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Naldi L, Peri A, Fibbi B. Apelin/APJ: Another Player in the Cancer Biology Network. Int J Mol Sci 2025; 26:2986. [PMID: 40243599 PMCID: PMC11988549 DOI: 10.3390/ijms26072986] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/30/2024] [Revised: 03/17/2025] [Accepted: 03/20/2025] [Indexed: 04/18/2025] Open
Abstract
The apelinergic system exerts multiple biological activities in human pathologies, including cancer. Overactivation of apelin/APJ, which has been detected in many malignant tumors, and the strong correlation with progression-free and overall survival, suggested the role of an oncogene for the apelin gene. Emerging evidence sheds new light on the effects of apelin on cellular functions and homeostasis in cancer cells and supports a direct role for this pathway on different hallmarks of cancer: "sustaining proliferative signaling", "resisting cell death", "activating invasion and metastasis", "inducing/accessing vasculature", "reprogramming cellular metabolism", "avoiding immune destruction" and "tumor-promoting inflammation", and "enabling replicative immortality". This article reviews the currently available literature on the intracellular processes regulated by apelin/APJ, focusing on those pathways correlated with tumor development and progression. Furthermore, the association between the activity of the apelinergic axis and the resistance of cancer cells to oncologic treatments (chemotherapy, immunotherapy, radiation) suggests apelin/APJ as a possible target to potentiate traditional therapies, as well as to develop diagnostic and prognostic applications. This issue will be also covered in the review.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura Naldi
- “Pituitary Diseases and Sodium Alterations” Unit, AOU Careggi, 50139 Florence, Italy; (L.N.); (B.F.)
- Endocrinology, Department of Experimental and Clinical Biomedical Sciences “Mario Serio”, University of Florence, 50139 Florence, Italy
| | - Alessandro Peri
- “Pituitary Diseases and Sodium Alterations” Unit, AOU Careggi, 50139 Florence, Italy; (L.N.); (B.F.)
- Endocrinology, Department of Experimental and Clinical Biomedical Sciences “Mario Serio”, University of Florence, 50139 Florence, Italy
| | - Benedetta Fibbi
- “Pituitary Diseases and Sodium Alterations” Unit, AOU Careggi, 50139 Florence, Italy; (L.N.); (B.F.)
- Endocrinology, Department of Experimental and Clinical Biomedical Sciences “Mario Serio”, University of Florence, 50139 Florence, Italy
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Kumar M, Swanson N, Ray S, Buch S, Saraswathi V, Sil S. Astrocytes in Amyloid Generation and Alcohol Metabolism: Implications of Alcohol Use in Neurological Disorder(s). Cells 2024; 13:1173. [PMID: 39056755 PMCID: PMC11274690 DOI: 10.3390/cells13141173] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/20/2024] [Revised: 06/29/2024] [Accepted: 07/05/2024] [Indexed: 07/28/2024] Open
Abstract
As per the National Survey on Drug Use and Health, 10.5% of Americans aged 12 years and older are suffering from alcohol use disorder, with a wide range of neurological disorders. Alcohol-mediated neurological disorders can be linked to Alzheimer's-like pathology, which has not been well studied. We hypothesize that alcohol exposure can induce astrocytic amyloidosis, which can be corroborated by the neurological disorders observed in alcohol use disorder. In this study, we demonstrated that the exposure of astrocytes to ethanol resulted in an increase in Alzheimer's disease markers-the amyloid precursor protein, Aβ1-42, and the β-site-cleaving enzyme; an oxidative stress marker-4HNE; proinflammatory cytokines-TNF-α, IL1β, and IL6; lncRNA BACE1-AS; and alcohol-metabolizing enzymes-alcohol dehydrogenase, aldehyde dehydrogenase-2, and cytochrome P450 2E1. A gene-silencing approach confirmed the regulatory role of lncRNA BACE1-AS in amyloid generation, alcohol metabolism, and neuroinflammation. This report is the first to suggest the involvement of lncRNA BACE1-AS in alcohol-induced astrocytic amyloid generation and alcohol metabolism. These findings will aid in developing therapies targeting astrocyte-mediated neurological disorders and cognitive deficits in alcohol users.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohit Kumar
- Department of Pharmacology and Experimental Neuroscience, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE 68198, USA
| | - Natalie Swanson
- Department of Pharmacology and Experimental Neuroscience, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE 68198, USA
| | - Sudipta Ray
