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Guo C, Wang X, Ren H. Databases and computational methods for the identification of piRNA-related molecules: A survey. Comput Struct Biotechnol J 2024; 23:813-833. [PMID: 38328006 PMCID: PMC10847878 DOI: 10.1016/j.csbj.2024.01.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/11/2023] [Revised: 12/31/2023] [Accepted: 01/15/2024] [Indexed: 02/09/2024] Open
Abstract
Piwi-interacting RNAs (piRNAs) are a class of small non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) that plays important roles in many biological processes and major cancer diagnosis and treatment, thus becoming a hot research topic. This study aims to provide an in-depth review of computational piRNA-related research, including databases and computational models. Herein, we perform literature analysis and use comparative evaluation methods to summarize and analyze three aspects of computational piRNA-related research: (i) computational models for piRNA-related molecular identification tasks, (ii) computational models for piRNA-disease association prediction tasks, and (iii) computational resources and evaluation metrics for these tasks. This study shows that computational piRNA-related research has significantly progressed, exhibiting promising performance in recent years, whereas they also suffer from the emerging challenges of inconsistent naming systems and the lack of data. Different from other reviews on piRNA-related identification tasks that focus on the organization of datasets and computational methods, we pay more attention to the analysis of computational models, algorithms, and performances that aim to provide valuable references for computational piRNA-related identification tasks. This study will benefit the theoretical development and practical application of piRNAs by better understanding computational models and resources to investigate the biological functions and clinical implications of piRNA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chang Guo
- Laboratory of Language Engineering and Computing, Guangdong University of Foreign Studies, Guangzhou 510420, China
| | - Xiaoli Wang
- Institute of Reproductive Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430030, China
| | - Han Ren
- Laboratory of Language Engineering and Computing, Guangdong University of Foreign Studies, Guangzhou 510420, China
- Laboratory of Language and Artificial Intelligence, Guangdong University of Foreign Studies, Guangzhou 510420, China
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2
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Hu H, Lu J, Xu M, Wang J, Zhang Y, Yang S, Wang X, Wang M, Xie W, Xu W, Lu H. PiR-hsa-23533 promotes malignancy in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma via USP7. Transl Oncol 2024; 45:101990. [PMID: 38735270 PMCID: PMC11101942 DOI: 10.1016/j.tranon.2024.101990] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2024] [Revised: 04/17/2024] [Accepted: 05/06/2024] [Indexed: 05/14/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND With regard to head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC), its occurrence and advancement are controlled by genetic and epigenetic anomalies. PIWI-interacting RNAs (piRNAs) are recognized with significance in tumor, but the precise molecular mechanisms of piRNAs in HNSCC largely remain undisclosed. METHODS Differentially expressed piRNAs were identified by RNA sequencing. The expression of piR-hsa-23533 was evaluated using quantitative real-time PCR and RNA in situ hybridization. The impacts of piR-hsa-23533 on the proliferation and apoptosis of HNSCC cells were investigated by a series of in vitro and in vivo assays. RESULTS piR-hsa-23533 exhibits upregulation within HNSCC cells and tissues. Besides, piR-hsa-23533 overexpression promotes proliferation while inhibiting apoptosis in vitro and in vivo, while piR-hsa-23533 silencing has an opposite function. From the mechanistic perspective, piR-hsa-23533 can bind to Ubiquitin-specific protease 7 (USP7), as shown through RNA pull-down and RNA immunoprecipitation assays, promoting USP7 mRNA and protein expression. CONCLUSIONS These findings highlight the functional importance of piR-hsa-23533 in HNSCC and may assist in the development of anti-HNSCC therapeutic target.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hanlin Hu
- Department of Oncology, The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao, China
| | - Jingyu Lu
- Peking University Cancer Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Mingjin Xu
- Department of Oncology, The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao, China
| | - Jie Wang
- Department of Pharmacy, Qingdao Hiser Hospital, Qingdao, China
| | - Yeling Zhang
- Department of Oncology, The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao, China
| | - Shan Yang
- Department of Oncology, The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao, China
| | | | | | - Wenjie Xie
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, Linyi People's Hospital, Linyi, China
| | - Wenhua Xu
- Institute of Regenerative Medicine and Laboratory Technology Innovation, Qingdao University, Qingdao, China.
| | - Haijun Lu
- Department of Oncology, The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao, China.
