Long noncoding RNA LINC00941 promotes pancreatic cancer progression by competitively binding miR-335-5p to regulate ROCK1-mediated LIMK1/Cofilin-1 signaling

Dual DNAzyme amplification-based colorimetric sensing assay for the identification and quantification of tumor-associated miRNAs

Herein, we present a colorimetric sensing strategy for the identification and quantification of tumor-associated miRNAs based on dual DNAzyme amplification. In this sensing ensemble, the substrate portion of the Pb2+-dependent 8-17 DNAzyme combines with the G-quadruplex portion to form a hairpin substrate strand. The two split 8-17 DNAzyme strands are partially complementary to the substrate strand and serve as a recognition unit for binding the target miRNA. In the presence of the target miRNA, the activated DNAzyme cleaves the substrate strand, releasing the G-quadruplex. This G-quadruplex binds to hemin to form a G-quadruplex/hemin complex with horseradish peroxidase (HRP)-like properties, which catalyzes the oxidation of ABTS2- by H2O2. This oxidation reaction produces a colorimetric signal output, enabling the detection of the target miRNA. Under the optimal reaction conditions explored in this study, the constructed sensing ensembles tailored for each of the specific target miRNAs successfully identified and quantified the four target miRNAs-miR-122, miR-21, miR-335, and miR-155-in both buffer solutions and cell extracts. This colorimetric sensing strategy offers significant advantages in terms of simplicity, cost, and versatility and holds great potential for wide application in biomedical research and clinical diagnostics.

Long non-coding RNAs: Emerging regulators of invasion and metastasis in pancreatic cancer

BACKGROUND

The invasion and metastasis of pancreatic cancer (PC) are key factors contributing to disease progression and poor prognosis. This process is primarily driven by EMT, which has been the focus of recent studies highlighting the role of long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) as crucial regulators of EMT. However, the mechanisms by which lncRNAs influence invasive metastasis are multifaceted, extending beyond EMT regulation alone.

AIM OF REVIEW

This review primarily aims to characterize lncRNAs affecting invasion and metastasis in pancreatic cancer. We summarize the regulatory roles of lncRNAs across multiple molecular pathways and highlight their translational potential, considering the implications for clinical applications in diagnostics and therapeutics.

KEY SCIENTIFIC CONCEPTS OF REVIEW

The review focuses on three principal scientific themes. First, we primarily summarize lncRNAs orchestrate various signaling pathways, such as TGF-β/Smad, Wnt/β-catenin, and Notch, to regulate molecular changes associated with EMT, thereby enhancing cellular motility and invasivenes. Second, we summarize the effects of lncRNAs on autophagy and ferroptosis and discuss the role of exosomal lncRNAs in the tumor microenvironment to regulate the behavior of neighboring cells and promote cancer cell invasion. Third, we emphasize the effects of RNA modifications (such as m6A and m5C methylation) on stabilizing lncRNAs and enhancing their capacity to mediate invasive metastasis in PC. Lastly, we discuss the translational potential of these findings, emphasizing the inherent challenges in using lncRNAs as clinical biomarkers and therapeutic targets, while proposing prospective research strategies.

LINC00941 affects the proliferation, apoptosis and differentiation of osteoblasts by regulating the miR-335-5p/KAT7 axis

BACKGROUND

Fractures are the prevalent traumatic conditions encountered in orthopedic practices. The rising incidence of fractures has emerged as a pressing global health concern. Although the majority of individuals with fractures experience complete recovery of bone structure and function, approximately 10% of those with fractures exhibit delayed fracture healing (DFH). The objective of this investigation was to explore the function and underlying mechanisms of LINC00941 in the advancement of DFH, as well as its involvement in the regulation of osteoblastic differentiation by regulating the miR-335-5p/KAT7 axis.

METHODS

The expression levels of LINC00941, miR-335-5p, KAT7 and osteoblast differentiation-related markers were assessed using RT-qPCR. The proliferation of MC3T3-E1 cells was evaluated through the CCK-8 assay, and cell apoptosis was analyzed via flow cytometry. The targeted regulatory relationships between LINC00941 and miR-335-5p, as well as between miR-335-5p and KAT7 were verified by a dual-luciferase reporter gene assay.

RESULT

The expression of LINC00941 was significantly up regulated, while miR-335-5p exhibited a notable downregulation in DFH patients, both of LINC00941 and miR-335-5p have been identified as potential predicted markers for DFH. Furthermore, LINC00941 has been demonstrated to inhibit osteoblast proliferation, promote apoptosis, and suppress osteoblast differentiation through the regulation of the miR-335-5p/KAT7 axis.

CONCLUSION

LINC00941/ miR-335-5p/KAT7 axis may be a therapeutic target for DFH.

Machine Learning Developed a MYC Expression Feature-Based Signature for Predicting Prognosis and Chemoresistance in Pancreatic Adenocarcinoma

MYC has been identified to profoundly influence a wide range of pathologic processes in cancers. However, the prognostic value of MYC-related genes in pancreatic adenocarcinoma (PAAD) remains unclarified. Gene expression data and clinical information of PAAD patients were obtained from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database (training set). Validation sets included GSE57495, GSE62452, and ICGC-PACA databases. LASSO regression analysis was used to develop a risk signature for survival prediction. Single-cell sequencing data from GSE154778 and CRA001160 datasets were analyzed. Functional studies were conducted using siRNA targeting RHOF and ITGB6 in PANC-1 cells. High MYC expression was found to be significantly associated with a poor prognosis in patients with PAAD. Additionally, we identified seven genes (ADGRG6, LINC00941, RHOF, SERPINB5, INSYN2B, ITGB6, and DEPDC1) that exhibited a strong correlation with both MYC expression and patient survival. They were then utilized to establish a risk model (MYCsig), which showed robust predictive ability. Furthermore, MYCsig demonstrated a positive correlation with the expression of HLA genes and immune checkpoints, as well as the chemotherapy response of PAAD. RHOF and ITGB6, expressed mainly in malignant cells, were identified as key oncogenes regulating chemosensitivity through EMT. Downregulation of RHOF and ITGB6 reduced cell proliferation and invasion in PANC-1 cells. The developed MYCsig demonstrates its potential in enhancing the management of patients with PAAD by facilitating risk assessment and predicting response to adjuvant chemotherapy. Additionally, our study identifies RHOF and ITGB6 as novel oncogenes linked to EMT and chemoresistance in PAAD.

LINC00941 is a diagnostic biomarker for lung adenocarcinoma and promotes tumorigenesis through cell autophagy

Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is a lethal malignancy. There is mounting evidence indicating that lncRNAs are crucial players with dual roles as both biomarkers and regulators across various cancers. It was reported that LINC00941 plays a cancer-promoting role in NSCLC. However, its impact on tumour autophagy remains poorly understood. In this study, we developed a risk assessment model and identified an autophagy-related lncRNA LINC00941, which has independent predictive and early diagnostic potential. Using RT-qPCR analysis, we confirmed the upregulation of LINC00941 in tumour tissues and cell lines of human lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD). Functional assays, such as CCK8, colony formation and xenograft models, demonstrated the cancer-promoting activity of LINC00941 both in vitro and in vivo. Further analysis using Western blotting analysis, mRFP-GFP-LC3 double fluorescence lentivirus vector and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) confirmed that the knockdown of LINC00941 triggered autophagy. These results indicate that knockdown of LINC00941 induces autophagy and impairs the proliferation of LUAD. Therefore, we propose LINC00941 as an independent biomarker for early diagnosis as well as a therapeutic target in LUAD.

