Long non-coding RNA LINC01207 silencing suppresses AGR2 expression to facilitate autophagy and apoptosis of pancreatic cancer cells by sponging miR-143-5p

Autophagy-related lncRNAs in tumor progression and drug resistance: A double-edged sword

The incidence and mortality rates of cancer are increasing every year worldwide but the survival rate of cancer patients is still unsatisfactory. Therefore, it is necessary to further elucidate the molecular mechanisms involved in tumor development and drug resistance to improve cancer cure or survival rates. In recent years, autophagy has become a hot topic in the field of oncology research, which plays a double-edged role in tumorigenesis, progression, and drug resistance. Meanwhile, long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) has also been shown to regulate autophagy, and the two-sided nature of autophagy determines the dual regulatory role of autophagy-related lncRNAs (ARlncRNAs). Therefore, ARlncRNAs can be effective therapeutic targets for various cancers. Furthermore, the high abundance and stability of ARlncRNAs in tumor tissues make them promising biomarkers. In this review, we summarized the roles and mechanisms of ARlncRNAs in tumor cell proliferation, apoptosis, migration, invasion, drug resistance, angiogenesis, radiation resistance, and immune regulation. In addition, we described the clinical significance of these ARlncRNAs, including as biomarkers/therapeutic targets and their association with clinical drugs.

A bioinformatics analysis, pre-clinical and clinical conception of autophagy in pancreatic cancer: Complexity and simplicity in crosstalk

Pancreatic cancer (PC) is a serious gastrointestinal tract disease for which the 5-year survival rate is less than 10%, even in developed countries such as the USA. The genomic profile alterations and dysregulated biological mechanisms commonly occur in PC. Macroautophagy/autophagy is a cell death process that is maintained at a basal level in physiological conditions, whereas its level often changes during tumorigenesis. The function of autophagy in human cancers is dual and can be oncogenic and onco-suppressor. Autophagy is a potent controller of tumorigenesis in PC. The supportive autophagy in PC escalates the growth rate of PC cells and its suppression can mediate cell death. Autophagy also determines the metastasis of PC cells, and it can control the EMT in affecting migration. Moreover, starvation and hypoxia can stimulate glycolysis, and glycolysis induction can be mediated by autophagy in enhancing tumorigenesis in PC. Furthermore, protective autophagy stimulates drug resistance and gemcitabine resistance in PC cells, and its inhibition can enhance radiosensitivity. Autophagy can degrade MHC-I to mediate immune evasion and also regulates polarization of macrophages in the tumor microenvironment. Modulation of autophagy activity is provided by silibinin, ursolic acid, chrysin and huaier in the treatment of PC. Non-coding RNAs are also controllers of autophagy in PC and its inhibition can improve therapy response in patients. Moreover, mitophagy shows dysregulation in PC, which can enhance the proliferation of PC cells. Therefore, a bioinformatics analysis demonstrates the dysregulation of autophagy-related proteins and genes in PC as biomarkers.

Long Non-Coding RNAs and Metabolic Rewiring in Pancreatic Cancer

Pancreatic adenocarcinoma is a highly aggressive disease with a poor prognosis. The reprogramming of energetic metabolism has long been implicated in pancreatic tumorigenesis and/or resistance to treatment. Considering that long non-coding RNA dysregulation has been described both in cancerogenesis and in the altered homeostasis of several metabolic pathways, metabolism-associated lncRNAs can contribute to pancreatic cancer evolution. The objective of this review is to assess the burden of lncRNA dysregulation in pancreatic cancer metabolic reprogramming, and its effect on this tumor's natural course and response to treatment. Therefore, we reviewed the available literature to assess whether metabolism-associated lncRNAs have been found to be differentially expressed in pancreatic cancer, as well as whether experimental evidence of their role in such pathways can be demonstrated. Specifically, we provide a comprehensive overview of lncRNAs that are implicated in hypoxia-related pathways, as well as in the reprogramming of autophagy, lipid metabolism, and amino acid metabolism. Our review gathers background material for further research on possible applications of metabolism-associated lncRNAs as diagnostic/prognostic biomarkers and/or as potential therapeutic targets in pancreatic adenocarcinoma.

Silencing of IGHG1 reverses the resistance of pancreatic cancer to multidrug chemotherapy by modulating autophagy

BACKGROUND

Pancreatic cancer is one of the most aggressive tumors with a high-mortality rate. First-line drugs include 5-fluorouracil (5-FU), gemcitabine (GEM), and oxaliplatin (OXA). Resistance to 5-FU, GEM, and OXA is a major challenge. Immunoglobulin heavy chain F1 (IGHG1) participates in the regulation of cancer progression. It is still unclear how IGHG1 affects 5-FU, GEM, and OXA in pancreatic cancer.

METHODS

The expression status of IGHG1 in pancreatic cancer was analyzed through bioinformatics tools. IGHG1 expression in pancreatic cancer tissues and cells was determined via RT-qPCR. Cell counting kit 8 assays, and flow cytometry analysis were utilized to detect the impact of IGHG1,5-FU, GEM, and OXA on cell proliferation and apoptosis. Western blotting was utilized to detect changes in the levels of the autophagy-associated proteins LC3, Beclin-1, p62, and ATG5. Immunofluorescence assays were employed to determine LC3 expression in cells. Xenograft experiments were conducted on nude mice to study tumor growth.

RESULTS

IGHG1 was overexpressed in pancreatic cancer cells and tissues. IGHG1 expression was downregulated by 5-FU, GEM, or OXA treatment in cells. Treatment with 5-FU, GEM, or OXA repressed viability and promoted apoptosis and autophagy in pancreatic cancer cells. IGHG1 silencing exhibited the same results. Furthermore, IGHG1 depletion notably strengthened the effects of 5-FU, GEM, and OXA on pancreatic cancer cell viability, apoptosis, and autophagy. The combination of IGHG1 depletion with 5-FU, GEM, or OXA significantly reduced tumor growth in vivo.

CONCLUSION

Silencing of IGHG1 could enhance 5-FU, GEM, or OXA function in pancreatic cancer and reverse resistance by regulating apoptosis and autophagy.