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3
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Liu Z, Zhao X. piRNAs as emerging biomarkers and physiological regulatory molecules in cardiovascular disease. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 2024; 711:149906. [PMID: 38640879 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2024.149906] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/03/2024] [Revised: 04/01/2024] [Accepted: 04/05/2024] [Indexed: 04/21/2024]
Abstract
Cardiovascular diseases (CVD) represent one of the most considerable global health threats, owing to their high incidence and mortality rates. Despite the ongoing advancements in detection, prevention, treatment, and prognosis of CVD, which have resulted in a decline in both incidence and mortality rates, CVD remains a major public health concern. Therefore, novel diagnostic biomarkers and therapeutic interventions are imperative to minimise the risk of CVD. Non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) have recently gained increasing attention, with PIWI-interacting RNAs (piRNAs) emerging as a class of small ncRNAs traditionally recognised for their role in silencing transposons within cells. Although the functional roles of PIWI proteins and piRNAs in human cells remain unclear, growing evidence suggests that these molecules are gradually becoming valuable biomarkers for the diagnosis and treatment of CVD. This review provides a comprehensive summary of the latest studies on piRNAs in CVD. This review discusses the roles of piRNAs in various cardiovascular subtypes, including myocardial hypertrophy, heart failure, myocardial infarction, and cardiac regeneration. The perceived insights may contribute novel perspectives for the diagnosis and treatment of CVD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhihua Liu
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Center for Precision Medicine, Kunming YanAn Hospital & Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming, China; Department of Biostatistics and Computational Biology, Bayer HealthCare, Harvard University, Boston, MA, USA.
| | - Xi Zhao
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Center for Precision Medicine, Kunming YanAn Hospital & Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming, China
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4
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He J, Kang L. Regulation of insect behavior by non-coding RNAs. SCIENCE CHINA. LIFE SCIENCES 2024; 67:1106-1118. [PMID: 38443665 DOI: 10.1007/s11427-023-2482-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2023] [Accepted: 10/26/2023] [Indexed: 03/07/2024]
Abstract
The adaptation of insects to environments relies on a sophisticated set of behaviors controlled by molecular and physiological processes. Over the past several decades, accumulating studies have unveiled the roles of non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) in regulating insect behaviors. ncRNAs assume particularly pivotal roles in the behavioral plasticity of insects by rapidly responding to environmental stimuli. ncRNAs also contribute to the maintenance of homeostasis of insects by fine-tuning the expression of target genes. However, a comprehensive review of ncRNAs' roles in regulating insect behaviors has yet to be conducted. Here, we present the recent progress in our understanding of how ncRNAs regulate various insect behaviors, including flight and movement, social behavior, reproduction, learning and memory, and feeding. We refine the intricate mechanisms by which ncRNAs modulate the function of neural, motor, reproductive, and other physiological systems, as well as gene expression in insects like fruit flies, social insects, locusts, and mosquitos. Furthermore, we discuss potential avenues for future studies in ncRNA-mediated insect behaviors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jing He
- State Key Laboratory of Integrated Management of Pest Insects and Rodents, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100101, China
| | - Le Kang
- State Key Laboratory of Integrated Management of Pest Insects and Rodents, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100101, China.
- Beijing Institutes of Life Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100101, China.
- College of Life Science, Hebei University, Baoding, 071002, China.