LncRNA DNAH17-AS1 promotes gastric cancer proliferation and radioresistance by sponging miR-202-3p to upregulate ONECUT2

Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) are frequently dysregulated in malignancies and serve as significant regulators of tumorigenesis. The role of the lncRNA DNAH17-AS1 in gastric cancer (GC) remains incompletely understood. In this study, we explored the biological function and underlying mechanism of DNAH17-AS1 in GC. Differences in DNAH17-AS1 expression between GC and normal tissues were evaluated via The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA), Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO), and qRT-PCR validation. CCK-8, colony formation, animal, and flow cytometry assays were performed to detect the effects of DNAH17-AS1 on GC cell proliferation. Further biological experiments combined with bioinformatics analyses were performed to reveal the molecular mechanism involved. The results indicated that DNAH17-AS1 was strongly overexpressed in GC tissues and cells and that high expression of DNAH17-AS1 was correlated with lager tumour size, poor differentiation, and shorter survival. Silencing DNAH17-AS1 inhibited proliferation, induced G1 arrest and apoptosis in GC cells in vitro, and repressed tumorigenesis in vivo. Mechanistically, DNAH17-AS1 acted as a competitive endogenous RNA (ceRNA) for the tumour suppressor miR-202-3p and consequently prevented the degradation of ONECUT2. In addition, the DNAH17-AS1/miR-202-3p/ONECUT2 axis promoted the radioresistance of GC. In summary, DNAH17-AS1 plays crucial roles in GC progression and may be a novel promising target for therapy.

miR-335-5p inhibits endochondral ossification by directly targeting SP1 in TMJ OA

OBJECTIVE

During the development of temporomandibular joint osteoarthritis, endochondral ossification is compromised which leads to condylar degeneration; miR-335-5p in endochondral ossification in osteoarthritic condylar cartilage tissue remains unclear.

METHODS

Up-regulated microRNA and its target gene were searched for endochondral ossification in osteoarthritis articular cartilage. The effect of increased or decreased miR-335-5p on endochondral ossification was evaluated by transfecting miR-335-5p mimics or miR-335-5p inhibitor in vitro in chondrocytes C28/I2. Finally, we injected the temporomandibular joint of rats intra-articularly with agomiR-335 in a unilateral anterior crossbite rat model to determine the in vivo regulation of miR-335.

RESULTS

After the onset of temporomandibular joint osteoarthritis, miR-335-5p levels were gradually up-regulated, whereas endochondral ossification-related genes were down-regulated in condylar cartilage specimens. Our results showed that miR-335 inhibited endochondral ossification after administration of a miR-335 antagonist into the temporomandibular joint articular cavity of a unilateral anterior crossbite rat model. AgomiR-335, a miR-335 agonist, inhibited matrix mineralization in fibrocartilage stem cells in vitro and then miR-335-5p negatively regulated chondrocyte activity by directly targeting SP1 via promoting transforming growth factor-β/Smad signalling.

CONCLUSION

miR-335-5p can significantly inhibit endochondral ossification; therefore, its inhibition may be beneficial for the treatment of temporomandibular joint osteoarthritis.

Linc00941 fuels ribogenesis and protein synthesis by supporting robust cMYC translation in malignant pleural mesothelioma

Malignant pleural mesothelioma is a rare and lethal cancer caused by exposure to asbestos. The highly inflammatory environment caused by fibers accumulation forces cells to undergo profound adaptation to gain survival advantages. Prioritizing the synthesis of essential transcripts is an efficient mechanism coordinated by multiple molecules, including long non-coding RNAs. Enhancing the knowledge about these mechanisms is an essential weapon in combating mesothelioma. Linc00941 correlates to bad prognosis in various cancers, but it is reported to partake in distinct and apparently irreconcilable processes. In this work, we report that linc00941 supports the survival and aggressiveness of mesothelioma cells by influencing protein synthesis and ribosome biogenesis. Linc00941 binds to the translation initiation factor eIF4G, promoting the selective protein synthesis of cMYC, which, in turn, enhances the expression of key genes involved in translation. We analyzed a retrospective cohort of 97 mesothelioma patients' samples from our institution, revealing that linc00941 expression strongly correlates with reduced survival probability. This discovery clarifies linc00941's role in mesothelioma and proposes a unified mechanism of action for this lncRNA involving the selective translation of essential oncogenes, reconciling the discrepancies about its function.

Decoding the tumour-modulatory roles of LIMK2

LIM domains kinase 2 (LIMK2) is a 72 kDa protein that regulates actin and cytoskeleton reorganization. Once phosphorylated by its upstream activator (ROCK1), LIMK2 can phosphorylate cofilin to inactivate it. This relieves the levering stress on actin and allows polymerization to occur. Actin rearrangement is essential in regulating cell cycle progression, apoptosis, and migration. Dysregulation of the ROCK1/LIMK2/cofilin pathway has been reported to link to the development of various solid cancers such as breast, lung, and prostate cancer and liquid cancer like leukemia. This review aims to assess the findings from multiple reported in vitro, in vivo, and clinical studies on the potential tumour-regulatory role of LIMK2 in different human cancers. The findings of the selected literature unraveled that activated AKT, EGF, and TGF-β pathways can upregulate the activities of the ROCK1/LIMK2/cofilin pathway. Besides cofilin, LIMK2 can modulate the cellular levels of other proteins, such as TPPP1, to promote microtubule polymerization. The tumour suppressor protein p53 can transactivate LIMK2b, a splice variant of LIMK2, to induce cell cycle arrest and allow DNA repair to occur before the cell enters the next phase of the cell cycle. Additionally, several non-coding RNAs, such as miR-135a and miR-939-5p, could also epigenetically regulate the expression of LIMK2. Since the expression of LIMK2 is dysregulated in several human cancers, measuring the tissue expression of LIMK2 could potentially help diagnose cancer and predict patient prognosis. As LIMK2 could play tumour-promoting and tumour-inhibiting roles in cancer development, more investigation should be conducted to carefully evaluate whether introducing a LIMK2 inhibitor in cancer patients could slow cancer progression without posing clinical harms.

Long non-coding RNA LINC00930 targeting miR-6792-3p/ZBTB16 regulates the proliferation and EMT of pancreatic cancer

Emerging evidence suggests the dysregulation of long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) involved in pancreatic cancer (PC). However, the function of LINC00930 in PC has not been elaborated. In this study, we found that LINC00930 was significantly down-regulated in PC cell lines and tissues, and associated with tumor size, lymphatic metastasis, TNM stage and poor prognosis. According to the bioinformatics database, the downregulation of LINC00930 was a common event in PC associated with prognosis and EMT. Overexpression of LINC00930 inhibited the aggressive cancer phenotypes including proliferation, metastasis and epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) of PC in vitro and in vivo. Bioinformatics and dual-luciferase reporter assay indicated that miR-6792-3p could directly bind to LINC00930. Additionally, the Zinc finger and BTB domain containing 16 (ZBTB16) was significantly declined in PC, which was predicted to be the downstream gene of miR-6792-3p. MiR-6792-3p mimic rescued the decreased proliferation, metastasis and EMT caused by ZBTB16 in PC cells. The LINC00930/miR-6792-3p/ZBTB16 axis was associated with the malignant progression and process of PC. The relative expression of LINC00930 was negatively correlated with the expression of miR-6792-3p and was closely linked with ZBTB16 levels in PC. LINC00930 might serve as a potential prognostic biomarker and therapeutic target for PC.