Targeting Autophagy Using Long Non-Coding RNAs (LncRNAs): New Landscapes in the Arena of Cancer Therapeutics

Cancer has become a global health hazard accounting for 10 million deaths in the year 2020. Although different treatment approaches have increased patient overall survival, treatment for advanced stages still suffers from poor clinical outcomes. The ever-increasing prevalence of cancer has led to a reanalysis of cellular and molecular events in the hope to identify and develop a cure for this multigenic disease. Autophagy, an evolutionary conserved catabolic process, eliminates protein aggregates and damaged organelles to maintain cellular homeostasis. Accumulating evidence has implicated the deregulation of autophagic pathways to be associated with various hallmarks of cancer. Autophagy exhibits both tumor-promoting and suppressive effects based on the tumor stage and grades. Majorly, it maintains the cancer microenvironment homeostasis by promoting viability and nutrient recycling under hypoxic and nutrient-deprived conditions. Recent investigations have discovered long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) as master regulators of autophagic gene expression. lncRNAs, by sequestering autophagy-related microRNAs, have been known to modulate various hallmarks of cancer, such as survival, proliferation, EMT, migration, invasion, angiogenesis, and metastasis. This review delineates the mechanistic role of various lncRNAs involved in modulating autophagy and their related proteins in different cancers.

Epigenetic regulation in metabolic diseases: mechanisms and advances in clinical study

Epigenetics regulates gene expression and has been confirmed to play a critical role in a variety of metabolic diseases, such as diabetes, obesity, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), osteoporosis, gout, hyperthyroidism, hypothyroidism and others. The term 'epigenetics' was firstly proposed in 1942 and with the development of technologies, the exploration of epigenetics has made great progresses. There are four main epigenetic mechanisms, including DNA methylation, histone modification, chromatin remodelling, and noncoding RNA (ncRNA), which exert different effects on metabolic diseases. Genetic and non-genetic factors, including ageing, diet, and exercise, interact with epigenetics and jointly affect the formation of a phenotype. Understanding epigenetics could be applied to diagnosing and treating metabolic diseases in the clinic, including epigenetic biomarkers, epigenetic drugs, and epigenetic editing. In this review, we introduce the brief history of epigenetics as well as the milestone events since the proposal of the term 'epigenetics'. Moreover, we summarise the research methods of epigenetics and introduce four main general mechanisms of epigenetic modulation. Furthermore, we summarise epigenetic mechanisms in metabolic diseases and introduce the interaction between epigenetics and genetic or non-genetic factors. Finally, we introduce the clinical trials and applications of epigenetics in metabolic diseases.

LncRNA LINC01207 Could Positively Regulate the Development of Colorectal Cancer

Background

LINC01207 expression is associated with colorectal cancer progression. However, the exact role of LINC01207 in colorectal cancer (CRC) is not clear, and further exploration is needed.

Methods

Gene expression data of the GSE34053 database were used to explore the differential expressed genes (DEGs) between colon cancer cells and normal cells. The gene expression profiling interactive analysis (GEPIA) was used to determine the differential expression of LINC01207 between CRC and normal tissues and the association between the expression of LINC01207 and survival in patients with CRC. The Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) and Gene Ontology (GO) analysis were performed to obtain the biological processes and pathways associated with DEGs and LINC01207 coexpressed genes in CRC. The qRT-PCR was used to determine the LINC01207 level in CRC cell lines and tissue samples. CCK-8 assay was employed to measure cell viability and Transwell assay to assess cell invasion and migration.

Results

In this study, a total of 954 DEGs were identified, including 282 upregulated and 672 downregulated genes. LINC01207 was significantly upregulated in CRC samples with a poor prognosis. LINC01207 was also associated with pathways such as ECM-receptor interaction, O-glycan processing, and TNF signaling pathway in CRC. Knockdown of LINC01207 inhibited the migration, invasion, and proliferation of CRC cells.

Conclusion

LINC01207 might act as an oncogene and promote the progression of CRC. Our study suggested that LINC01207 had the potential to be a novel biomarker for CRC detection and a therapeutic target for CRC treatment.

Epigenetic regulation of autophagy by non-coding RNAs in gastrointestinal tumors: Biological functions and therapeutic perspectives

Cancer is the manifestation of changes and mutations in genetic and epigenetic levels. Non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) are commonly dysregulated in disease pathogenesis, and their role in cancer has been well-documented. The ncRNAs regulate various molecular pathways and mechanisms in cancer that can lead to induction/inhibition of carcinogenesis. Autophagy is a molecular "self-digestion" mechanism its function can be pro-survival or pro-death in tumor cells. The aim of the present review is to evaluate the role of ncRNAs in regulating autophagy in gastrointestinal tumors. The role of the ncRNA/autophagy axis in affecting the progression of gastric, liver, colorectal, pancreatic, esophageal, and gallbladder cancers is investigated. Both ncRNAs and autophagy mechanisms can function as oncogenic or onco-suppressor and this interaction can determine the growth, invasion, and therapy response of gastrointestinal tumors. ncRNA/autophagy axis can reduce/increase the proliferation of gastrointestinal tumors via the glycolysis mechanism. Furthermore, related molecular pathways of metastasis, such as EMT and MMPs, are affected by the ncRNA/autophagy axis. The response of gastrointestinal tumors to chemotherapy and radiotherapy can be suppressed by pro-survival autophagy, and ncRNAs are essential regulators of this mechanism. miRNAs can regulate related genes and proteins of autophagy, such as ATGs and Beclin-1. Furthermore, lncRNAs and circRNAs down-regulate miRNA expression via sponging to modulate the autophagy mechanism. Moreover, anti-cancer agents can affect the expression level of ncRNAs regulating autophagy in gastrointestinal tumors. Therefore, translating these findings into clinics can improve the prognosis of patients.

Autophagy-Related ncRNAs in Pancreatic Cancer

Pancreatic cancer (PC) is a malignancy accounting for only 3% of total cancers, but with a low 5-year relative survival rate. Approximately 80% of PC patients are diagnosed at a late stage when the disease has already spread from the primary site. Despite advances in PC treatment, there is an urgently needed for the identification of novel therapeutic strategies for PC, particularly for patients who cannot undergo classical surgery. Autophagy is an evolutionarily conserved process used by cells to adapt to metabolic stress via the degrading or recycling of damaged or unnecessary organelles and cellular components. This process is elevated in PC and, thus, it contributes to the onset, progression, and cancer cell resistance to chemotherapy in pancreatic tumors. Autophagy inhibition has been shown to lead to cancer regression and to increase the sensitivity of pancreatic cells to radiation and chemotherapy. Emerging studies have focused on the roles of non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs), such as miRNAs, long non-coding RNAs, and circular RNAs, in PC development and progression. Furthermore, ncRNAs have been reported as crucial regulators of many biological processes, including autophagy, suggesting that ncRNA-based autophagy targeting methods could be promising novel molecular approaches for specifically reducing autophagic flux, thus improving the management of PC patients. In this review, we briefly summarize the existing studies regarding the role and the regulatory mechanisms of autophagy-related ncRNAs in the context of this cancer.

