IL11 signaling mediates piR-2158 suppression of cell stemness and angiogenesis in breast cancer

PiR-hsa-23533 promotes malignancy in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma via USP7

BACKGROUND

With regard to head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC), its occurrence and advancement are controlled by genetic and epigenetic anomalies. PIWI-interacting RNAs (piRNAs) are recognized with significance in tumor, but the precise molecular mechanisms of piRNAs in HNSCC largely remain undisclosed.

METHODS

Differentially expressed piRNAs were identified by RNA sequencing. The expression of piR-hsa-23533 was evaluated using quantitative real-time PCR and RNA in situ hybridization. The impacts of piR-hsa-23533 on the proliferation and apoptosis of HNSCC cells were investigated by a series of in vitro and in vivo assays.

RESULTS

piR-hsa-23533 exhibits upregulation within HNSCC cells and tissues. Besides, piR-hsa-23533 overexpression promotes proliferation while inhibiting apoptosis in vitro and in vivo, while piR-hsa-23533 silencing has an opposite function. From the mechanistic perspective, piR-hsa-23533 can bind to Ubiquitin-specific protease 7 (USP7), as shown through RNA pull-down and RNA immunoprecipitation assays, promoting USP7 mRNA and protein expression.

CONCLUSIONS

These findings highlight the functional importance of piR-hsa-23533 in HNSCC and may assist in the development of anti-HNSCC therapeutic target.

The burgeoning importance of PIWI-interacting RNAs in cancer progression

PIWI-interacting RNAs (piRNAs) are a class of small noncoding RNA molecules that specifically bind to piwi protein family members to exert regulatory functions in germ cells. Recent studies have found that piRNAs, as tissue-specific molecules, both play oncogenic and tumor suppressive roles in cancer progression, including cancer cell proliferation, metastasis, chemoresistance and stemness. Additionally, the atypical manifestation of piRNAs and PIWI proteins in various malignancies presents a promising strategy for the identification of novel biomarkers and therapeutic targets in the diagnosis and management of tumors. Nonetheless, the precise functions of piRNAs in cancer progression and their underlying mechanisms have yet to be fully comprehended. This review aims to examine current research on the biogenesis and functions of piRNA and its burgeoning importance in cancer progression, thereby offering novel perspectives on the potential utilization of piRNAs and piwi proteins in the management and treatment of advanced cancer.

miR-665-Mediated Regulation of AHCYL2 and BVES Genes in Recurrent Implantation Failure

The primary goal of this investigation was to identify mRNA targets affected by dysregulated miRNAs in RIF. This was accomplished by comprehensively analyzing mRNA and miRNA expression profiles in two groups: female subjects with normal reproductive function (control, n = 5) and female subjects experiencing recurrent implantation failure (RIF, n = 5). We conducted transcriptome sequencing and small RNA sequencing on endometrial tissue samples from these cohorts. Subsequently, we validated a selection of intriguing findings using real-time PCR with samples from the same cohort. In total, our analysis revealed that 929 mRNAs exhibited differential expression patterns between the control and RIF patient groups. Notably, our investigation confirmed the significant involvement of dysregulated genes in the context of RIF. Furthermore, we uncovered promising correlation patterns within these mRNA/miRNA pairs. Functional categorization of these miRNA/mRNA pairs highlighted that the differentially expressed genes were predominantly associated with processes such as angiogenesis and cell adhesion. We identified new target genes that are regulated by miR-665, including Blood Vessel Epicardial Substance (BVES) and Adenosylhomocysteinase like 2 (AHCYL2). Our findings suggest that abnormal regulation of genes involved in angiogenesis and cell adhesion, including BVES and AHCYL2, contributes to the endometrial dysfunction observed in women with recurrent implantation failure (RIF) compared to healthy women.

Critical appraisal of the piRNA-PIWI axis in cancer and cancer stem cells

Small noncoding RNAs play an important role in various disease states, including cancer. PIWI proteins, a subfamily of Argonaute proteins, and PIWI-interacting RNAs (piRNAs) were originally described as germline-specific molecules that inhibit the deleterious activity of transposable elements. However, several studies have suggested a role for the piRNA-PIWI axis in somatic cells, including somatic stem cells. Dysregulated expression of piRNAs and PIWI proteins in human tumors implies that, analogously to their roles in undifferentiated cells under physiological conditions, these molecules may be important for cancer stem cells and thus contribute to cancer progression. We provide an overview of piRNA biogenesis and critically review the evidence for the role of piRNA-PIWI axis in cancer stem cells. In addition, we examine the potential of piRNAs and PIWI proteins to become biomarkers in cancer.

Regulation of Angiogenesis by Non-Coding RNAs in Cancer

Non-coding RNAs, including microRNAs, long non-coding RNAs, and circular RNAs, have been identified as crucial regulators of various biological processes through epigenetic regulation, transcriptional regulation, and post-transcriptional regulation. Growing evidence suggests that dysregulation and activation of non-coding RNAs are closely associated with tumor angiogenesis, a process essential for tumor growth and metastasis and a major contributor to cancer-related mortality. Therefore, understanding the molecular mechanisms underlying tumor angiogenesis is of utmost importance. Numerous studies have documented the involvement of different types of non-coding RNAs in the regulation of angiogenesis. This review provides an overview of how non-coding RNAs regulate tumor angiogenesis. Additionally, we discuss emerging strategies that exploit non-coding RNAs for anti-angiogenic therapy in cancer treatment. Ultimately, this review underscores the crucial role played by non-coding RNAs in tumor angiogenesis and highlights their potential as therapeutic targets for anti-angiogenic interventions against cancer.

PIWI-RNAs Small Noncoding RNAs with Smart Functions: Potential Theranostic Applications in Cancer

P-element-induced wimpy testis (PIWI)-interacting RNAs (piRNAs) are a new class of small noncoding RNAs (ncRNAs) that bind components of the PIWI protein family. piRNAs are specifically expressed in different human tissues and regulate important signaling pathways. Aberrant expressions of piRNAs and PIWI proteins have been associated with tumorigenesis and cancer progression. Recent studies reported that piRNAs are contained in extracellular vesicles (EVs), nanosized lipid particles, with key roles in cell-cell communication. EVs contain several bioactive molecules, such as proteins, lipids, and nucleic acids, including emerging ncRNAs. EVs are one of the components of liquid biopsy (LB) a non-invasive method for detecting specific molecular biomarkers in liquid samples. LB could become a crucial tool for cancer diagnosis with piRNAs as biomarkers in a precision oncology approach. This review summarizes the current findings on the roles of piRNAs in different cancer types, focusing on potential theranostic applications of piRNAs contained in EVs (EV-piRNAs). Their roles as non-invasive diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers and as new therapeutic options have been also discussed.