- Department of Pharmacology and Experimental Neuroscience, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE 68198, USA
| | - Shilpa Buch
- Department of Pharmacology and Experimental Neuroscience, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE 68198, USA
| | - Viswanathan Saraswathi
- VA Nebraska-Western Iowa Health Care System, Omaha, NE 68105, USA
- Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Diabetes, Endocrinology, and Metabolism, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE 68198, USA
| | - Susmita Sil
- Department of Pharmacology and Experimental Neuroscience, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE 68198, USA
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Zhang Y, Zhan L, Jiang X, Tang X. Comprehensive review for non-coding RNAs: From mechanisms to therapeutic applications. Biochem Pharmacol 2024; 224:116218. [PMID: 38643906 DOI: 10.1016/j.bcp.2024.116218] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2024] [Revised: 04/14/2024] [Accepted: 04/16/2024] [Indexed: 04/23/2024]
Abstract
Non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) are an assorted collection of transcripts that are not translated into proteins. Since their discovery, ncRNAs have gained prominence as crucial regulators of various biological functions across diverse cell types and tissues, and their abnormal functioning has been implicated in disease. Notably, extensive research has focused on the relationship between microRNAs (miRNAs) and human cancers, although other types of ncRNAs, such as long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) and circular RNAs (circRNAs), are also emerging as significant contributors to human disease. In this review, we provide a comprehensive summary of our current knowledge regarding the roles of miRNAs, lncRNAs, and circRNAs in cancer and other major human diseases, particularly cancer, cardiovascular, neurological, and infectious diseases. Moreover, we discuss the potential utilization of ncRNAs as disease biomarkers and as targets for therapeutic interventions.
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Affiliation(s)
- YanJun Zhang
- College of Pharmacy and Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jiangsu College of Nursing, Huaian, Jiangsu, 223005, China
| | - Lijuan Zhan
- College of Pharmacy and Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jiangsu College of Nursing, Huaian, Jiangsu, 223005, China
| | - Xue Jiang
- College of Pharmacy and Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jiangsu College of Nursing, Huaian, Jiangsu, 223005, China.
| | - Xiaozhu Tang
- School of Medicine & Holistic Integrative Medicine, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, 210023, China.
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Ren J, Xu B, Ren J, Liu Z, Cai L, Zhang X, Wang W, Li S, Jin L, Ding L. The Importance of M1-and M2-Polarized Macrophages in Glioma and as Potential Treatment Targets. Brain Sci 2023; 13:1269. [PMID: 37759870 PMCID: PMC10526262 DOI: 10.3390/brainsci13091269] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/24/2023] [Revised: 08/25/2023] [Accepted: 08/30/2023] [Indexed: 09/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Glioma is the most common and malignant tumor of the central nervous system. Glioblastoma (GBM) is the most aggressive glioma, with a poor prognosis and no effective treatment because of its high invasiveness, metabolic rate, and heterogeneity. The tumor microenvironment (TME) contains many tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs), which play a critical role in tumor proliferation, invasion, metastasis, and angiogenesis and indirectly promote an immunosuppressive microenvironment. TAM is divided into tumor-suppressive M1-like (classic activation of macrophages) and tumor-supportive M2-like (alternatively activated macrophages) polarized cells. TAMs exhibit an M1-like phenotype in the initial stages of tumor progression, and along with the promotion of lysing tumors and the functions of T cells and NK cells, tumor growth is suppressed, and they rapidly transform into M2-like polarized macrophages, which promote tumor progression. In this review, we discuss the mechanism by which M1- and M2-polarized macrophages promote or inhibit the growth of glioblastoma and indicate the future directions for treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiangbin Ren
- Department of neurosurgery, The Affiliated Huaian No. 1 People’s Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing Medical University, Huai’an 223000, China; (J.R.); (B.X.); (Z.L.); (L.C.); (X.Z.); (W.W.); (S.L.); (L.J.)