The regulatory roles of circular RNAs via autophagy in ischemic stroke

Ischemic stroke (IS) is a severe disease with a high disability, recurrence, and mortality rates. Autophagy, a highly conserved process that degrades damaged or aging organelles and excess cellular components to maintain homeostasis, is activated during IS. It influences the blood–brain barrier integrity and regulates apoptosis. Circular RNAs (circRNAs) are novel non-coding RNAs involved in IS-induced autophagy and participate in various pathological processes following IS. In addition, they play a role in autophagy regulation. This review summarizes current evidence on the roles of autophagy and circRNA in IS and the potential mechanisms by which circRNAs regulate autophagy to influence IS injury. This review serves as a basis for the clinical application of circRNAs as novel biomarkers and therapeutic targets in the future.

Epigenetic regulation of autophagy in gastrointestinal cancers

The development of novel therapeutic approaches is necessary to manage gastrointestinal cancers (GICs). Considering the effective molecular mechanisms involved in tumor growth, the therapeutic response is pivotal in this process. Autophagy is a highly conserved catabolic process that acts as a double-edged sword in tumorigenesis and tumor inhibition in a context-dependent manner. Depending on the stage of malignancy and cellular origin of the tumor, autophagy might result in cancer cell survival or death during the GICs' progression. Moreover, autophagy can prevent the progression of GIC in the early stages but leads to chemoresistance in advanced stages. Therefore, targeting specific arms of autophagy could be a promising strategy in the prevention of chemoresistance and treatment of GIC. It has been revealed that autophagy is a cytoplasmic event that is subject to transcriptional and epigenetic regulation inside the nucleus. The effect of epigenetic regulation (including DNA methylation, histone modification, and expression of non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) in cellular fate is still not completely understood. Recent findings have indicated that epigenetic alterations can modify several genes and modulators, eventually leading to inhibition or promotion of autophagy in different cancer stages, and mediating chemoresistance or chemosensitivity. The current review focuses on the links between autophagy and epigenetics in GICs and discusses: 1) How autophagy and epigenetics are linked in GICs, by considering different epigenetic mechanisms; 2) how epigenetics may be involved in the alteration of cancer-related phenotypes, including cell proliferation, invasion, and migration; and 3) how epidrugs modulate autophagy in GICs to overcome chemoresistance.

Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) in pancreatic cancer progression

Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) are RNA molecules involved in gene regulation at transcriptional, post-transcriptional, and epigenetic levels. LncRNAs participate in regulating apoptosis and autophagy in pancreatic cancer (PCa) and can promote and/or decrease the proliferation rate of tumor cells. The metastasis of PCa cells is tightly regulated by lncRNAs and they can affect the mechanism of epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) to modulate metastasis. The drug resistance of PCa cells, especially to gemcitabine, can be affected by lncRNAs. In addition, lncRNAs enriched in exosomes can be transferred among tumor cells to regulate their proliferation and metastasis. Antitumor compounds, such as curcumin and ginsenosides, can regulate lncRNA expression in PCa therapy. As we discuss here, the expression level of lncRNAs can be considered as both a diagnostic and prognostic tool in patients with PCa.

LINC01063 functions as an oncogene in melanoma through regulation of miR-5194-mediated SOX12 expression

Melanoma is one of the most aggressive skin cancers and a major cause of cancer-linked deaths worldwide. As the morbidity and mortality of melanoma are increasing, it is necessary to elucidate the potential mechanism influencing melanoma progression. Tumor tissues and adjacent normal tissues (5 cm away from tumors) from 22 melanoma patients at the I-II stage and 39 patients at the III-VI stage were acquired. The expression of LINC01063 in melanoma was estimated by quantitative PCR. Functional assays were employed to investigate the function of LINC01063 in melanoma. Mechanism assays were adopted to explore the mechanism of LINC01063. LINC01063 knockdown impeded melanoma cell proliferation, migration, invasion, and epithelial-mesenchymal transition as well as melanoma tumor growth. Mechanistically, LINC01063 acted as an miR-5194 sponge to upregulate SOX12 expression. Finally, LINC01063 was tested to facilitate the malignant behaviors of melanoma cells via targeting miR-5194/SOX12. LINC01063 was significantly upregulated in melanoma. Specifically, LINC01063 displayed a higher level in patients at an advanced stage or with metastasis than those at an early stage or without metastasis. Our study revealed the oncogenic effects of LINC01063 on melanoma cell/tumor growth and its molecular mechanism involving miR-5194/SOX12, which might support LINC01063 to be the potential prognostic or therapeutic biomarker against melanoma.

Non-coding RNAs associated with autophagy and their regulatory role in cancer therapeutics

Cancer widely affects the world's health population and ranks second leading cause of death globally. Because of poor prognosis of various types of cancer such as sarcoma, lymphoma, adenomas etc., their high recurrence and metastasis rate and low early diagnosis rate have become concern lately. Role of autophagy in cancer progression is being studied since long. Autophagy is cell's self-degradative mechanism towards stress and has role in degradation of the cytoplasmic macromolecules which has potential to damage other cytosolic molecules. Autophagy can promote as well as inhibit tumorigenesis depending upon the associated protein combinations in cancer cells. Recent studies have shown that non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) do not code for protein but play essential role in modulation of gene expression. At transcriptional level, different ncRNAs like lncRNAs, miRNAs and circRNAs directly or indirectly affect different stages of autophagy like autophagy-dependent and non-apoptotic cell death in cancer cells. This review focuses on the involvement of ncRNAs in autophagy and the modulation of several cancer signal transduction pathways in cancers such as lung, breast, prostate, pancreatic, thyroid, and kidney cancer.

miR-143-5p suppresses breast cancer progression by targeting the HIF-1α-related GLUT1 pathway

