh-HOTAIR compared to the other groups. Moreover, the sh-HOTAIR group demonstrated reduced lesion sizes and inflammation, no convulsions or hemiplegia and lesser number of satellite metastases. Our findings support that down-regulation of HOTAIR could inhibit cell proliferation, promote cell apoptosis as well as suppress cell invasion and migration in the progression of glioma.

Emerging roles for long noncoding RNAs in B-cell development and malignancy

Long noncoding (lnc)RNAs have emerged as essential mediators of cellular biology, differentiation and malignant transformation. LncRNAs have a broad range of possible functions at the transcriptional, posttranscriptional and protein level and their aberrant expression significantly contributes to the hallmarks of cancer cell biology. In addition, their high tissue- and cell-type specificity makes lncRNAs especially interesting as biomarkers, prognostic factors or specific therapeutic targets. Here, we review current knowledge on lncRNA expression changes during normal B-cell development, indicating essential functions in the differentiation process. In addition we address lncRNA deregulation in B-cell malignancies, the putative prognostic value of this as well as the molecular functions of multiple deregulated lncRNAs. Altogether, the discussed work indicates major roles for lncRNAs in normal and malignant B cells affecting oncogenic pathways as well as the response to common therapeutics.

Global network random walk for predicting potential human lncRNA-disease associations

There is more and more evidence that the mutation and dysregulation of long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) are associated with numerous diseases, including cancers. However, experimental methods to identify associations between lncRNAs and diseases are expensive and time-consuming. Effective computational approaches to identify disease-related lncRNAs are in high demand; and would benefit the detection of lncRNA biomarkers for disease diagnosis, treatment, and prevention. In light of some limitations of existing computational methods, we developed a global network random walk model for predicting lncRNA-disease associations (GrwLDA) to reveal the potential associations between lncRNAs and diseases. GrwLDA is a universal network-based method and does not require negative samples. This method can be applied to a disease with no known associated lncRNA (isolated disease) and to lncRNA with no known associated disease (novel lncRNA). The leave-one-out cross validation (LOOCV) method was implemented to evaluate the predicted performance of GrwLDA. As a result, GrwLDA obtained reliable AUCs of 0.9449, 0.8562, and 0.8374 for overall, novel lncRNA and isolated disease prediction, respectively, significantly outperforming previous methods. Case studies of colon, gastric, and kidney cancers were also implemented, and the top 5 disease-lncRNA associations were reported for each disease. Interestingly, 13 (out of the 15) associations were confirmed by literature mining.

Overexpression of long non-coding RNA cancer susceptibility 2 inhibits cell invasion and angiogenesis in gastric cancer

Increasing evidence has indicated that long non‑coding RNAs (lncRNAs) were aberrantly expressed and acted as key regulators in various types of disease, including cancer. lncRNA cancer susceptibility 2 (CASC2) has been found to be downregulated and acts as a tumor suppressor in various type of cancer, including gastric cancer (GC). However, the precise function of lncRNA CASC2 in GC remains unclear. In the present study, the expression level of lncRNA CASC2 in GC was investigated and the molecular mechanisms by which CASC2 acted as a tumor suppressor in this disease were elucidated. It was found that the expression level of lncRNA CASC2 was decreased, which correlated with TNM stages, vessel invasion, metastasis, and overall survival of patients with GC. Furthermore, overexpression of CASC2 inhibited the invasion and angiogenesis of GC cells. Thus, the present study indicated the important roles and underlying molecular mechanisms of lncRNA CASC2 on GC, and indicated that lncRNA CASC2 may present as a potential therapeutic target for the treatment of GC.

Identification of key lncRNAs in colorectal cancer progression based on associated protein-protein interaction analysis

BACKGROUND

Colorectal cancer (CRC) was one of the most commonly diagnosed malignancies. The molecular mechanisms involved in the progression of CRC remain unclear. Accumulating evidences showed that long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) played key roles in tumorigenesis, cancer progression, and metastasis. Therefore, we aimed to explore the roles of lncRNAs in the progression of CRC.

METHODS

In this study, we aimed to identify differentially expressed lncRNAs and messenger RNAs (mRNAs) in CRC by analyzing a cohort of previously published datasets: GSE64857. GO and KEGG pathway analyses were applied to give us insight in the functions of those lncRNAs and mRNAs in CRC.

RESULTS

Totally, 46 lncRNAs were identified as differentially expressed between stage II and stage III CRC for the first time screening by microarray. GO and KEGG pathway analyses showed that differentially expressed lncRNAs were involved in regulating signal transduction, cell adhesion, cell differentiation, focal adhesion, and cell adhesion molecules.

CONCLUSIONS

We found three lncRNAs (LOC100129973, PGM5-AS1, and TTTY10) widely co-expressed with differentially expressed mRNAs. We also constructed lncRNA-associated PPI in CRC and found that these lncRNAs may be associated with CRC progression. Moreover, we found that high PGM5-AS1 expression levels were associated with worse overall survival in CRC cancer. We believe that this study would provide novel potential therapeutic and prognostic targets for CRC.