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5
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Blumenstiel JP. From the cauldron of conflict: Endogenous gene regulation by piRNA and other modes of adaptation enabled by selfish transposable elements. Semin Cell Dev Biol 2024; 164:1-12. [PMID: 38823219 DOI: 10.1016/j.semcdb.2024.05.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/10/2023] [Revised: 04/28/2024] [Accepted: 05/06/2024] [Indexed: 06/03/2024]
Abstract
Transposable elements (TEs) provide a prime example of genetic conflict because they can proliferate in genomes and populations even if they harm the host. However, numerous studies have shown that TEs, though typically harmful, can also provide fuel for adaptation. This is because they code functional sequences that can be useful for the host in which they reside. In this review, I summarize the "how" and "why" of adaptation enabled by the genetic conflict between TEs and hosts. In addition, focusing on mechanisms of TE control by small piwi-interacting RNAs (piRNAs), I highlight an indirect form of adaptation enabled by conflict. In this case, mechanisms of host defense that regulate TEs have been redeployed for endogenous gene regulation. I propose that the genetic conflict released by meiosis in early eukaryotes may have been important because, among other reasons, it spurred evolutionary innovation on multiple interwoven trajectories - on the part of hosts and also embedded genetic parasites. This form of evolution may function as a complexity generating engine that was a critical player in eukaryotic evolution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Justin P Blumenstiel
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Kansas, 1200 Sunnyside Avenue, Lawrence, KS 66045, United States.
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6
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Han R, Rao X, Zhou H, Lu L. Synergistic Immunoregulation: harnessing CircRNAs and PiRNAs to Amplify PD-1/PD-L1 Inhibition Therapy. Int J Nanomedicine 2024; 19:4803-4834. [PMID: 38828205 PMCID: PMC11144010 DOI: 10.2147/ijn.s461289] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/24/2024] [Accepted: 05/12/2024] [Indexed: 06/05/2024] Open
Abstract
The utilization of PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitors marks a significant advancement in cancer therapy. However, the efficacy of monotherapy is still disappointing in a substantial subset of patients, necessitating the exploration of combinational strategies. Emerging from the promising results of the KEYNOTE-942 trial, RNA-based therapies, particularly circRNAs and piRNAs, have distinguished themselves as innovative sensitizers to immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs). These non-coding RNAs, notable for their stability and specificity, were once underrecognized but are now known for their crucial roles in regulating PD-L1 expression and bolstering anti-cancer immunity. Our manuscript offers a comprehensive analysis of selected circRNAs and piRNAs, elucidating their immunomodulatory effects and mechanisms, thus underscoring their potential as ICIs enhancers. In conjunction with the recent Nobel Prize-awarded advancements in mRNA vaccine technology, our review highlights the transformative implications of these findings for cancer treatment. We also discuss the prospects of circRNAs and piRNAs in future therapeutic applications and research. This study pioneers the synergistic application of circRNAs and piRNAs as novel sensitizers to augment PD-1/PD-L1 inhibition therapy, demonstrating their unique roles in regulating PD-L1 expression and modulating immune responses. Our findings offer a groundbreaking approach for enhancing the efficacy of cancer immunotherapy, opening new avenues for treatment strategies. This abstract aims to encapsulate the essence of our research and the burgeoning role of these non-coding RNAs in enhancing PD-1/PD-L1 inhibition therapy, encouraging further investigation into this promising field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rui Han
- Department of Chinese Medicine Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Naval Medical University, Shanghai, People’s Republic of China
- Department of Chinese Medicine, Naval Medical University, Shanghai, People’s Republic of China
| | - Xiwu Rao
- Department of Oncology, The First Hospital Affiliated to Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, Guangdong, People’s Republic of China
| | - Huiling Zhou
- Department of Oncology, Yueyang Hospital of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Shanghai, People’s Republic of China
| | - Lingeng Lu
- Department of Chronic Disease Epidemiology, Yale School of Public Health, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA
- School of Medicine, Center for Biomedical Data Science, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA
- Yale Cancer Center, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA
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Han Y, Pu Q, Fan T, Wei T, Xu Y, Zhao L, Liu S. Long non-coding RNAs as promising targets for controlling disease vector mosquitoes. INSECT SCIENCE 2024. [PMID: 38783627 DOI: 10.1111/1744-7917.13383] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/09/2024] [Revised: 04/10/2024] [Accepted: 04/16/2024] [Indexed: 05/25/2024]
Abstract
Hematophagous female mosquitoes are important vectors of numerous devastating human diseases, posing a major public health threat. Effective prevention and control of mosquito-borne diseases rely considerably on progress in understanding the molecular mechanisms of various life activities, and accordingly, the molecules that regulate the various life activities of mosquitoes are potential targets for implementing future vector control strategies. Many long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) have been identified in mosquitoes and significant progress has been made in determining their functions. Here, we present a comprehensive overview of the research advances on mosquito lncRNAs, including their molecular identification, function, and interaction with other non-coding RNAs, as well as their synergistic regulatory roles in mosquito life activities. We also highlight the potential roles of competitive endogenous RNAs in mosquito growth and development, as well as in insecticide resistance and virus-host interactions. Insights into the biological functions and mechanisms of lncRNAs in mosquito life activities, viral replication, pathogenesis, and transmission will contribute to the development of novel drugs and safe vaccines.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yujiao Han
- State Key Laboratory of Resource Insects, Southwest University, Chongqing, 400716, China
| | - Qian Pu
- State Key Laboratory of Resource Insects, Southwest University, Chongqing, 400716, China
| | - Ting Fan
- State Key Laboratory of Resource Insects, Southwest University, Chongqing, 400716, China
| | - Tianqi Wei
- State Key Laboratory of Resource Insects, Southwest University, Chongqing, 400716, China
| | - Yankun Xu
- State Key Laboratory of Resource Insects, Southwest University, Chongqing, 400716, China
| | - Lu Zhao
- State Key Laboratory of Resource Insects, Southwest University, Chongqing, 400716, China
| | - Shiping Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Resource Insects, Southwest University, Chongqing, 400716, China
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Shen Z, Naveed M, Bao J. Untacking small RNA profiling and RNA fragment footprinting: Approaches and challenges in library construction. WILEY INTERDISCIPLINARY REVIEWS. RNA 2024; 15:e1852. [PMID: 38715192 DOI: 10.1002/wrna.1852] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/21/2024] [Revised: 04/09/2024] [Accepted: 04/10/2024] [Indexed: 06/06/2024]
Abstract
Small RNAs (sRNAs) with sizes ranging from 15 to 50 nucleotides (nt) are critical regulators of gene expression control. Prior studies have shown that sRNAs are involved in a broad range of biological processes, such as organ development, tumorigenesis, and epigenomic regulation; however, emerging evidence unveils a hidden layer of diversity and complexity of endogenously encoded sRNAs profile in eukaryotic organisms, including novel types of sRNAs and the previously unknown post-transcriptional RNA modifications. This underscores the importance for accurate, unbiased detection of sRNAs in various cellular contexts. A multitude of high-throughput methods based on next-generation sequencing (NGS) are developed to decipher the sRNA expression and their modifications. Nonetheless, distinct from mRNA sequencing, the data from sRNA sequencing suffer frequent inconsistencies and high variations emanating from the adapter contaminations and RNA modifications, which overall skew the sRNA libraries. Here, we summarize the sRNA-sequencing approaches, and discuss the considerations and challenges for the strategies and methods of sRNA library construction. The pros and cons of sRNA sequencing have significant implications for implementing RNA fragment footprinting approaches, including CLIP-seq and Ribo-seq. We envision that this review can inspire novel improvements in small RNA sequencing and RNA fragment footprinting in future. This article is categorized under: RNA Evolution and Genomics > Computational Analyses of RNA RNA Processing > Processing of Small RNAs Regulatory RNAs/RNAi/Riboswitches > Biogenesis of Effector Small RNAs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhaokang Shen