Breast cancer (BC) is a commonly identified life-threatening type of cancer and a major cause of death among women worldwide. Several microRNAs (miRs), including miR-143-5p, have been reported to be vital for regulating hallmarks of cancer; however, the effect of miR-143-5p on BC requires further exploration. The present study performed bioinformatics analysis on GSE42072 and GSE41922 datasets from the National Center for Biotechnology Information Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database to identify miR-143-5p expression patterns. Furthermore, miR-143-5p expression was detected in BC cell lines and tissues via reverse transcription-quantitative PCR. Post-transfection with miR-143-5p mimics, Cell Counting Kit-8, colony formation and Transwell assays were performed to explore the effects of miR-143-5p on BC cell proliferation, colony formation, and migration. The association of miR-143-5p with the hypoxia-inducible factor-1α (HIF-1α)-associated glucose transporter 1 (GLUT1) pathway was explored via western blotting, immunofluorescence and dual-luciferase reporter assay. The present study detected high expression of miR-143-5p in BC tissue of the GSE42072 and serum of the GSE41922 datasets by GEO chip analysis. Additionally, the expression levels of miR-143-5p were decreased in BC tissues compared with those in adjacent healthy tissues, and low miR-143-5p expression was associated with a poorer prognosis and shorter survival time in patients with BC. In vitro, miR-143-5p expression levels were decreased in BC cells, and transfection with miR-143-5p mimics suppressed BC cell proliferation, colony formation, migration. Furthermore, miR-143-5p targeted the HIF-1α-related GLUT1 pathway, and inhibited HIF-1α and GLUT1 expression. Additionally, HIF-1α agonists reversed the miR-143-5p-induced inhibition during tumorigenesis. In conclusion, miR-143-5p exhibited low expression in BC tissues, and suppressed BC cell proliferation, colony formation, migration. Moreover, the antitumor effects of miR-143-5p targeted the HIF-1α-related GLUT1 pathway.

hsa_circ_0119412 overexpression promotes cervical cancer progression by targeting miR-217 to upregulate anterior gradient 2

BACKGROUND

Mounting evidence summarizes that circRNA is closely implicated in the development of numerous cancers. Our study aimed to investigate the role of circ_0119412 whose function was not explored in cervical cancer.

METHODS

RT-qPCR analysis was utilized for the expression analysis of circ_0119412, miR-217, and anterior gradient 2 (AGR2). CCK-8 assay, transwell assay, and MTT assay were employed to assess cell proliferation, migration, and adhesion, respectively. Animal study was performed to check the role of circ_0119412 in vivo. Bioinformatics analysis was applied to predict the downstream targets of circ_0119412. RIP assay was utilized to examine miRNAs potentially bound by circ_0119412. The interplays between miR-217 and circ_0119412 or AGR2 were validated by dual-luciferase reporter assay.

RESULTS

circ_0119412 expression was highly enhanced in cervical tumor tissues and cancer cells. circ_0119412 overexpression aggravated cervical cancer cell proliferation, migration, and adhesion, and its overexpression was also conducive to tumor formation and growth in animal models. AGR2 was upregulated in cervical cancer by the public bioinformatics data. circ_0119412 bound to miR-217, and miR-217 bound to AGR 3'UTR. The promoting effects of circ_0119412 overexpression on cancer cell malignant phenotypes were reversed by miR-217 enrichment. In addition, increased expression of miR-217 suppressed AGR2 expression, thus weakening the functional effects of AGR2.

CONCLUSION

circ_0119412 functioned as an oncogenic driver to promote the malignant development of cervical cancer by targeting the miR-217/AGR2 pathway.

Down-regulated long non-coding RNA LHFPL3 antisense RNA 1 inhibits the radiotherapy resistance of nasopharyngeal carcinoma via modulating microRNA-143-5p/homeobox A6 axis

The function of long non-coding RNA LHFPL3 antisense RNA 1 (LHFPL3-AS1) in cancer progression has been studied, while its role in nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) remains unclear. This study aims to unravel the effects of LHFPL3-AS1 on NPC progression via microRNA (miR)-143-5p/homeobox A6 (HOXA6) axis. NPC tissues were collected and NPC cells were cultured. NPC cells were subjected to radiation therapy to construct the radiation therapy resistance NPC cell line. The levels of LHFPL3-AS1, miR-143-5p and HOXA6 in NPC cells and tissues were examined. LHFPL3-AS1, miR-143-5p or HOXA6 expression was changed and then transfected into radiation-resistant NPC cells to detect cell proliferation, colony formation, migration, invasion and cell apoptosis in vitro. The tumorigenesis in nude mice in vivo was conducted to detect tumor growth. The targeting relations among LHFPL3-AS1, miR-143-5p and HOXA6 were validated. It was discovered that LHFPL3-AS1 and HOXA6 expression was elevated while the miR-143-5p level was depleted in radiation-resistant NPC cells and NPC tissues. The silenced LHFPL3-AS1 or augmented miR-143-5p repressed the proliferation, colony formation, migration and invasion of radiation-resistant NPC cells, while accelerated cell apoptosis in vitro. Silenced LHFPL3-AS1 hindered tumor growth in vivo. MiR-143-5p deletion reversed the effects of reduced LHFPL3-AS1; while HOXA6 upregulation reversed the effects of enriched miR-143-5p. LHFPL3-AS1 sponged miR-143-5p that targeted HOXA6. It is concluded that the down-regulated LHFPL3-AS1 retards the development of radiation-resistant NPC cells via sponging miR-143-5p to modulate HOXA6. This study reveals novel therapeutic targets for NPC treatment.

LINC01207 promotes prostate cancer progression by sponging miR-1182 to upregulate AKT3

Prostate cancer (PC) is recognized as a common malignancy in male patients. Long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) has been implicated in the development of PC. Recently, long intergenic non-protein coding RNA 1207 (LINC01207) has been reported to regulate the carcinogenesis of multiple cancer types. However, its role in the progression of PC remains to be determined. The aim of the present study was to investigate the expression profile, clinicopathological implication and molecular mechanism of action of LINC01207 in the progression of PC. LINC01207 expression levels were compared between PC tumor and paired normal tissue samples from The Cancer Genome Atlas. The expression of LINC01207 was further analyzed in PC cell lines and a normal prostatic cell line. The role of LINC01207 in proliferation, migration and invasion of PC cells was examined using small interfering RNA-mediated silencing. Western blot analysis was used to investigate the changes in protein levels underlying the mechanism of action of LINC01207. The role of LINC01207 in tumorigenesis was evaluated in a xenograft model. LINC01207 was upregulated in PC tumor samples from TCGA data compared with paired normal tissue. LINC01207 expression was significantly increased in PC cells and tumor tissues compared with in normal prostate cells (RWPE1) and normal prostate tissues, respectively. Furthermore, LINC01207 silencing inhibited PC cell proliferation and colony formation and induced apoptosis. Mechanistic experiments showed that LINC01207 promoted carcinogenesis by sponging miR-1182 to regulate the protein levels of AKT3 in PC cell lines. Thus, the findings of the present study indicated that LINC01207 might play a role in the tumorigenesis of PC and may serve as a therapeutic target for PC treatment.