| | - Bangjie Xu
- Department of neurosurgery, The Affiliated Huaian No. 1 People’s Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing Medical University, Huai’an 223000, China; (J.R.); (B.X.); (Z.L.); (L.C.); (X.Z.); (W.W.); (S.L.); (L.J.)
| | - Jianghao Ren
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, Shanghai Chest Hospital, Shanghai Jiaotong University, Shanghai 200030, China;
| | - Zhichao Liu
- Department of neurosurgery, The Affiliated Huaian No. 1 People’s Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing Medical University, Huai’an 223000, China; (J.R.); (B.X.); (Z.L.); (L.C.); (X.Z.); (W.W.); (S.L.); (L.J.)
| | - Lingyu Cai
- Department of neurosurgery, The Affiliated Huaian No. 1 People’s Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing Medical University, Huai’an 223000, China; (J.R.); (B.X.); (Z.L.); (L.C.); (X.Z.); (W.W.); (S.L.); (L.J.)
| | - Xiaotian Zhang
- Department of neurosurgery, The Affiliated Huaian No. 1 People’s Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing Medical University, Huai’an 223000, China; (J.R.); (B.X.); (Z.L.); (L.C.); (X.Z.); (W.W.); (S.L.); (L.J.)
| | - Weijie Wang
- Department of neurosurgery, The Affiliated Huaian No. 1 People’s Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing Medical University, Huai’an 223000, China; (J.R.); (B.X.); (Z.L.); (L.C.); (X.Z.); (W.W.); (S.L.); (L.J.)
| | - Shaoxun Li
- Department of neurosurgery, The Affiliated Huaian No. 1 People’s Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing Medical University, Huai’an 223000, China; (J.R.); (B.X.); (Z.L.); (L.C.); (X.Z.); (W.W.); (S.L.); (L.J.)
| | - Luhao Jin
- Department of neurosurgery, The Affiliated Huaian No. 1 People’s Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing Medical University, Huai’an 223000, China; (J.R.); (B.X.); (Z.L.); (L.C.); (X.Z.); (W.W.); (S.L.); (L.J.)
| | - Lianshu Ding
- Department of neurosurgery, The Affiliated Huaian No. 1 People’s Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing Medical University, Huai’an 223000, China; (J.R.); (B.X.); (Z.L.); (L.C.); (X.Z.); (W.W.); (S.L.); (L.J.)