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Center for Reproduction and Genetics, The First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, Center for Advanced Interdisciplinary Science and Biomedicine of IHM, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui, China
- Hefei National Laboratory for Physical Sciences at Microscale, Biomedical Sciences and Health Laboratory of Anhui Province, University of Science and Technology of China (USTC), Hefei, Anhui, China
| | - Muhammad Naveed
- Hefei National Laboratory for Physical Sciences at Microscale, Biomedical Sciences and Health Laboratory of Anhui Province, University of Science and Technology of China (USTC), Hefei, Anhui, China
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Center for Reproduction and Genetics, The First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui, China
| | - Jianqiang Bao
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Center for Reproduction and Genetics, The First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, Center for Advanced Interdisciplinary Science and Biomedicine of IHM, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui, China
- Hefei National Laboratory for Physical Sciences at Microscale, Biomedical Sciences and Health Laboratory of Anhui Province, University of Science and Technology of China (USTC), Hefei, Anhui, China
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9
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Chen B, Shi B, Zhou Z, Cui Y, Zeng G, Cheng L, Zhang X, Luo K, Li C, Zhu Z, Zhang Z, Zheng J, He X. Targeting a cardiac abundant and fibroblasts-specific piRNA (CFRPi) to attenuate and reverse cardiac fibrosis in pressure-overloaded heart failure. Transl Res 2024; 267:10-24. [PMID: 38302394 DOI: 10.1016/j.trsl.2024.01.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/10/2023] [Revised: 01/15/2024] [Accepted: 01/17/2024] [Indexed: 02/03/2024]
Abstract
Cardiac fibrosis under chronic pressure overload is an end-stage adverse remodeling of heart. However, current heart failure treatments barely focus on anti-fibrosis and the effects are limited. We aimed to seek for a cardiac abundant and cardiac fibrosis specific piRNA, exploring its underlying mechanism and therapeutic potential. Whole transcriptome sequencing and the following verification experiments identified a highly upregulated piRNA (piRNA-000691) in transverse aortic constriction (TAC) mice, TAC pig, and heart failure human samples, which was abundant in heart and specifically expressed in cardiac fibroblasts. CFRPi was gradually increased along with the progression of heart failure, which was illustrated to promote cardiac fibrosis by gain- and loss-of-function experiments in vitro and in vivo. Knockdown of CFRPi in mice alleviated cardiac fibrosis, reversed decline of systolic and diastolic functions from TAC 6 weeks to 8 weeks. Mechanistically, CFRPi inhibited APLN, a protective peptide that increased in early response and became exhausted at late stage. Knockdown of APLN in vitro notably aggravated cardiac fibroblasts activation and proliferation. In vitro and in vivo evidence both indicated Pi3k-AKT-mTOR as the downstream effector pathway of CFRPi-APLN interaction. Collectively, we here identified CFPPi as a heart abundant and cardiac fibrosis specific piRNA. Targeting CFRPi resulted in a sustainable increase of APLN and showed promising therapeutical prospect to alleviate fibrosis, rescue late-stage cardiac dysfunction, and prevent heart failure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bo Chen
- Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Shanghai Children's Medical Center, National Children's Medical Center, Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine; 1678 Dongfang Road, Shanghai 200127, China
| | - Bozhong Shi
- Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Shanghai Children's Medical Center, National Children's Medical Center, Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine; 1678 Dongfang Road, Shanghai 200127, China
| | - Zijie Zhou
- Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Shanghai Children's Medical Center, National Children's Medical Center, Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine; 1678 Dongfang Road, Shanghai 200127, China
| | - Yue Cui
- Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Shanghai Children's Medical Center, National Children's Medical Center, Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine; 1678 Dongfang Road, Shanghai 200127, China
| | - Guowei Zeng
- Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Shanghai Children's Medical Center, National Children's Medical Center, Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine; 1678 Dongfang Road, Shanghai 200127, China
| | - Lingyan Cheng
- Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Shanghai Children's Medical Center, National Children's Medical Center, Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine; 1678 Dongfang Road, Shanghai 200127, China