Genome-wide integrated analysis reveals functions of lncRNA-miRNA-mRNA interactions in Atlantic salmon challenged by Aeromonas salmonicida

Aeromonas salmonicida (A. salmonicida) is a pathogenic bacterium that causes serious problems in the global Atlantic salmon aquaculture industry. In this study, we comprehensively analyzed the profiles of lncRNAs, miRNAs and mRNAs in gills of Atlantic salmon at high-dose A. salmonicida infection (3.06 × 10⁸ CFU/mL), low-dose A. salmonicida infection (3.06 × 10⁵ CFU/mL), and a PBS (100 μL) control. We identified 65 differentially expressed lncRNAs, 41 miRNAs, and 512 mRNAs between the control group and infection groups. Functional analysis showed that these genes were significantly enriched in the p53 signaling pathway, Wnt signaling pathway, mTOR signaling pathway, JAK-STAT signaling pathway, and Toll-like receptor signaling pathway. In addition, we predicted key genes in immune-related pathways and constructed a lncRNA-miRNA-mRNA network based on whole transcriptomic analysis. We further predicted three lncRNA-miRNA-mRNA axes as potential novel biomarkers in regulating the immune response of Atlantic salmon against A. salmonicida infection.

Role of long intergenic non-protein coding RNA 01857 in hepatocellular carcinoma malignancy via the regulation of the microRNA-197-3p/anterior GRadient 2 axis

Objective

This study investigates the differential expression and the mechanism of long intergenic non-protein coding RNA (LINC) 01857 in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) proliferation and apoptosis.

Methods

LINC01857 expression in HCC tissues and cells was evaluated. In addition, gain-of and loss-of functions were carried out to assess HCC cell proliferation and apoptosis. After that, LINC01857 subcellular localization was predicted and verified. Additionally, the binding relations between LINC01857 and microRNA (miRNA)-197-3p and between miR-197-3p and anterior GRadient 2 (AGR2) were detected and confirmed. Besides, HCC cell proliferation and apoptosis were assessed after silencing LINC01857 or overexpressing AGR2. Next, levels of key factors in the AKT and ERK pathways were measured. Additionally, xenograft transplantation was also conducted to confirm the effect of LINC01857 in HCC.

Results

LINC01857 was overexpressed in HCC. Silencing LINC01857 leads to a blockage in HCC cell proliferation but improved apoptosis. LINC01857 could competitively bind to miR-197-3p and thus upregulate AGR2. miR-197-3p was poorly expressed in HCC, while AGR2 was overexpressed. Mechanistically, downregulated miR-197-3p or overexpressed AGR2 were observed to attenuate the effect of the LINC01857 knockdown on suppressing cell proliferation and enhancing apoptosis. Moreover, LINC01857 activated the AKT and ERK pathways through the manipulation of the miR-197-3p/AGR2 axis in HCC.

Conclusion

The results of this study indicated that LINC01857 was highly expressed in HCC, and it could improve HCC cell proliferation and reduce apoptosis via competitively binding to miR-197-3p, promoting AGR2 and upregulating the AKT and ERK pathways.

Long Noncoding Competing Endogenous RNA Networks in Pancreatic Cancer

Pancreatic cancer (PC) is a highly malignant disease characterized by insidious onset, rapid progress, and poor therapeutic effects. The molecular mechanisms associated with PC initiation and progression are largely insufficient, hampering the exploitation of novel diagnostic biomarkers and development of efficient therapeutic strategies. Emerging evidence recently reveals that noncoding RNAs (ncRNAs), including long ncRNAs (lncRNAs) and microRNAs (miRNAs), extensively participate in PC pathogenesis. Specifically, lncRNAs can function as competing endogenous RNAs (ceRNAs), competitively sequestering miRNAs, therefore modulating the expression levels of their downstream target genes. Such complex lncRNA/miRNA/mRNA networks, namely, ceRNA networks, play crucial roles in the biological processes of PC by regulating cell growth and survival, epithelial-mesenchymal transition and metastasis, cancer stem cell maintenance, metabolism, autophagy, chemoresistance, and angiogenesis. In this review, the emerging knowledge on the lncRNA-associated ceRNA networks involved in PC initiation and progression will be summarized, and the potentials of the competitive crosstalk as diagnostic, prognostic, and therapeutic targets will be comprehensively discussed.

LncRNAs: Novel Biomarkers for Pancreatic Cancer

Pancreatic cancer is one of the most deadly neoplasms and the seventh major cause of cancer-related deaths among both males and females. This cancer has a poor prognosis due to the lack of appropriate methods for early detection of cancer. Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) have been recently found to influence the progression and initiation of pancreatic cancer. MACC1-AS1, LINC00976, LINC00462, LINC01559, HOXA-AS2, LINC00152, TP73-AS1, XIST, SNHG12, LUCAT1, and UCA1 are among the oncogenic lncRNAs in pancreatic cancer. On the other hand, LINC01111, LINC01963, DGCR5, MEG3, GAS5, and LINC00261 are among tumor suppressor lncRNAs in this tissue. In the current review, we summarize the roles of these two classes of lncRNAs in pancreatic cancer and discuss their potential as attractive diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers for pancreatic cancer. We also identified that the low expression of MEG3, LINC01963, and LINC00261 and the high expression of MACC1-AS1, LINC00462, LINC01559, and UCA1 were significantly correlated with worse survival in pancreatic cancer patients. Further research on these lncRNAs will provide new clues that could potentially improve the early diagnosis, prognostic prediction, and personalized treatments of patients with pancreatic cancer.

miR-199a-3p plays an anti-tumorigenic role in lung adenocarcinoma by suppressing anterior gradient 2

Previous studies have explored the association between protein-coding genes and microRNAs (miRNAs) in lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD). However, the influence of the miR-199a-3p/anterior gradient 2 (AGR2) axis in LUAD has not yet been fully explored. Therefore, this study aimed to examine the underlying roles of AGR2 and miR-199a-3p in the development of LUAD. The expression levels of miR-199a-3p and AGR2 in LUAD tissues and cells were detected via quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). A luciferase assay was also performed to identify the interaction between AGR2 and miR-199a-3p. Moreover, the cell counting kit 8 (CCK-8), 5'-bromo-2'-deoxyuridine (BrdU), and adhesion assays were used along with flow cytometry to verify the malignancy of LUAD in vitro, while a xenograft tumor assay was performed to confirm the tumor growth in vitro. The findings showed a decrease in the expression of miR-199a-3p in LUAD. Additionally, miR-199a-3p overexpression inhibited the growth of LUAD cells in vitro and in vivo, while elevating the apoptosis rate of the cells. AGR2 knockdown had the same effect in the cells as that of miR-199a-3p overexpression. It was also found that miR-199a-3p directly targeted AGR2 in LUAD cells to suppress tumorigenesis. In conclusion, this study suggests that miR-199a-3p plays an anti-tumorigenic role in LUAD by targeting AGR2. Moreover, our study provides insights into the development of novel therapeutic targets for the treatment of LUAD.