LncRNA-MUF: A Novel Oncogenic Star with Potential as a Biological Marker and Therapeutic Target for Gastrointestinal Malignancies

Gastrointestinal (GI) cancers pose a significant global health challenge, characterized by a high incidence and poor prognosis. The delayed detection and occurrence of metastasis contribute to the overall low survival rates associated with these cancers. Therefore, there is an urgent need to identify novel molecular targets for effective GI cancer treatment. Recent research has shed light on the potential of long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) as promising targets in cancer therapy, given their strong association with carcinogenesis and profound impact on tumor development. Among these lncRNAs, lncRNA-MUF, also known as LINC00941, has emerged as a key player in oncogenic regulation, specifically implicated in the progression of various GI cancers, including esophageal, gastric, colorectal, hepatic, and pancreatic cancer. This review aims to provide an updated and focused analysis of the regulatory roles of LINC00941 in the initiation and progression of GI cancer. Our objective is to unravel the underlying molecular mechanisms through which LINC00941 influences GI cancer phenotypes both in vivo and in vitro, with a special emphasis on the key molecules and signaling pathways involved. Additionally, LINC00941 has demonstrated clinical significance in terms of clinical pathology, prognosis, and diagnosis in GI tumors, further reinforcing its potential as a novel therapeutic target.

LINC00941: a novel player involved in the progression of human cancers

LINC00941, also known as lncRNA-MUF, is an intergenic non-coding RNA located on chromosome 12p11.21. It actively participates in a complex competing endogenous RNA network, regulating the expression of microRNA and its downstream proteins. Through transcriptional and post-transcriptional regulation, LINC00941 plays a vital role in multiple signaling pathways, influencing cell behaviors such as tumor cell proliferation, epithelial-mesenchymal transition, migration, and invasion. Noteworthy is its consistently high expression in various tumor types, closely correlating with clinicopathological features and cancer prognoses. Elevated LINC00941 levels are associated with adverse clinical outcomes, including increased tumor size, extensive lymphatic metastasis, and distant metastasis, leading to poorer survival rates across different cancers. Additionally, LINC00941 and its associated genes are linked to various targeted drugs available in the market. In this comprehensive review, we systematically summarize existing studies, detailing LINC00941's differential expression, clinicopathological and prognostic implications, regulatory mechanisms, and associated therapeutic drugs. Our analysis includes relevant charts and incorporates bioinformatics analyses to verify LINC00941's differential expression in pan-cancer and explore potential transcriptional regulation patterns of downstream targets. This work not only establishes a robust data foundation but also guides future research directions. Given its potential as a significant cancer biomarker and therapeutic target, further investigation into LINC00941's differential expression and regulatory mechanisms is essential.

The human long non-coding RNA LINC00941 and its modes of action in health and disease

Long non-coding RNAs have gained attention in recent years as they were shown to play crucial roles in the regulation of cellular processes, but the understanding of the exact mechanisms is still incomplete in most cases. This is also true for long non-coding RNA LINC00941, which was recently found to be highly upregulated in various types of cancer influencing cell proliferation and metastasis. Initial studies could not elucidate the mode of action to understand the role and real impact of LINC00941 in tissue homeostasis and cancer development. However, recent analyses have demonstrated multiple potential modes of action of LINC00941 influencing the functionality of various cancer cell types. Correspondingly, LINC00941 was proposed to be involved in regulation of mRNA transcription and modulation of protein stability, respectively. In addition, several experimental approaches suggest a function of LINC00941 as competitive endogenous RNA, thus acting in a post-transcriptional regulatory fashion. This review summarizes our recent knowledge about the mechanisms of action of LINC00941 elucidated so far and discusses its putative role in miRNA sequestering processes. In addition, the functional role of LINC00941 in regulating human keratinocytes is discussed to also highlight its role in normal tissue homeostasis tissue aside from its involvement in cancer.

PDZ and LIM Domain-Encoding Genes: Their Role in Cancer Development

PDZ-LIM family proteins (PDLIMs) are a kind of scaffolding proteins that contain PDZ and LIM interaction domains. As protein-protein interacting molecules, PDZ and LIM domains function as scaffolds to bind to a variety of proteins. The PDLIMs are composed of evolutionarily conserved proteins found throughout different species. They can participate in cell signal transduction by mediating the interaction of signal molecules. They are involved in many important physiological processes, such as cell differentiation, proliferation, migration, and the maintenance of cellular structural integrity. Studies have shown that dysregulation of the PDLIMs leads to tumor formation and development. In this paper, we review and integrate the current knowledge on PDLIMs. The structure and function of the PDZ and LIM structural domains and the role of the PDLIMs in tumor development are described.

Long noncoding RNA CASC9 promotes pancreatic cancer progression by acting as a ceRNA of miR-497-5p to upregulate expression of CCND1

BACKGROUND

Pancreatic cancer (PC) is an aggressive malignancy with poor prognosis. Accumulating studies have showed that long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) is a crucial regulator in various tumorigenesis and progression including PC. This research aims to explore the roles and molecular mechanism of lncRNA cancer susceptibility candidate 9 (CASC9) in PC.

METHODS

The expression levels of lncRNA CASC9 and miR-497-5p were evaluated in PC tissues and paired adjacent healthy tissues by quantitative real-time PCR. PC cell lines were transfected with lentivirus targeting lncRNA CASC9, and cells proliferation, migration and invasion tests were conducted. Dual luciferase reporter assays were also carried out to explore the relationship between lncRNA CASC9, miR-497-5p and Cyclin D1 (CCND1).

RESULTS

LncRNA CASC9 was significantly up-regulated in PC tissues, while miR-497-5p expression was down-regulated. Down-regulation of lncRNA CASC9 in PC cells can significantly suppress the cell aggressiveness both in vitro and in vivo; moreover, knock-down of miR-497-5p could neutralize this impact. Additionally, the luciferase activity assay has assured that CCND1 was a downstream target of miR-497-5p.

CONCLUSION

LncRNA CASC9 can promote the PC progression by modulating miR-497-5p/CCND1 axis, which is potential target for PC treatment.

Exosomal miR-374c-5p derived from mesenchymal stem cells suppresses epithelial-mesenchymal transition of hepatocellular carcinoma via the LIMK1-Wnt/β-catenin axis

Metastasis is a leading cause to treatment failure in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients. Exosomes act as pivotal mediators in communication between different cells and exert effects on recipient cells by delivering bioactive cargoes, such as microRNAs (miRNAs). MiRNAs function in multiple steps of HCC development, including metastasis. MiR-374c-5p was previously identified as a tumor suppressor in some malignancies, while the current knowledge of its role in HCC metastasis is still limited. Herein, miR-374c-5p was found to be downregulated in HCC cell lines and clinical samples, and positively related with favorable prognosis in HCC patients. MiR-374c-5p transferred by exosomes derived from bone marrow mesenchymal stem cell (BMSC) suppressed migration, invasion and proliferation of HCC cells. LIMK1 was verified as downstream target gene of miR-374c-5p. Knockdown of LIMK1 reduced invasion, migration and proliferation of HCC cells, whereas overexpression functioned oppositely. The miR-374c-5p/LIMK1 axis suppressed epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) by inactivating Wnt/β-catenin pathway. In addition, miR-374c-5p was downregulated and LIMK1 upregulated in TGF-β1 induced EMT. This EMT model could be reversed by LIMK1 silencing or miR-374c-5p overexpression. These results suggest that exo-miR-374c-5p suppresses EMT via targeting LIMK1-Wnt/β-catenin axis and the axis is involved in TGF-β1 induced metastasis of HCC, thereby identifying miR-374c-5p as a potential target for HCC treatment.

lncHUB2: aggregated and inferred knowledge about human and mouse lncRNAs

Long non-coding ribonucleic acids (lncRNAs) account for the largest group of non-coding RNAs. However, knowledge about their function and regulation is limited. lncHUB2 is a web server database that provides known and inferred knowledge about the function of 18 705 human and 11 274 mouse lncRNAs. lncHUB2 produces reports that contain the secondary structure fold of the lncRNA, related publications, the most correlated coding genes, the most correlated lncRNAs, a network that visualizes the most correlated genes, predicted mouse phenotypes, predicted membership in biological processes and pathways, predicted upstream transcription factor regulators, and predicted disease associations. In addition, the reports include subcellular localization information; expression across tissues, cell types, and cell lines, and predicted small molecules and CRISPR knockout (CRISPR-KO) genes prioritized based on their likelihood to up- or downregulate the expression of the lncRNA. Overall, lncHUB2 is a database with rich information about human and mouse lncRNAs and as such it can facilitate hypothesis generation for many future studies. The lncHUB2 database is available at https://maayanlab.cloud/lncHUB2. Database URL: https://maayanlab.cloud/lncHUB2.

