Long non‑coding RNA SNHG20 promotes colorectal cancer cell proliferation, migration and invasion via miR‑495/STAT3 axis

Interactomic exploration of LRRC8A in volume-regulated anion channels

Ion channels are critical in enabling ion movement into and within cells and are important targets for pharmacological interventions in different human diseases. In addition to their ion transport abilities, ion channels interact with signalling and scaffolding proteins, which affects their function, cellular positioning, and links to intracellular signalling pathways. The study of "channelosomes" within cells has the potential to uncover their involvement in human diseases, although this field of research is still emerging. LRRC8A is the gene that encodes a crucial protein involved in the formation of volume-regulated anion channels (VRACs). Some studies suggest that LRRC8A could be a valuable prognostic tool in different types of cancer, serving as a biomarker for predicting patients' outcomes. LRRC8A expression levels might be linked to tumour progression, metastasis, and treatment response, although its implications in different cancer types can be varied. Here, publicly accessible databases of cancer patients were systematically analysed to determine if a correlation between VRAC channel expression and survival rate exists across distinct cancer types. Moreover, we re-evaluated the impact of LRRC8A on cellular proliferation and migration in colon cancer via HCT116 LRRC8A-KO cells, which is a current topic of debate in the literature. In addition, to investigate the role of LRRC8A in cellular signalling, we conducted biotin proximity-dependent identification (BioID) analysis, revealing a correlation between VRAC channels and cell-cell junctions, mechanisms that govern cellular calcium homeostasis, kinases, and GTPase signalling. Overall, this dataset improves our understanding of LRRC8A/VRAC and explores new research avenues while identifying promising therapeutic targets and promoting inventive methods for disease treatment.

Functional role of lncRNAs in gastrointestinal malignancies: the peculiar case of small nucleolar RNA host gene family

Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) play crucial roles in normal physiology and are often de-regulated in disease states such as cancer. Recently, a class of lncRNAs referred to as the small nucleolar RNA host gene (SNHG) family have emerged as important players in tumourigenesis. Here, we discuss new findings describing the role of SNHGs in gastrointestinal tumours and summarize the three main functions by which these lncRNAs promote carcinogenesis, namely: competing with endogenous RNAs, modulating protein function, and regulating epigenetic marking. Furthermore, we discuss how SNHGs participate in different hallmarks of cancer, and how this class of lncRNAs may serve as potential biomarkers in cancer diagnosis and therapy.

LncRNA SNHG26 promotes gastric cancer progression and metastasis by inducing c-Myc protein translation and an energy metabolism positive feedback loop

Metastasis is a bottleneck in cancer treatment. Studies have shown the pivotal roles of long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) in regulating cancer metastasis; however, our understanding of lncRNAs in gastric cancer (GC) remains limited. RNA-seq was performed on metastasis-inclined GC tissues to uncover metastasis-associated lncRNAs, revealing upregulated small nucleolar RNA host gene 26 (SNHG26) expression, which predicted poor GC patient prognosis. Functional experiments revealed that SNHG26 promoted cellular epithelial-mesenchymal transition and proliferation in vitro and in vivo. Mechanistically, SNHG26 was found to interact with nucleolin (NCL), thereby modulating c-Myc expression by increasing its translation, and in turn promoting energy metabolism via hexokinase 2 (HK2), which facilitates GC malignancy. The increase in energy metabolism supplies sufficient energy to promote c-Myc translation and expression, forming a positive feedback loop. In addition, metabolic and translation inhibitors can block this loop, thus inhibiting cell proliferation and mobility, indicating potential therapeutic prospects in GC.

Association between small nucleolar RNA host gene expression and survival outcome of colorectal cancer patients: A meta-analysis based on PRISMA and bioinformatics analysis

Introduction

Growing evidence shows that long non-coding RNA small nucleolar RNA host genes (lncRNA SNHGs) enact an pivotal regulatory roles in the shorter survival outcome of colorectal cancer (CRC). However, no research has systematically evaluated the correlation among lncRNA SNHGs expression and survival outcome of CRC. This research indented to screen whether exist potential prognostic effect of lncRNA SNHGs in CRC patientss using comprehensive review and meta-analysis.

Methods

Systematic searches were performed from the six relevant databases from inception to October 20, 2022. The quality of published papers was evaluated in details. We pooled the hazard ratios (HR) with 95% confidence interval (CI) through direct or indirect collection of effect sizes, and odds ratios (OR) with 95% CI by collecting effect sizes within articles. Detailed downstream signaling pathways of lncRNA SNHGs were summarized in detail.