Long non-coding RNA LINC01207 promotes cell proliferation and migration but suppresses apoptosis and autophagy in oral squamous cell carcinoma by the microRNA-1301-3p/lactate dehydrogenase isoform A axis

Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) have been reported to participate in the progression of various cancers, including oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC). This study aims to find out whether lncRNA LINC01207 regulates the progression of OSCC. Reverse transcription quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) was conducted to evaluate gene expression in OSCC cells and tissues. Cell viability, proliferation, migration, apoptosis, and autophagy were detected using Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK-8), colony formation, Transwell assays, flow cytometry, and western blot analysis. Luciferase reporter and RNA immunoprecipitation (RIP) assays were conducted to assess the interactions among genes. We found that LINC01207 was overexpressed in OSCC cells and tissues. LINC01207 silencing inhibited OSCC cell proliferation and migration but promoted apoptosis and autophagy, and LINC01207 overexpression had an opposite result. LINC01207 interacted with microRNA-1301-3p (miR-1301-3p) while lactate dehydrogenase isoform A (LHDA) was targeted by miR1301-3p. Effects caused by LINC01207 downregulation on OSCC cells were reversed by overexpression of LDHA. Overall, LINC01207 promotes OSCC progression via the miR-1301-3p/LDHA axis

LINC01207 promotes the progression of non-small cell lung cancer via regulating ARHGAP11A by sponging miR-525-5p

BACKGROUND

The disorder of LINC01207 has a significant regulatory effect on cancers, nevertheless its role in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) have not been illustrated. This study investigated the regulatory effect of LINC01207 on NSCLC and clarify its molecular mechanism.

METHODS

Bioinformatics analysis was used to find the target lncRNA, miRNA and mRNA. LncBase and TargetScan databases predicted the relationship between LINC01207, miR-525-5p and ARHGAP11A. Dual-luciferase reporter gene assay and RNA binding protein immunoprecipitation assay were used to verify the binding relationship between genes. Fluorescence in situ hybridization assay was used to localize the expression of LINC01207 in NSCLC tissue. qRT-PCR and Western blot assays were used to measure the expression of LINC01207, miR-525-5p and ARHGAP11A. CCK-8 assay, Transwell assay and flow cytometry assay were used to detect NSCLC cell abilities. Mouse xenograft models further determined the effect of LINC01207 on the growth of NSCLC in vivo.

RESULTS

LINC01207 was up-regulated in NSCLC tissue and cells, which was mainly localized in the cytoplasm. LINC01207 knockdown could inhibit the proliferation, migration and invasion of cancer cells and induce cell apoptosis. In addition, silencing LINC01207 could suppress tumor growth in vivo. LINC01207 could sponge and inhibit the expression of miR-525-5p in NSCLC cells, and inhibiting LINC01207 and miR-525-5p simultaneously could reverse the effect of miR-525-5p on the progression of NSCLC cells. Further study on downstream target genes showed that miR-525-5p could restrain the expression of ARHGAP11A, and then affect the progression of NSCLC. LINC01207 acting as a competing endogenous RNA (ceRNA) could regulate the expression of ARHGAP11A by competitively binding with miR-525-5p.

CONCLUSION

LINC01207 regulates the progression of NSCLC by regulating the miR-525-5p/ARHGAP11A axis as a ceRNA and plays a carcinogenic role. In conclusion, our study elucidates the mechanism of LINC01207 regulating the progression of NSCLC, and provides a new idea for the diagnosis and treatment of NSCLC guided by lncRNA.

Comprehensive Analysis of Autophagy-Associated lncRNAs Reveal Potential Prognostic Prediction in Pancreatic Cancer

Pancreatic cancer (PC) is a highly malignant tumor in the digestive system. Both long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) and autophagy play vital roles in the development and progress of PC. Here, we constructed a prognostic risk score system based on the expression profile of autophagy-associated lncRNAs for prognostic prediction in PC patients. Firstly, we extracted the expression profile of lncRNA and clinical information from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) and International Cancer Genome Consortium (ICGC) databases. The autophagy-associated genes were from The Human Autophagy Database. Through Cox regression and survival analysis, we screened out seven autophagy-associated lncRNAs and built the risk score system in which the patients with PC were distinguished into high- and low-risk groups in both training and validation datasets. PCA plot displayed distinct discrimination, and risk score system displayed independently predictive value for PC patient survival time by multivariate Cox regression. Then, we built a lncRNA and mRNA co-expression network via Cytoscape and Sankey diagram. Finally, we analyzed the function of lncRNAs in high- and low-risk groups by gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA). The results showed that autophagy and metabolism might make significant effects on PC patients of low-risk groups. Taken together, our study provides a new insight to understand the role of autophagy-associated lncRNAs and finds novel therapeutic and prognostic targets in PC.

Long noncoding RNAs: role and contribution in pancreatic cancer

Noncoding RNAs are proclaimed to be expressed in various cancer types and one such type is found to be pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC). The long noncoding RNAs (LncRNAs) affect the migration, invasion, and growth of tumor cells by playing important roles in the process of epigenesis, post-transcription, and transcriptional regulation along with the maintenance of apoptosis and cell cycle. It is quite subtle whether the alterations in lncRNAs would impact PDAC progression and development. This review throws a spotlight on the lncRNAs associated with tumor functions: MALAT-1, HOTAIR, HOXA13, H19, LINC01559, LINC00460, SNHG14, SNHG16, DLX6-AS1, MSC-AS1, ABHD11-AS1, DUXAP8, DANCR, XIST, DLEU2, etc. are upregulated lncRNAs whereas GAS5, HMlincRNA717, MIAT, LINC01111, lncRNA KCNK15-AS1, etc. are downregulated lncRNAs inhibiting the invasion and progression of PDAC. These data provided helps in the assessment of lncRNAs in the development, metastasis, and occurrence of PDAC and also play a vital role in the evolution of biomarkers and therapeutic agents for the treatment of PDAC.