LncRNAs in colorectal cancer: Biomarkers to therapeutic targets

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the third leading cause of cancer-related death in men and women worldwide. As early detection is associated with lower mortality, novel biomarkers are urgently needed for timely diagnosis and appropriate management of patients to achieve the best therapeutic response. Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) have been reported to play essential roles in CRC progression. Accordingly, the regulatory roles of lncRNAs should be better understood in general and for identifying diagnostic, prognostic and predictive biomarkers in CRC specifically. In this review, the latest advances on the potential diagnostic and prognostic lncRNAs as biomarkers in CRC samples were highlighted, Current knowledge on dysregulated lncRNAs and their potential molecular mechanisms were summarized. The potential therapeutic implications and challenges for future and ongoing research in the field were also discussed. Finally, novel insights on the underlying mechanisms of lncRNAs were examined as to their potential role as biomarkers and therapeutic targets in CRC. This review may be used to design future studies and advanced investigations on lncRNAs as biomarkers for the diagnosis, prognosis and therapy in CRC.

Reciprocal regulation of LINC00941 and SOX2 promotes progression of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma

LINC00941 is a novel long noncoding RNA (lncRNA) and emerging as an important factor in cancer development. However, the exact function and relative regulatory mechanism of LINC00941 in carcinogenesis of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) remain to be further clarified. The present study was to investigate the expression level, functions, and mechanisms of LINC00941 in ESCC tumorigenesis. LINC00941 was significantly upregulated in ESCC, and upregulated LINC00941 was correlated with dismal patient outcomes. LINC00941 functioned as an oncogene by promoting cells proliferation, stemness, migration, and invasion in ESCC. In terms of mechanisms, SOX2 could bind directly to the promoter region of LINC00941 and activate its transcription. In turn, LINC00941 upregulated SOX2 through interacting with interleukin enhancer binding factor 2 (ILF2) and Y-box binding protein 1 (YBX1) at the transcriptional and post-transcriptional levels. LINC00941 recruited ILF2 and YBX1 to the promoter region of SOX2, leading to upregulation of the transcription of SOX2. Moreover, LINC00941 could promote the binding ability of ILF2 and YBX1 on mRNA of SOX2 and further stabilize SOX2 mRNA. Therefore, LINC00941 contributed to the malignant behaviors of ESCC cells via the unrestricted increase in SOX2 expression. In conclusion, our data indicate that LINC00941 exacerbates ESCC progression through forming a LINC00941-ILF2/YBX1-SOX2 positive feedback loop, and LINC00941 may be a promising prognostic and therapeutic target for ESCC.

Long Non-Coding RNAs Associated with Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase in Human Pancreatic Cancer

Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) have emerged as a significant player in various cancers, including pancreatic cancer. However, how lncRNAs are aberrantly expressed in cancers is largely unknown. We hypothesized that lncRNAs would be regulated by signaling pathways and contribute to malignant phenotypes of cancer. In this study, to understand the significance of mitogen-activated protein kinase/extracellular signal-regulated kinase (MAPK/ERK), which is a major aberrant signaling pathway in pancreatic cancer, for the expression of lncRNAs, we performed comparative transcriptome analyses between pancreatic cancer cell lines with or without activation of MAPK. We identified 45 lncRNAs presumably associated with MAPK in pancreatic cancer cells; among these, LINC00941 was consistently upregulated by MAPK. The immediate genomic upstream region flanking LINC00941 was identified as a promoter region, the activity of which was found to be preferentially associated with MAPK activity via ETS-1 binding site. LINC00941 promoted cell proliferation in vitro. Moreover, TCGA data analysis indicated that high expression of LINC00941 was associated with poor prognosis of patients with pancreatic cancer. Transcriptomes comparing transcriptions between cells with and without LINC00941 knockdown revealed 3229 differentially expressed genes involved in 44 biological processes, including the glycoprotein biosynthetic process, beta-catenin-TCF complex assembly, and histone modification. These results indicate that MAPK mediates the aberrant expression of lncRNAs. LINC00941 is the lncRNA by MAPK most consistently promoted, and is implicated in the dismal prognosis of pancreatic cancer. MAPK-associated lncRNAs may play pivotal roles in malignant phenotypes of pancreatic cancer, and as such might represent both potentially valid therapeutic targets and diagnostic biomarkers.

The Emerging Role of MicroRNAs and Autophagy Mechanism in Pancreatic Cancer Progression: Future Therapeutic Approaches

Pancreatic cancer constitutes the fourth most frequent cause of death due to malignancy in the US. Despite the new therapeutic modalities, the management of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is considered a difficult task for clinicians due to the fact that is usually diagnosed in already advanced stages and it is relatively resistant to the current chemotherapeutic agents. The molecular background analysis of pancreatic malignant tumors, which includes various epigenetic and genetic alterations, opens new horizons for the development of novel diagnostic and therapeutic strategies. The interplay between miRNAs, autophagy pathway, and pancreatic carcinogenesis is in the spotlight of the current research. There is strong evidence that miRNAs take part in carcinogenesis either as tumor inhibitors that combat the oncogene expression or as promoters (oncomiRs) by acting as oncogenes by interfering with various cell functions such as proliferation, programmed cell death, and metabolic and signaling pathways. Deregulation of the expression levels of various miRNAs is closely associated with tumor growth, progression, and dissemination, as well as low sensitivity to chemotherapeutic agents. Similarly, autophagy despite constituting a pivotal homeostatic mechanism for cell survival has a binary role in PDAC, either as an inhibitor or promoter of carcinogenesis. The emerging role of miRNAs in autophagy gets a great deal of attention as it opens new opportunities for the development of novel therapeutic strategies for the management of this aggressive and chemoresistant malignancy. In this review, we will shed light on the interplay between miRNAs and the autophagy mechanism for pancreatic cancer development and progression.

Rho-associated kinase1 promotes laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma tumorigenesis and progression via the FAK signaling pathway

Laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma (LSCC) is one of the most common head and neck squamous cell carcinomas (HNSCC). Rho-associated kinase1 (ROCK1) is considered to promote progression of numerous cancers, however, its role in LSCC is still unknown. Here, the expression level of ROCK1 is higher in LSCC tissues than non-tumor tissues, and the expression level of ROCK1 is positively correlated with advanced stage and poor survival prognosis. ROCK1 knockdown in TU686 and TU212 cells dramatically inhibits cellular proliferation, migration and invasion. Whereas the overexpression of ROCK1 reversed these changes. FAK signaling pathway plays an essential role in promoting LSCC progression. Inhibiting FAK activity with TAE226 observably impairs the tumor-promoting effects. In conclusion, ROCK1 promotes LSCC tumorigenesis and progression via the FAK signaling pathway, targeting the ROCK1 molecule may represent potential targets for clinical LSCC treatment.