Discovery and validation of the tumor-suppressive function of long noncoding RNA PANDA in human diffuse large B-cell lymphoma through the inactivation of MAPK/ERK signaling pathway

Diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) is one of the leading causes of cancer-related mortality, and responds badly to existing treatment. Thus, it is of urgent need to identify novel prognostic markers and therapeutic targets of DLBCL. Recent studies have shown that long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) play an important role in the development of cancer. By using the next generation HiSeq sequencing assay, we determined lncRNAs exhibiting differential expression between DLBCL patients and healthy controls. Then, RT-qPCR was performed for identification in clinical samples and cell materials, and lncRNA PANDA was verified to be down-regulated in DLBCL patients and have considerable diagnostic potential. In addition, decreased serum PANDA level was correlated to poorer clinical outcome and lower overall survival in DLBCL patients. Subsequently, we determined the experimental role of lncRNA PANDA in DLBCL progression. Luciferase reporter assay and chromatin immunoprecipitation assay suggested that lncRNA PANDA was induced by p53 and p53 interacts with the promoter region of PANDA. Cell functional assay further indicated that PANDA functioned as a tumor suppressor gene through the suppression of cell growth by a G0/G1 cell cycle arrest in DLBCL. More importantly, Cignal Signal Transduction Reporter Array and western blot assay showed that lncRNA PANDA inactivated the MAPK/ERK signaling pathway. In conclusion, our integrated approach demonstrates that PANDA in DLBCL confers a tumor suppressive function through inhibiting cell proliferation and silencing MAPK/ERK signaling pathway. Thus, PANDA may be a promising therapeutic target for patients with DLBCL.

[Expression of Serum LncRNA HOTAIR in Non-small Cell Lung Cancer and Its Clinical Significance]

BACKGROUND

The expression of long noncoding RNA HOX antisense RNA (HOTAIR) is abnormal in a variety of tumors. The aim of this study is to explore the serum levels and clinical significance of HOTAIR in patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

METHODS

The serum levels of HOTAIR were detected by real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (PCR) in 64 NSCLC patients and 64 normal controls. The relationships between the serum levels of HOTAIR and clinical pathological parameters were analyzed.

RESULTS

Compared with normal controls, the serum levels of HOTAIR in patients with NSCLC increased significantly (P<0.01). The serum levels of HOTAIR were correlated with tumor size, tumor-node-metastasis (TNM) stage and lymph node metastasis (P<0.05), but not with age, gender, smoking, differentiation and histology (P>0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

The serum levels of HOTAIR in patients with NSCLC are significantly higher, and HOTAIR may be involved in the pathogenesis of NSCLC.

Clinicopathological and prognostic significance of homeobox transcript antisense RNA expression in various cancers: A meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

Increased expression of the homeobox (HOX) transcript antisense RNA (HOTAIR) has been reported in multiple types of malignancies and enhances the proliferation and migration of cancer cells. However, the association between HOTAIR expression and tumor progression and prognosis remains controversial. We performed a meta-analysis to clarify the association between the expression of HOTAIR and the clinicopathological features and prognosis in different cancers.

METHODS

A systematic search of the PubMed, Web of Science, EMBASE, and Ovid databases was conducted, up to September 2016, for eligible studies involving HOTAIR expression and malignancies. The odds ratios (ORs), hazard ratios (HRs), and corresponding 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated using fixed- or random-effect models. Any publication bias was evaluated using Begg and Egger tests, and adjusted using the trim and fill method if a bias existed.

RESULTS

A total of 4116 patients from 44 studies were included in our meta-analysis. The results showed that high HOTAIR expression was associated with an advanced clinical tumor stage (OR = 3.90, 95% CI = 3.02-5.03, P < .001), lymph node metastasis (OR = 3.11, 95% CI = 2.15-4.49, P < .001), poor differentiation of the tumor (OR = 1.56, 95% CI = 1.01-2.41, P = .03), and worse prognosis (HR = 2.16, 95% CI = 1.73-2.69, P < .001) in different cancer types. HOTAIR expression was more predictive in monitoring the clinical tumor stage of patients and there was no significant heterogeneity or publication bias found in the analysis.

CONCLUSION

Our meta-analysis suggests that HOTAIR is positively correlated with tumor development and negatively correlated with clinical outcome. Thus, an increase in HOTAIR expression may be a potential biomarker for tumor progression and evaluation of prognosis.

RETRACTED: The effects of the long non-coding RNA MALAT-1 regulated autophagy-related signaling pathway on chemotherapy resistance in diffuse large B-cell lymphoma

This article has been retracted: please see Elsevier Policy on Article Withdrawal (http://www.elsevier.com/locate/withdrawalpolicy). This article has been retracted at the request of the Editor-in-Chief. An Expression of Concern for this article was previously published while an investigation was conducted (see related editorial: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biopha.2022.113812). This retraction notice supersedes the Expression of Concern published earlier. Concern was raised about the reliability of the images in Figure 5B, and the Western blots shown in Figure 9A+B, which appear to contain similar repeated features, and a phenotype found in other publications, as detailed here: https://pubpeer.com/publications/81D7B72D646EC532D0DFF63338A55F; and here: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1r0MyIYpagBc58BRF9c3luWNlCX8VUvUuPyYYXzxWvgY/edit#gid=262337249. Independent analysis confirmed these findings and identified additional suspected image duplications in Figures 5A+B and 9A+B. The journal requested the corresponding author comment on these concerns and provide the associated raw data. The authors did not respond to this request and therefore the Editor-in-Chief decided to retract the article.