LINC01207 is up-regulated in gastric cancer tissues and promotes disease progression by regulating miR-671-5p/DDX5 axis

LINC01207 is involved in the progression of some cancers. This study was designed to delve into the biological function and mechanism of LINC01207 in gastric cancer. qPCR was adopted to examine the expression levels of LINC01207, miR-671-5p, DDX5 mRNA in gastric cancer tissues and cells. After LINC01207 was overexpressed or depleted, MTT and BrdU assays were conducted to detect cell proliferation. Transwell assay was employed to detect cell migration and invasion. Western blot was used to detect the expression of DDX5 protein in cells. Bioinformatics analysis, luciferase reporter assay and RNA pull-down assay were performed to predict and validate the binding site between miR-671-5p and LINC01207 or DDX5. LINC01207, DDX5 mRNA were up-regulated in gastric cancer, while miR-671-5p was down-regulated; high expression of LINC01207 and transfection of miR-671-5p inhibitors facilitated the proliferation of gastric cancer cells; however, knocking down LINC01207 and the overexpression of miR-671-5p mimics had opposite biological effects. LINC01207 and miR-671-5p were interacted and miR-671-5p was negatively regulated by LINC01207. MiR-671-5p could reverse the function of LINC01207. DDX5 was a downstream target of miR-671-5p and was positively modulated by LINC01207. LINC01207 promotes the proliferation and metastasis of gastric cancer cells by regulating miR-671-5p/DDX5 axis.

CTCF-induced upregulation of LINC01207 promotes gastric cancer progression via miR-1301-3p/PODXL axis

BACKGROUND

Long non coding RNAs (lncRNAs) have been validated to be involved in the complicated biological processes during tumor progression. LINC01207 has been identified as an oncogene in several cancer types. However, the function of LINC01207 and its underlying molecular mechanism in gastric cancer (GC) are poorly understood.

METHODS

The expression level of LINC01207, miR-1301-3p and PODXL mRNA was detected in GC tissues and cells by RT-qPCR. The level of PODXL protein was examined by western blot. Colony formation assay, EdU assay, TUNEL assay, caspase-3 activity test and transwell assays were carried out to analyze the effect of LINC01207 on GC cell proliferation, apoptosis, migration and invasion. The interaction between RNAs was confirmed by luciferase reporter assay, RNA pull-down assay and RIP assay.

RESULTS

LINC01207 was expressed at high level in GC tissues and cells. Silencing of LINC01207 impaired GC cell proliferation, migration and invasion but promoted cell apoptosis. Mechanistically, LINC01207 acted as a ceRNA by sponging miR-1301-3p to upregulate PODXL. Besides, miR-1301-3p silencing or PODXL overexpression could abolish the inhibitory effect of LINC01207 knockdown on GC cell growth and migration. CCCTC-binding factor (CTCF) could transcriptionally activate LINC01207 in GC cells.

CONCLUSIONS

CTCF-induced activation of LINC01207 contributes to GC progression through regulating miR-1301-3p/PODXL axis.

Long Noncoding RNA LINC01207 Promotes Colon Cancer Cell Proliferation and Invasion by Regulating miR-3125/TRIM22 Axis

Increasing study has validated that long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) are involved in the growth and metastasis of colon cancer. LINC01207 has been reported to play vital roles in certain types of cancer, while the precise function of LINC01207 in the progression of colon cancer remains unclear. The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of LINC01207 on the growth and metastasis of colon cancer cells and to explore the underlying mechanism. We found that the expression of LINC01207 was significantly upregulated in colon adenocarcinoma tissues compared with normal tissues by the GEPIA database. Notably, silencing of LINC01207 significantly suppressed the proliferation, migration, and invasion abilities of SW480 and HT-29 cells. Mechanistically, our data demonstrated that LINC01207 could sponge miR-3125 in colon cancer cells. Moreover, miR-3125 could directly target TRIM22 and negatively regulate its expression. Rescue assays revealed that miR-3125 inhibitor or TRIM22 overexpression significantly reversed the repressive role of LINC01207 knockdown in colon cancer cell proliferation and invasion. In conclusion, LINC01207 exerts an oncogenic role in the progression of colon cancer by absorbing miR-3125 to modulating TRIM22 expression.

Noncoding RNAs in drug-resistant pancreatic cancer: A review

Pancreatic cancer is the fourth-leading cause of cancer-related deaths and is expected to be the second-leading cause of cancer-related deaths in Europe and the United States by 2030. The high fatality rate of pancreatic cancer is ascribed to untimely diagnosis, early metastasis and limited responses to both chemotherapy and radiotherapy. Although gemcitabine, 5-fluorouracil and some other drugs can profoundly improve patient prognosis, most pancreatic cancer patients eventually develop drug resistance, leading to poor clinical outcomes. The underlying mechanisms of pancreatic cancer drug resistance are complicated and inconclusive. Interestingly, accumulating evidence has demonstrated that different noncoding RNAs (ncRNAs), such as microRNAs (miRNAs), long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) and circular RNAs (circRNAs), play a crucial role in pancreatic cancer resistance to chemotherapy reagents. In this paper, we systematically summarize the molecular mechanism underlying the influence of ncRNAs on the generation and development of drug resistance in pancreatic cancer and discuss the potential role of ncRNAs as prognostic markers and new therapeutic targets for pancreatic cancer.

Comprehensive Analysis of LincRNAs in Classical and Basal-Like Subtypes of Pancreatic Cancer

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinomas (PDAC) belong to the deadliest malignancies in the western world. Mutations in TP53 and KRAS genes along with some other frequent polymorphisms occur almost universally and are major drivers of tumour initiation. However, these mutations cannot explain the heterogeneity in therapeutic responses and differences in overall survival observed in PDAC patients. Thus, recent classifications of PDAC tumour samples have leveraged transcriptome-wide gene expression data to account for epigenetic, transcriptional and post-transcriptional mechanisms that may contribute to this deadly disease. Intriguingly, long intervening RNAs (lincRNAs) are a special class of long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) that can control gene expression programs on multiple levels thereby contributing to cancer progression. However, their subtype-specific expression and function as well as molecular interactions in PDAC are not fully understood yet. In this study, we systematically investigated the expression of lincRNAs in pancreatic cancer and its molecular subtypes using publicly available data from large-scale studies. We identified 27 deregulated lincRNAs that showed a significant different expression pattern in PDAC subtypes suggesting context-dependent roles. We further analyzed these lincRNAs regarding their common expression patterns. Moreover, we inferred clues on their functions based on correlation analyses and predicted interactions with RNA-binding proteins, microRNAs, and mRNAs. In summary, we identified several PDAC-associated lincRNAs of prognostic relevance and potential context-dependent functions and molecular interactions. Hence, our study provides a valuable resource for future investigations to decipher the role of lincRNAs in pancreatic cancer.