Implication of non-coding RNA-mediated ROCK1 regulation in various diseases

Rho Associated Coiled-Coil Containing Protein Kinase 1 (ROCK1) is a protein serine/threonine kinase which is activated upon binding with the GTP-bound form of Rho. This protein can modulate actin-myosin contraction and stability. Moreover, it has a crucial role in the regulation of cell polarity. Therefore, it participates in modulation of cell morphology, regulation of expression of genes, cell proliferation and differentiation, apoptotic processes as well as oncogenic processes. Recent studies have highlighted interactions between ROCK1 and several non-coding RNAs, namely microRNAs, circular RNAs and long non-coding RNAs. Such interactions can be a target of medications. In fact, it seems that the interactions are implicated in therapeutic response to several medications. In the current review, we aimed to explain the impact of these interactions in the pathoetiology of cancers as well as non-malignant disorders.

LINC00941 promotes pancreatic cancer malignancy by interacting with ANXA2 and suppressing NEDD4L-mediated degradation of ANXA2

Recently, long non-coding RNAs (lncRNA) have been proven to regulate pancreatic cancer (PC) progression. We aimed to explore the pathogenesis of LINC00941 in PC regarding protein binding. By using PCR analysis, we found that LINC00941 was overexpressed in PC tissues and was higher in patients with liver metastasis than in patients without liver metastasis. In addition, high LINC00941 expression was associated with a poor prognosis. Functional experiments and mice models were respectively used to evaluate PC cell proliferation and migration in vitro and in vivo. The results suggested that LINC00941 overexpression promoted PC proliferation and metastasis. Subsequently, RNA pull-down, mass spectrometry (MS), and RNA-binding protein immunoprecipitation (RIP) were performed to identify LINC00941-interacting proteins. The results suggested that ANXA2 was the potential LINC00941-interacting protein. Nucleotides 500-1390 of LINC00941 could bind to the Annexin 1 domain of ANXA2. LINC00941-mediated malignant phenotype of PC was reversed by ANXA2 depletion. Co-immunoprecipitation (Co-IP) followed by MS was conducted to determine the potential interacting protein of LINC00941. The results illustrated that NEDD4L, an E3 ligase involved in ubiquitin-mediated protein degradation, bound to the Annexin 1 domain of ANXA2 and promoted its degradation. Mechanically, LINC00941 functioned as a decoy to bind to ANXA2 and suppressed its degradation by enclosing the domain that binds to NEDD4L. Eventually, LINC00941 upregulated ANXA2 and activated FAK/AKT signaling, increasing PC cell proliferation and metastasis. This study indicates that LINC00941 promotes PC proliferation and metastasis by binding ANXA2 and potentiating its stability, leading to the activation of FAK/AKT signaling. Our data demonstrate that LINC00941 may serve as a novel target for prognosis and therapy.

Identification of a pyroptosis-related lncRNA signature in the regulation of prognosis, metabolism signals and immune infiltration in lung adenocarcinoma

Pyroptosis is a cell death pathway that plays a significant role in lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD). Also, studies regarding the correlation between the expression of long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) and the mechanism of LUAD has aroused concern around the world. The purpose of this paper is to explore the underlying relationship of differentially expressed lncRNAs and pyroptosis-related genes. The least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) algorithm and Cox regression were applied to construct a prognostic risk score model from the TCGA database. A pyroptosis-related five-lncRNA signature (CRNDE, HHLA3, MIR193BHG, LINC00941, LINC01843) was considered to be correlated to the prognosis and immune response of LUAD patients. In addition, the cytological experiments revealed that aberrantly expressed HHLA3 displayed a proliferation promotion role in LUAD cells A549 and H460. Next, the forest and nomogram plots have shown this lncRNA signature could be served as an independent prognostic factor for LUAD. The ROC curves further identified the prognostic value of the five-lncRNA signature. The infiltration of immune cells, such as T cells CD8, T cells CD4 memory resting, T cells CD4 memory activated and M0 macrophages were greatly different between the high-risk group and the low-risk group. It implicated that the signature is significantly effective in immunotherapy of LUAD patients. This study has supplied a novel pyroptosis-related lncRNA signature and provided a predictive model for prognosis and immune response of LUAD patients.

IL-35 enhances angiogenic effects of small extracellular vesicles in breast cancer

As an indispensable process for breast cancer metastasis, tumour angiogenesis requires a tight interaction between cancer cells and endothelial cells in tumour microenvironment. Here, we explored the participation of small extracellular vesicles (sEVs) derived from breast cancer cells in modulating angiogenesis and investigated the effect of IL-35 in facilitating this process. Firstly, we characterized breast cancer cells-derived sEVs untreated or treated with IL-35 and visualized the internalization of these sEVs by human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs). Breast cancer cells-derived sEVs promoted endothelial cell proliferation through facilitating cell cycle progression and enhanced capillary-like structures formation and microvessel formation. Subsequent results proved that IL-35 further reinforced the angiogenic effect induced by breast cancer cells-derived sEVs. Moreover, sEVs from breast cancer cells significantly enhanced tumour growth and microvessel density in breast tumour-bearing mice model. Microarray analysis showed that IL-35 might alter the mRNA profiles of sEVs and activate the Ras/Raf/MEK/ERK signalling pathway. These findings demonstrated that IL-35 indirectly promoted angiogenesis in breast cancer through regulating the content of breast cancer cells-derived sEVs, which could be internalized by HUVECs.

LINC00941 promoted in vitro progression and glycolysis of laryngocarcinoma by upregulating PKM via activating the PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling pathway

Background

LINC00941 has been proved to be related to various tumors, but its relationship with laryngocarcinoma remains vague.

Methods

LINC00941 expression in laryngocarcinoma tumor and laryngocarcinoma cells was determined by real time‐quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT‐qPCR). Besides, the five‐year survival of laryngocarcinoma patients with different LINC00941 expression was analyzed with Kaplan–Meier survival analysis, and the clinical characteristics of laryngocarcinoma patients were also recorded. After transfection, cell viability, cell proliferation, apoptosis, cell cycle, migration, and invasion were detected by cell counting kit‐8 (CCK‐8), colony formation, flow cytometry, cell scratch, and Transwell assays, respectively. Glycolysis was assessed by the colorimetric method. Expressions of proliferation‐associated proteins, migration‐associated proteins, glycolysis‐associated proteins, and phosphatidylinositol 3‐kinase (PI3K)/AKT/mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) signal pathway‐associated proteins were detected by Western blot.

Results

In laryngocarcinoma tumor tissues and cells, LINC00941 was highly expressed. High expression of LINC00941 decreased the 5‐year survival of laryngocarcinoma patients, and it was positively related to lymph node metastasis and clinical stages. LINC00941 overexpression decreased apoptosis but promoted cell viability, proliferation, cell‐cycle progression, migration, and invasion, and glucose consumption and lactate production in laryngocarcinoma cells. Moreover, LINC00941 overexpression elevated expressions of Ki‐67, PCNA, MMP2, N‐Cadherin, HK2, PFKFB4, and PKM, activated the PI3K/AKT/mTOR signal pathway but reduced E‐Cadherin expression, while LINC00941 silencing had the opposite effects. PKM overexpression reversed the effects of LINC00941 silencing on cellular and glycolytic phenotypes.

Conclusion

LINC00941 promoted in vitro progression and glycolysis of laryngocarcinoma cells by upregulating PKM via activating the PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling pathway.