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Zhang S, Chen R. LINC00891 Attenuates the Proliferation and Metastasis of Osteosarcoma Cells via miR-27a-3p/TET1 Axis. Genet Test Mol Biomarkers 2023; 27:248-257. [PMID: 37643326 DOI: 10.1089/gtmb.2023.0163] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/31/2023] Open
Abstract
Objective: There is currently no adequate treatment for osteosarcoma, a bone malignancy that poses a serious threat to adolescents and children. The dysregulation of long noncoding RNAs is associated with many cancers, including osteosarcoma. LINC00891 expression is aberrant in endometrial cancer, lung cancer, and thyroid cancer, and likely regulate the malignant behavior of cancer. However, the potential function and mechanisms of LINC00891 in osteosarcoma progression remain unclear. Materials and Methods: LINC00891, miR-27a-3p, and TET1 mRNA expression in osteosarcoma cells were analyzed using quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction. CCK-8 and Transwell experiments were performed on osteosarcoma cells to investigate proliferation, migration, and invasion, respectively. Ten-eleven translocation 1 (TET1) protein was analyzed using western blotting. Luciferase experiment was performed to investigate the interactions between LINC00891 with miR-27a-3p, and miR-27a-3p with TET1. Results: LINC00891 expression was dramatically decreased in the five osteosarcoma cell lines examined, particularly in 143B and SaoS-2 cells. LINC00891 overexpression due to plasmid transfection sharply blocked the proliferation, migration, and invasion of osteosarcoma cells. Dual-luciferase reporter experiments found that LINC00891 sponges miR-27a-3p, and LINC00891 overexpression sharply decreases miR-27a-3p expression. Transfection with miR-27a-3p mimic accelerated the malignant behaviors in LINC00891 overexpressed-osteosarcoma cells. Moreover, TET1 was a novel targeted-gene of miR-27a-3p. TET1 protein was significantly impeded, whereas LINC00891 overexpression elevated TET1 mRNA and protein in osteosarcoma cells. MiR-27a-3p overexpression inhibited TET1 mRNA and protein in osteosarcoma cells. Conclusions: Our study verified that LINC00891 attenuates the proliferation and metastasis of osteosarcoma cells via the miR-27a-3p/TET1 axis. This study clarifies a new mechanism and therapeutic target for the development of osteosarcoma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shufang Zhang
- The Spinal Surgery Department, Ganzhou People's Hospital, Ganzhou City, China
| | - Rongchun Chen
- The Spinal Surgery Department, Ganzhou People's Hospital, Ganzhou City, China
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The Cuproptosis-Related Long Noncoding RNA Signature Predicts Prognosis and Tumour Immune Analysis in Osteosarcoma. COMPUTATIONAL AND MATHEMATICAL METHODS IN MEDICINE 2022; 2022:6314182. [PMID: 36388161 PMCID: PMC9646308 DOI: 10.1155/2022/6314182] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/27/2022] [Revised: 08/25/2022] [Accepted: 09/23/2022] [Indexed: 01/24/2023]
Abstract
Background Cuprotopsis is a type of programmed cell death discovered in recent years. Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) play an important regulatory role in programmed cell death. The effect of cuproptosis-related lncRNAs on osteosarcoma is unknown. Our work, based on cuproptosis-related lncRNAs, proposes a gene signature to assess the prognosis of patients with osteosarcoma. Methods Osteosarcoma gene expression data from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA), clinical features of osteosarcoma and RNA sequencing data of normal adipose tissue were obtained from the UCSC Xena database. A cuproptosis-related lncRNA risk model was established to calculate the risk score. At the same time, cluster analysis, clinicopathological analysis, functional enrichment analysis, and prediction of compounds with potential therapeutic value were evaluated. We analyzed whether there was a correlation between the risk score and tumour immunity. RT-qPCR was used to verify the expression level of lncRNA. Results Nine lncRNAs (AC124798.1, AC006033.2, AL450344.2, AL512625.2, LINC01060, LINC00837, AC004943.2, AC064836.3, and AC100821.2) were identified to create a risk model and indicate the prognosis of patients with osteosarcoma. The high-risk group had a worse prognosis than the low-risk group. Analysis of clinicopathological features, principal component analysis, receiver operating characteristic curve, c-index curve, and comparative analysis of models proved that the model is reliable. Functional enrichment analysis suggests that the risk score may correlate with cell energy metabolism and tumour-related biological function. Three potentially therapeutic compounds have been predicted. These analyses may be beneficial to the treatment of osteosarcoma in the future. RT-qPCR verified the expression level of three lncRNA (LINC01060, NKILA, and SNHG8). Conclusions Cuproptosis-related lncRNAs have a strong relationship with osteosarcoma patients. Nine lncRNA models can effectively forecast the prognosis of osteosarcoma and may play a significant role in the individualized treatment of osteosarcoma patients in the future.
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