RNA sequencing-based microRNA expression signature in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma: oncogenic targets by antitumor miR-143-5p and miR-143-3p regulation

Aberrantly expressed microRNAs (miRNAs) disrupt intracellular RNA networks and contribute to malignant transformation of cancer cells. Utilizing the latest RNA sequencing technology, we newly created the miRNA expression signature of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC). A total of 47 miRNAs were downregulated in ESCC tissues, and these miRNAs were candidates for antitumor miRNAs in ESCC cells. Analysis of the signature revealed that several passenger strands of miRNAs were significantly downregulated in ESCC, e.g., miR-28-3p, miR-30a-3p, miR-30c-3p, miR-133a-3p, miR-139-3p, miR-143-5p, and miR-145-3p. Recent studies indicate that some passenger strands of miRNAs closely involved in cancer pathogenesis. In this study, we focused on both strands of pre-miR-143, and investigated their antitumor roles and target oncogenes in ESCC. Ectopic expression of miR-143-5p and miR-143-3p significantly attenuated malignant phenotypes (e.g., proliferation, migration, and invasive abilities) in ESCC cell lines. We revealed that six genes (HN1, HMGA2, NETO2, STMN1, TCF3, and MET) were putative targets of miR-143-5p regulation, and one gene (KRT80) was a putative target of miR-143-3p regulation in ESCC cells. Our ESCC miRNA signature and analysis strategy provided important insights into the molecular pathogenesis of ESCC.

LINC01207 Predicts Poor Prognosis and Suppresses Cell Growth and Metastasis via Regulating GSK-3β/β-Catenin Signaling Pathway in Malignant Glioma

Background

Recent literature has revealed that LINC01207 plays a vital part in tumorigenesis and malignancy progression. However, the potential mechanisms of LINC01207 in malignant glioma are still unknown.

Material/Methods

Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) was applied to analyze LINC01207 mRNA levels in malignant glioma cell lines and tissue samples. The correlation between LINC01207 mRNA levels and clinical characteristics was explored, and the relative survival rate was observed using the Kaplan-Meier method. To examine the function of LINC01207, we performed cell viability, EdU assay, cell cycle assay, Transwell assay, and wound-healing assay to analyze relative cell proliferation, migration/invasion ability. Finally, qRT-PCR and western blot were used to investigate the potential mechanisms.

Results

LINC01207 mRNA was lowly expressed in malignant glioma cells and cancer tissue samples. Low expression of LINC01207 was associated with Karnofsky performance score (KPS), invasion condition, and tumor grade. Moreover, multivariate analysis confirmed LINC01207 expression and tumor grade were significant independent predictors of poor survival in malignant glioma. LINC01207 markedly inhibited cellar proliferation and viability via inducing G0/G1 phase cell cycle arrested and repressed cell metastasis through restraining epithelial-to-mesenchymal procession in vivo. In addition, we detected a reduction in the protein levels of β-catenin and p-GSK-3β, while GSK-3β expression was upregulated.

Conclusions

In summary, LINC01207 served as a tumor-related tumor suppress gene for malignant glioma through inhibiting of GSK-3β/β-catenin signaling pathway.

MicroRNA expression profiling of caudal fin cell of C. auratus gibelio upon cyprinid herpesvirus 2 infection

As a member of the genus Cyprinivirus in the family Alloherpesviridae, Cyprinid herpesvirus 2 (CyHV-2) has caused great economic loss in the aquaculture industry, mainly in C. auratus gibelio and goldfish. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying the pathogenicity of CyHV-2 remain elusive. In this study, high-throughput sequencing technology was employed to explore the miRNA expression profiles of C. auratus gibelio (GiCF) caudal fin cells in response to Cyprinid Herpesvirus-2 (CyHV-2) infection. A total of 631 novel miRNAs and 409 known miRNAs were identified. The expression levels of 7 miRNAs were found as significantly modulated (5 down-regulation and 2 up-regulation; P < 0.01, |logFC|>1, TPM>10) in CyHV-2 infected cells. 7 miRNA and their potential mRNA targets were validated by Real-time PCR (qRT-PCR), respectively. Targets prediction and functional analysis of these 7 miRNAs revealed significant enrichment for several signaling pathways, including PPAR, p53 and FoxO pathways. These studies provided more valuable basis for further study on the roles of miRNAs in CyHV-2 replication and pathogenesis.

Involvement of Dual Strands of miR-143 (miR-143-5p and miR-143-3p) and Their Target Oncogenes in the Molecular Pathogenesis of Lung Adenocarcinoma

Our analyses of tumor-suppressive microRNAs (miRNAs) and their target oncogenes have identified novel molecular networks in lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD). Moreover, our recent studies revealed that some passenger strands of miRNAs contribute to cancer cell malignant transformation. Downregulation of both strands of the miR-143 duplex was observed in LUAD clinical specimens. Ectopic expression of these miRNAs suppressed malignant phenotypes in cancer cells, suggesting that these miRNAs have tumor-suppressive activities in LUAD cells. Here, we evaluated miR-143-5p molecular networks in LUAD using genome-wide gene expression and miRNA database analyses. Twenty-two genes were identified as potential miR-143-5p-controlled genes in LUAD cells. Interestingly, the expression of 11 genes (MCM4, RAD51, FAM111B, CLGN, KRT80, GPC1, MTL5, NETO2, FANCA, MTFR1, and TTLL12) was a prognostic factor for the patients with LUAD. Furthermore, knockdown assays using siRNAs showed that downregulation of MCM4 suppressed cell growth, migration, and invasion in LUAD cells. Aberrant expression of MCM4 was confirmed in the clinical specimens of LUAD. Thus, we showed that miR-143-5p and its target genes were involved in the molecular pathogenesis of LUAD. Identification of tumor-suppressive miRNAs and their target oncogenes may be an effective strategy for elucidation of the molecular oncogenic networks of this disease.