LIMK2 Is a Novel Prognostic Biomarker and Correlates With Tumor Immune Cell Infiltration in Lung Squamous Cell Carcinoma

Previous research found that LIM domain kinase 2 (LIMK2) expression correlated with a poor prognosis in many cancers. However, its role in lung squamous cell carcinoma (LUSC) has not yet been clarified. Our study aimed to clarify the role of LIMK2 in LUSC prognosis prediction and explore the relationship between LIMK2 and immune infiltration in LUSC. In this study, we first analyzed the expression level and prognostic value of LIMK2 across cancers. Subsequently, we explored the association of LIMK2 expression with immune infiltrating cells and immune checkpoints. our study found that LIMK2 was highly expressed and positively associated with the overall survival of LUSC. Moreover, our study further indicated that LIMK2 expression was significantly negatively correlated with immune cell infiltration and immune checkpoints in LUSC. Finally, we confirmed upstream regulatory noncoding RNAs (ncRNAs) of LIMK2, and the PVT1 and DHRS4-AS1/miR-423-5p/LIMK2 regulatory axes were successfully constructed in LUSC. Put together, LIMK2 is a novel prognostic biomarker and correlates with tumor immune cell infiltration in LUSC, and the expression of LIMK2 is regulated by the PVT1 and DHRS4-AS1/miR-423-5p axes.

Regulation of ROCK1/2 by long non-coding RNAs and circular RNAs in different cancer types

Recent breakthroughs in high-throughput technologies have enabled the development of a better understanding of the functionalities of rho-associated protein kinases (ROCKs) under various physiological and pathological conditions. Since their discovery in the late 1990s, ROCKs have attracted the attention of interdisciplinary researchers due to their ability to pleiotropically modulate a myriad of cellular mechanisms. A rapidly growing number of published studies have started to shed light on the mechanisms underlying the regulation of ROCK1 and ROCK2 via long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) and circular RNAs (circRNAs) in different types of cancer. Detailed analyses have suggested that lncRNAs may be characteristically divided into oncogenic and tumor suppressor lncRNAs. Several exciting recent discoveries have also indicated how different lncRNAs and circRNAs modulate ROCK1/2 and mediate multistep cancer onset and progression. The present review chronicles the major advances that have been made in our understanding of the regulatory role of ROCK1/2 in different types of cancer, and how wide-ranging lncRNAs and circRNAs potentiate ROCK-driven signaling by blocking the targeting activities of tumor suppressor microRNAs.

Long noncoding RNA LINC00857 promotes pancreatic cancer proliferation and metastasis by regulating the miR-130b/RHOA axis

Dysregulation of long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) is involved in the pathogenesis and progression of pancreatic cancer (PC). In the current study, we investigated the role and molecular mechanism of LINC00857 in PC. The expression of LINC00857 in PC was analyzed by bioinformatics analysis and qRT-PCR, and the relationship between LINC00857 expression and clinical characteristics of patients of PC was analyzed by Fisher's exact test. Gain- and loss-of-function assays were performed to determine the biological function of LINC00857 in PC. The relationship between LINC00857, miR-130b, and RHOA were determined by RNA pull-down assay, luciferase assay, and qRT-PCR. Our results demonstrated that LINC00857 expression was elevated in PC, and high expression of LINC00857 was positively associated with tumor diameter, T stage, and lymph node metastasis. LINC00857 promoted the proliferation and mobility of PC cells in vitro and in vivo. Mechanistically, LINC00857 acts as a sponge for miR-130b and decreases its expression. miR-130b exhibits tumor suppressor functions in PC, and RHOA was identified as the key target gene of miR-130b. The functions induced by LINC00857 in PC cells were dependent on the miR-130b/RHOA axis. In conclusion, the current study indicated that LINC00857 promotes PC tumorigenesis and metastasis by modulating the miR-130b/RHOA axis, implying that LINC00857 might be a new therapeutic target for PC.

Long Noncoding RNA: Shining Stars in the Immune Microenvironment of Gastric Cancer

Gastric cancer (GC) is a kind of malignant tumor disease that poses a serious threat to human health. The GC immune microenvironment (TIME) is a very complex tumor microenvironment, mainly composed of infiltrating immune cells, extracellular matrix, tumor-associated fibroblasts, cytokines and chemokines, all of which play a key role in inhibiting or promoting tumor development and affecting tumor prognosis. Long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) is a non-coding RNA with a transcript length is more than 200 nucleotides. LncRNAs are expressed in various infiltrating immune cells in TIME and are involved in innate and adaptive immune regulation, which is closely related to immune escape, migration and invasion of tumor cells. LncRNA-targeted therapeutic effect prediction for GC immunotherapy provides a new approach for clinical research on the disease.

An Effective Hypoxia-Related Long Non-Coding RNA Assessment Model for Prognosis of Lung Adenocarcinoma

Background: Lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) represents one of the highest incidence rates worldwide. Hypoxia is a significant biomarker associated with poor prognosis of LUAD. However, there are no definitive markers of hypoxia-related long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) in LUAD.

Methods: From The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) and the Molecular Signatures Database (MSigDB), we acquired the expression of hypoxia-related lncRNAs and corresponding clinical information of LUAD patients. The hypoxia-related prognostic model was constructed by univariable COX regression analysis, least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO), and multivariable Cox regression analysis. To assess the performance of the model, the Kaplan–Meier (KM) survival and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analyses were performed.

Results: We found seven lncRNAs, AC022613.1, AC026355.1, GSEC, LINC00941, NKILA, HSPC324, and MYO16-AS1, as biomarkers of the potential hypoxia-related prognostic signature. In the low-risk group, patients had a better overall survival (OS). In addition, the results of ROC analysis indicated that the risk score predicted LUAD prognosis exactly. Furthermore, combining the expression of lncRNAs with clinical features, two predictive nomograms were constructed, which could accurately predict OS and had high clinical application value.

Conclusion: In summary, the seven-lncRNA prognostic signature related to hypoxia might be useful in predicting clinical outcomes and provided new molecular targets for the research of LUAD patients.

Construction of a new immune-related lncRNA model and prediction of treatment and survival prognosis of human colon cancer

Background

An increasing number of studies have shown that immune-related long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) do not require a unique expression level. This finding may help predict the survival and drug sensitivity of patients with colon cancer.

Methods

We retrieved original transcriptome and clinical data from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA), sorted the data, differentiated mRNAs and lncRNAs, and then downloaded immune-related genes. Coexpression analysis predicted immune-related lncRNAs (irlncRNAs) and univariate analysis identified differentially expressed irlncRNAs (DEirlncRNAs). We have also amended the lasso pending region. Next, we compared the areas under the curve (AUCs), counted the Akaike information standard (AIC) value of the 3-year receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve, and determined the cutoff point to establish the best model to differentiate the high or low disease risk group of colon cancer patients.

Results

We reevaluated the patients regarding the survival rate, clinicopathological features, tumor-infiltrating immune cells, immunosuppressive biomarkers, and chemosensitivity. A total of 155 irlncRNA pairs were confirmed, 31 of which were involved in the Cox regression model. After the colon cancer patients were regrouped according to the cutoff point, we could better distinguish the patients based on adverse survival outcomes, invasive clinicopathological features, the specific tumor immune cell infiltration status, high expression of immunosuppressive biomarkers, and low chemosensitivity.

Conclusions

In this study, we established a characteristic model by pairing irlncRNAs to better predict the survival rate, chemotherapy efficacy, and prognostic value of patients with colon cancer.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12957-022-02508-2.

Analysis of Ferroptosis-Related LncRNAs Signatures Associated with Tumor Immune Infiltration and Experimental Validation in Clear Cell Renal Cell Carcinoma

Background

Clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC) is the most aggressive subtype of renal cell carcinoma. Ferroptosis is an iron-dependent programmed cell death. Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) emerge as a critical role in regulating cancer progression.