Results

25 eligible publications including 2,342 patients were finally included to appraise the association of lncRNA SNHGs with prognosis of CRC. Elevated lncRNA SNHGs expression was revealed in colorectal tumor tissues. High lncSNHG expression means bad survival prognosis in CRC patients (HR=1.635, 95% CI: 1.405-1.864, P<0.001). Additionally, high lncRNA SNHGs expression was inclined to later TNM stage (OR=1.635, 95% CI: 1.405-1.864, P<0.001), distant lymph node invasion, distant organ metastasis, larger tumor diameter and poor pathological grade. Begg's funnel plot test using the Stata 12.0 software suggested that no significant heterogeneity was found.

Conclusion

Elevated lncRNA SNHGs expression was revealed to be positively correlated to discontented CRC clinical outcome and lncRNA SNHG may act as a potential clinical prognostic index for CRC patients.

STAT signaling as a target for intervention: from cancer inflammation and angiogenesis to non-coding RNAs modulation

As a landmark, scientific investigation in cytokine signaling and interferon-related anti-viral activity, signal transducer and activator of transcription (STAT) family of proteins was first discovered in the 1990s. Today, we know that the STAT family consists of several transcription factors which regulate various molecular and cellular processes, including proliferation, angiogenesis, and differentiation in human carcinoma. STAT family members play an active role in transducing signals from cell membrane to nucleus through intracellular signaling and thus activating gene transcription. Additionally, they are also associated with the development and progression of human cancer by facilitating inflammation, cell survival, and resistance to therapeutic responses. Accumulating evidence suggests that not all STAT proteins are associated with the progression of human malignancy; however, STAT3/5 are constitutively activated in various cancers, including multiple myeloma, lymphoma, breast cancer, prostate hepatocellular carcinoma, and non-small cell lung cancer. The present review highlights how STAT-associated events are implicated in cancer inflammation, angiogenesis and non-coding RNA (ncRNA) modulation to highlight potential intervention into carcinogenesis-related cellular processes.

LncRNA SNHG20 promotes migration and invasion of ovarian cancer via modulating the microRNA-148a/ROCK1 axis

BACKGROUND

Ovarian cancer (OC) is characterized by early metastasis and poor prognosis, which threatens the health of women worldwide. Small nucleolar RNA host gene 20 (SNHG20), a long noncoding RNA (lncRNA), has been verified to be significantly up-regulated in several tumors, including OC. MicroRNA-148a (miR-148a)/rho-kinase1 (ROCK1) axis plays an important role in the modulation of tumor development. However, whether SNHG20 can regulate OC progression through miR-148a/ROCK1 axis remains unclear. Normal human ovarian epithelial cell line and four OC cell lines were adopted for in vitro experiments. Real-time PCR was performed to assess the levels of SNHG20 and miR-148a. OC cell proliferation, apoptosis, invasion and migration were detected using clone formation, flow cytometry, transwell, and wound healing assays, respectively. Tumor xenograft assay was applied to evaluate the effect of SNHG20 on tumor growth in vivo.

RESULTS

Significant higher expression of SNHG20 was observed in OC cell lines. SNHG20 markedly promoted the invasion, migration, proliferation and inhibited the apoptosis of OC cells. SNHG20 enhanced ROCK1 expression by sponging miR-148a, and the direct binding between SNHG20/ROCK1 and miR-148a was identified.

CONCLUSION

SNHG20 promoted invasion and migration of OC via targeting miR-148a/ROCK1 axis. The present research may provide a novel insight for the therapeutic strategies of OC.

HNSC exosome-derived MIAT improves cognitive disorders in rats with vascular dementia via the miR-34b-5p/CALB1 axis

OBJECTIVE

To explore the molecular mechanism by which hippocampal neural stem cell (HNSC) exosome (exo)-derived MIAT improves cognitive disorders in rats with vascular dementia (VD).

METHODS

Rat hippocampal tissues were collected, and HNSCs and hippocampal neuronal cells (HNCs) were isolated, purified, and identified. Then the exosomes (exo) of the HNSCs were extracted and identified. A VD rat model was constructed. HE staining was used to evaluate the hippocampal pathology in each group. The expressions of the RNAs in the HNSCs were intervened, and the cells were then grouped. ELISA was used to measure the of TNF-α, IL-1, and Aβ1-42 expression levels. The kits were used to determine the oxidative stress factor levels. The targeting relationships among MIAT, miR-34b-5p, and CALB1 were measured using dual-luciferase assays. The MIAT expressions in exo were measured using qRT-PCR. The proliferation and apoptosis of the HNCs were determined using CCK-8 and Annexin V-FITC/PI staining, respectively. The CALB1, TH, and Bcl-2 protein expressions were determined using Western blot. The Morris water maze test was used for the spatial learning and memory testing.