Objective

This study aimed to identify molecular regulation of ferroptosis-related lncRNAs (FRLs) in ccRCC.

Methods

The prognostic value of FRLs was investigated in ccRCC samples downloaded from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) and Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) dataset. The FRLs were screened out by Pearson correlation test. The 465 FRLs confirmed as potential prognostic factors through univariate Cox regression analysis were entered into Lasso and multivariate Cox regression to build a FRLs prognostic signature. A risk score based on the prognostic model divided ccRCC patients into low- and high-risk groups. A prognostic nomogram, derived from the prognostic signature and integrating clinical characteristics, was constructed. Gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA) revealed the immune- and tumor-associated pathways. Two distinct clusters were identified with different immune signatures through consensus clustering analysis. The prognostic value of some hub FRLs was externally validated via three GEO datasets (GSE46699, GSE53757 and GSE66272) and online databases. Finally, the three FRLs (LINC00460, LINC00941 and LINC02027) were verified through in vitro experiments.

Results

The FRLs prognostic signature, including 7 independent prognostic lncRNAs, exhibited good accuracy in predicting overall survival (OS) of ccRCC patients. This signature was correlated with immune infiltration and immune checkpoint blockade (ICB). We correlated two distinct clusters with immune infiltration signature of ccRCC. The worse prognosis of cluster 2 was probably mediated by immune evasion. We also found that the expression levels of LINC00460 and LINC00941 in ccRCC cell lines were higher than those in HK-2 cells, but LINC02027 showed the inverse trend.

Conclusion

Collectively, our study demonstrated a FRLs prognostic signature which had great clinical value in prognosis assessment.

Transforming Growth Factor-Beta-Regulated LncRNA-MUF Promotes Invasion by Modulating the miR-34a Snail1 Axis in Glioblastoma Multiforme

Transforming growth factor beta (TGF-β)-regulated long-non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) modulate several aspects of tumor development such as proliferation, invasion, metastasis, epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT), and drug resistance in various cancers, including Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM). We identified several novel differentially expressed lncRNAs upon TGF-β treatment in glioma cells using genome-wide microarray screening. We show that TGF-β induces lncRNA-MUF in glioma cells, and its expression is significantly upregulated in glioma tissues and is associated with poor overall survival of GBM patients. Knockdown of lncRNA-MUF reduces proliferation, migration, and invasion in glioma cells and sensitizes them to temozolomide (TMZ)-induced apoptosis. In addition, lncRNA-MUF downregulation impairs TGF-β-induced smad2/3 phosphorylation. In line with its role in regulating invasion, lncRNA-MUF functions as a competing endogenous RNA (ceRNA) for miR-34a and promotes Snail1 expression. Collectively, our findings suggest lncRNA-MUF as an attractive therapeutic target for GBM.

SLCO4A1-AS1 mediates pancreatic cancer development via miR-4673/KIF21B axis

In this study, we intended to figure out the biological significance of long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) solute carrier organic anion transporter family member 4A1 antisense RNA 1 (SLCO4A1-AS1) in pancreatic cancer (PC). Cell counting kit-8, colony formation, wound healing, transwell, and flow cytometry experiments were performed to reveal how SLCO4A1-AS1 influences PC cell proliferation, migration, invasion, and apoptosis. Thereafter, bioinformatics analysis, RNA immunoprecipitation assay, luciferase reporter assay, and RNA pull-down assay were applied for determining the binding sites and binding capacities between SLCO4A1-AS1 and miR-4673 or kinesin family member 21B (KIF21B) and miR-4673. The results depicted that SLCO4A1-AS1 was upregulated in PC, and SLCO4A1-AS1 knockdown suppressed PC cell growth, migration, invasion, and induced cell apoptosis. Furthermore, SLCO4A1-AS1 was verified to modulate the expression of KIF21B by binding with miR-4673. SLCO4A1-AS1 exerted an oncogenic function in PC. The overexpression of SLCO4A1-AS1 aggravated the malignant behaviors of PC via the upregulation of KIF21B by sponging miR-4673. Our findings revealed a novel molecular mechanism mediated by SLCO4A1-AS1, which might play a significant role in modulating the biological processes of PC.

LINC00857 promotes the proliferation of pancreatic cancer via MET, STAT3, and CREB

BACKGROUND

Long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) LINC00857 promotes cell proliferation in various cancers and is overexpressed in pancreatic cancer (PC). However, the role of LINC00857 in PC is yet to be clarified.

METHODS

In this study, we used Gene Expression Profiling Interactive Analysis (GEPIA) to investigate transcriptional data of LINC00857 in different cancers. We determined LINC00857 expression in 4 PC cell lines, and one normal pancreatic cell line by quantitative real-time reverse transcription PCR (qRT-PCR). small interfering RNA (siRNA) was employed to specifically knockdown LINC00857 in BxPc3 and PANC1 cells. Cell proliferation was evaluated using WST-1. Western blotting analysis was used to detect the expression levels of downstream proteins of LINC00857.

RESULTS

We revealed that the knockdown of LINC00857 in PC cell lines inhibited the proliferation of the PC cells. We found that LINC00857 downregulation was followed by the downregulation of oncogenic proteins mesenchymal-epithelial transition (MET), signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3), and cAMP response element-binding protein (CREB).

CONCLUSIONS

Our study indicated that LINC00857 regulated the expression of STAT3 and CREB via regulating the expression of MET, and consequently promoted the growth of PC cells. The results allowed us to deepen our understanding of the pathogenesis of PC and provided a potential target for the clinical treatment of PC.

Expression changes of serum LINC00941 and LINC00514 in HBV infection-related liver diseases and their potential application values

BACKGROUND

Long non-coding RNAs (LncRNAs) are considered as potential diagnostic markers for a variety of tumors. Here, we aimed to explore the changes of LINC00941 and LINC00514 expression in hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection-related liver disease and evaluate their application value in disease diagnosis.

METHODS

Serum levels of LINC00941 and LINC00514 were detected by qRT-PCR. Potential diagnostic values were evaluated by receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC) analysis.

RESULTS

Serum LINC00941 and LINC00514 levels were elevated in patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB), liver cirrhosis (LC), and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) compared with controls. When distinguishing HCC from controls, serum LINC00941 and LINC00514 had diagnostic parameters of an AUC of 0.919 and 0.808, sensitivity of 85% and 90%, and specificity of 86.67% and 56.67%, which were higher than parameters for alpha fetal protein (AFP) (all p < 0.0001). When distinguishing HCC from LC, CHB, or LC from controls, the combined detection of LINC00941 or LINC00514 can significantly improve the accuracy of AFP test alone (all p < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

LINC00941 and LINC00514 were increased in the serum of HBV infection-associated liver diseases and might be independent markers for the detection of liver diseases.

A Novel Pyroptosis-Related lncRNAs Signature for Predicting the Prognosis of Kidney Renal Clear Cell Carcinoma and Its Associations with Immunity

The most common kind of kidney cancer with poor prognosis is clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC). Pyroptosis is shown to be an inflammatory type of programmed cell death in recent years. In this research, we utilized pyroptosis-related differentially expressed lncRNAs in ccRCC to develop a predictive multi-lncRNA signature. We uncovered 14 lncRNAs with different expression patterns that were linked to ccRCC prognosis. Kaplan–Meier analysis identified a signature of high-risk lncRNAs related to poor prognosis for ccRCC. Furthermore, the AUC of the lncRNA signature was 0.771, indicating that they can be used to predict ccRCC prognosis. In predicting ccRCC prognosis, our risk analysis approach outperformed standard clinicopathological characteristics. In the low-risk group, GSEA indicated tumor-related pathways. T-cell functions such as T-cell coinhibition and T-cell costimulation were found to be expressed differently in two groups. Immune checkpoints including PD-1, LAG3, CTLA4, and BTLA were also differently expressed between the two groups. In patients with ccRCC, we created a 14-lncRNA-based predictor as a robust prognostic and predictive tool for OS.