RESULTS

The hippocampal tissues in the model group were clearly damaged, but the pathological characteristics were significantly improved in the exo group. The exo group also showed an increased SOD level, decreased MDA and ROS levels, and down-regulated TNF-α, IL-1, and Aβ1-42 expressions (all P<0.05). MiR-34b-5p had a targeting relationship with both MIAT and CALB1, and MIAT was found to be expressed in exo. The oe-MIAT-exo group and the miR-34b-5p inhibitor group showed significantly up-regulated CALB1, TH, and Bcl-2 protein expressions in the HNCs, increased cell viability, as well as reduced apoptosis, but the si-MIAT-exo group showed the opposite results (all P<0.05). The MiR-34b-5p inhibitor partially reversed the effect on the si-MIAT-exo group. The miR-34b-5p mimic group showed significantly down-regulated CALB1, TH, and Bcl-2 protein expressions in the HNCs, inhibited cell viability, as well as increased apoptosis, but the oe-CALB1 group showed the opposite results (all P<0.05). Oe-CALB1 partially reversed the effect on the miR-34b-5p mimic group. The memory and learning abilities of the rats in the oe-MIAT-exo group and the model + exo group were significantly improved but not as much as they were in the normal rats.

CONCLUSION

MIAT-containing exo from HNSCs can improve cognitive disorders in VD rats via the miR-34b-5p/CALB1 axis.

MiR-197 Inhibitor Loaded AbCD133@MSNs@GNR Affects the Development of Prostate Cancer Through Targeting ITGAV

Prostate cancer is one of the most severe male malignant tumors, which ranks second in mortality rate among all tumors. Traditional methods of treatment for prostate cancer produce obvious side effects and a high recurrence rate. Cancer stem cells are considered to be a group of cells that determine the proliferation, metastasis, and drug resistance of tumor. Prostate cancer therapy based on microRNAs and prostate cancer stem cells (PCSCs) has been a research hot spot in this field. Previous studies have reported that miR-197 plays an important role in the occurrence and development of prostate cancer, but the molecular mechanism of miR-197 on the development of prostate cancer has not been reported yet. In this study, we verified that miR-197 is significantly overexpressed in prostate cancer tissues and prostate cancer cells. Then, we verified that miR-197 expression affects the proliferation, invasion, and metastasis of prostate cancer cells by regulating integrin subunit alpha V (ITGAV) expression through STAT5 pathway, and the results indicated that the miR-197 inhibitor can be a prostate cancer suppressor. Then we synthesized the AbCD133@GNR@MSNs@miR-197 inhibitor drug carrier, in which 35.42 μg of the miR-197 inhibitor could be loaded in 1 mg of AbCD133@GNR@MSNs. The AbCD133@GNR@MSNs@miR-197 inhibitor demonstrated good photothermal properties and photothermal controlled-release properties. The modified CD133 antibodies on the surface of the nano drug carrier helped more drug carriers to enter the PCSCs. The pharmacodynamic effects of the AbCD133@GNR@MSNs@miR-197 inhibitor on PCSCs in vivo and in vitro were studied under near-infrared radiation. The results showed that the AbCD133@GNR@MSNs@miR-197 inhibitor prepared in this study could not only significantly suppress the development of PCSCs through ITGAV/STAT5 pathway but also significantly suppress the growth of PCSC solid tumors. In short, our study verified that miR-197 regulates the development of PCSCs through STAT5 pathway by targeting ITGAV, and the AbCD133@MSNs@GNR@miR-197 inhibitor could be a potential suppressor used in prostate cancer treatment. In short, our study found that miR-197 affected the development of prostate cancer by regulating ITGAV. The AbCD133@GNR@MSNs@miR-197 inhibitor prepared in this study could suppress the development and growth of PCSCs in vitro and in solid tumors not only by targeting the ITGAV but also through photothermal therapy. Our study not only provides a theoretical basis for the clinical treatment of prostate cancer but also provides a research scheme of drug loading and microRNA-based photothermal controlled therapy for prostate cancer.