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.

Analyzing the whole-transcriptome profiles of ncRNAs and predicting the competing endogenous RNA networks in cervical cancer cell lines with cisplatin resistance

Background

Cervical cancer (CC) is one of the most common malignant tumors in women. In order to identify the functional roles and the interaction between mRNA and non-coding RNA (ncRNA, including lncRNA, circRNA and miRNA) in CC cisplatin (DDP) resistance, the transcription profile analysis was performed and a RNA regulatory model of CC DDP resistance was proposed.

Methods

In this study, whole-transcriptome sequencing analysis was conducted to study the ncRNA and mRNA profiles of parental SiHa cells and DDP resistant SiHa/DDP cells. Gene ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) were performed for pathway analysis based on the selected genes with significant differences in expression. Subsequently, ceRNA network analyses were conducted using the drug resistance-related genes and signal-transduction pathways by Cytoscape software. Furthermore, a ceRNA regulatory pathway, namely lncRNA-AC010198.2/hsa-miR-34b-3p/STC2, was selected by RT-qPCR validation and literature searching. Further validation was done by both dual-luciferase reporter gene assays and RNA pull-down assays. Besides that, the changes in gene expression and biological function were further studied by performing si-AC010198.2 transfection and DDP resistance analyses in the SiHa and SiHa/DDP cells, respectively.

Results

Using bioinformatics and dual-luciferase reporter gene analyses, we found that AC010198.2/miR-34b-3p/STC2 may be a key pathway for DDP resistance in CC cells. Significant differences in both downstream gene expression and the biological function assays including colony formation, migration efficiency and cell apoptosis were identified in AC010198.2 knockdown cells.

Conclusions

Our study will not only provide new markers and potential mechanism models for CC DDP resistance, but also discover novel targets for attenuating it.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12935-021-02239-6.

A novel prognostic signature of immune-related lncRNA pairs in lung adenocarcinoma

Lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) is the most common subtype of lung cancer, but the prognosis of LUAD patients remains unsatisfactory. Here, we retrieved the RNA-seq data of LUAD cohort from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database and then identified differentially expressed immune-related lncRNAs (DEirlncRNAs) between LUAD and normal controls. Based on a new method of cyclically single pairing along with a 0-or-1 matrix, we constructed a novel prognostic signature of 8 DEirlncRNA pairs in LUAD with no dependence upon specific expression levels of lncRNAs. This prognostic model exhibited significant power in distinguishing good or poor prognosis of LUAD patients and the values of the area under the curve (AUC) were all over 0.70 in 1, 3, 5 years receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves. Moreover, the risk score of the model could serve as an independent prognostic factor for patients with LUAD. In addition, the risk model was significantly associated with clinicopathological characteristics, tumor-infiltrating immune cells, immune-related molecules and sensitivity of anti-tumor drugs. This novel signature of DEirlncRNA pairs in LUAD, which did not require specific expression levels of lncRNAs, might be used to guide the administration of patients with LUAD in clinical practice.

Keep your eyes peeled for long noncoding RNAs: Explaining their boundless role in cancer metastasis, drug resistance, and clinical application

Cancer metastasis and drug resistance are two major obstacles in the treatment of cancer and therefore, the leading cause of cancer-associated mortalities worldwide. Hence, an in-depth understanding of these processes and identification of the underlying key players could help design a better therapeutic regimen to treat cancer. Earlier thought to be merely transcriptional junk and having passive or secondary function, recent advances in the genomic research have unravelled that long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) play pivotal roles in diverse physiological as well as pathological processes including cancer metastasis and drug resistance. LncRNAs can regulate various steps of the complex metastatic cascade such as epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), invasion, migration and metastatic colonization, and also affect the sensitivity of cancer cells to various chemotherapeutic drugs. A substantial body of literature for more than a decade of research evince that lncRNAs can regulate gene expression at different levels such as epigenetic, transcriptional, posttranscriptional, translational and posttranslational levels, depending on their subcellular localization and through their ability to interact with DNA, RNA and proteins. In this review, we mainly focus on how lncRNAs affect cancer metastasis by modulating expression of key metastasis-associated genes at various levels of gene regulation. We also discuss how lncRNAs confer cancer cells either sensitivity or resistance to various chemo-therapeutic drugs via different mechanisms. Finally, we highlight the immense potential of lncRNAs as prognostic and diagnostic biomarkers as well as therapeutic targets in cancer.

Long Noncoding RNA AATBC Promotes the Proliferation and Migration of Prostate Cancer Cell Through miR-1245b-5p/CASK Axis

Introduction

Long noncoding RNAs (lncRANs) as suppressive or oncogenic genes have been substantiated in prostate cancer (PCa). In the current study, the role and molecular mechanism of lncRNA AATBC in the progression of PCa was evaluated.

Methods

LncRNA AATBC and miR-1245b-5p expression were evaluated using RT-qPCR. CCK-8, colony-formation, apoptosis and transwell assay were used to analyze the in vitro role. The xenograft model was used to explore the in vivo role. Bioinformatics analysis and a dual luciferase assay, RIP and RNA pull down were used to confirm the interaction between lncRNA AATBC and 1245b-5p, as well as 1245b-5p and CASK.

Results

Firstly, we certified that the expression of AATBC was augmented in PCa, and knockdown of AATBC could significantly inhibit the growth of PCa in vitro and in vivo. Mechanistically, our results manifested that AATBC could directly bind to miR-1245b-5p. In addition, miR-1245b-5p played cancer-suppressive role in PCa cells. Moreover, CASK was attested as the target of miR-1245b-5p, and CASK was demonstrated to exert as oncogene in the progression of PCa. Finally, rescue assays illustrated that miR-1245b-5p downregulation or CASK restoration could greatly resist the restrained effects of AATBC knockdown on PCa progression.

Conclusion

AATBC could accelerate the progression of PCa through regulating miR-1245b-5p/CASK axis, which provided a potential therapeutic target for PCa treatment.

Nujiangexanthone A Inhibits Hepatocellular Carcinoma Metastasis via Down Regulation of Cofilin 1

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the malignant tumors with poor prognosis. High expression level of cofilin 1 (CFL1) has been found in many types of cancers. However, the role of CFL1 in HCC hasn’t been known clearly. Here, we found that CFL1 was up regulated in human HCC and significantly associated with both overall survival and disease-free survival in HCC patients. Nujiangexanthone A (NJXA), the caged xanthones, isolated from gamboge plants decreased the expression of CFL1, which also inhibited the migration, invasion and metastasis of HCC cells in vitro and in vivo. Down regulation of CFL1 inhibited aggressiveness of HCC cells, which mimicked the effect of NJXA. Mechanism study indicated that, knockdown of CFL1 or treatment with NJXA increased the level of F-actin and disturbed the balance between F-actin and G-actin. In conclusion, our findings reveal the role of CFL1 in HCC metastasis through the CFL1/F-actin axis, and suggest that CFL1 may be a potential prognostic marker and a new therapeutic target. NJXA can effectively inhibit the metastasis of HCC cells by down regulating the expression of CFL1, which indicates the potential of NJXA for preventing metastasis in HCC.