| | - Xiaoyang Zhang
- Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Shanghai Children's Medical Center, National Children's Medical Center, Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine; 1678 Dongfang Road, Shanghai 200127, China
| | - Kai Luo
- Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Shanghai Children's Medical Center, National Children's Medical Center, Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine; 1678 Dongfang Road, Shanghai 200127, China
| | - Cong Li
- Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Shanghai Children's Medical Center, National Children's Medical Center, Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine; 1678 Dongfang Road, Shanghai 200127, China
| | - Zhongqun Zhu
- Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Shanghai Children's Medical Center, National Children's Medical Center, Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine; 1678 Dongfang Road, Shanghai 200127, China; Shanghai Institute of Pediatric Congenital Heart Disease, Shanghai Children's Medical Center, National Children's Medical Center, Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine; 1678 Dongfang Road, Shanghai 200127, China
| | - Zhifang Zhang
- Department of Cardiology, Shanghai Children's Medical Center, National Children's Medical Center, Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine; 1678 Dongfang Road, Shanghai 200127, China.
| | - Jinghao Zheng
- Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Shanghai Children's Medical Center, National Children's Medical Center, Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine; 1678 Dongfang Road, Shanghai 200127, China; Shanghai Institute of Pediatric Congenital Heart Disease, Shanghai Children's Medical Center, National Children's Medical Center, Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine; 1678 Dongfang Road, Shanghai 200127, China.
| | - Xiaomin He
- Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Shanghai Children's Medical Center, National Children's Medical Center, Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine; 1678 Dongfang Road, Shanghai 200127, China; Shanghai Institute of Pediatric Congenital Heart Disease, Shanghai Children's Medical Center, National Children's Medical Center, Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine; 1678 Dongfang Road, Shanghai 200127, China.
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Trnkova L, Buocikova V, Mego M, Cumova A, Burikova M, Bohac M, Miklikova S, Cihova M, Smolkova B. Epigenetic deregulation in breast cancer microenvironment: Implications for tumor progression and therapeutic strategies. Biomed Pharmacother 2024; 174:116559. [PMID: 38603889 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopha.2024.116559] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2023] [Revised: 03/27/2024] [Accepted: 04/04/2024] [Indexed: 04/13/2024] Open
Abstract
Breast cancer comprises a substantial proportion of cancer diagnoses in women and is a primary cause of cancer-related mortality. While hormone-responsive cases generally have a favorable prognosis, the aggressive nature of triple-negative breast cancer presents challenges, with intrinsic resistance to established treatments being a persistent issue. The complexity intensifies with the emergence of acquired resistance, further complicating the management of breast cancer. Epigenetic changes, encompassing DNA methylation, histone and RNA modifications, and non-coding RNAs, are acknowledged as crucial contributors to the heterogeneity of breast cancer. The unique epigenetic landscape harbored by each cellular component within the tumor microenvironment (TME) adds great diversity to the intricate regulations which influence therapeutic responses. The TME, a sophisticated ecosystem of cellular and non-cellular elements interacting with tumor cells, establishes an immunosuppressive microenvironment and fuels processes such as tumor growth, angiogenesis, and extracellular matrix remodeling. These factors contribute to challenging conditions in cancer treatment by fostering a hypoxic environment, inducing metabolic stress, and creating physical barriers to drug delivery. This article delves into the complex connections between breast cancer treatment response, underlying epigenetic changes, and vital interactions within the TME. To restore sensitivity to treatment, it emphasizes the need for combination therapies considering epigenetic changes specific to individual members of the TME. Recognizing the pivotal role of epigenetics in drug resistance and comprehending the specificities of breast TME is essential for devising more effective therapeutic strategies. The development of reliable biomarkers for patient stratification will facilitate tailored and precise treatment approaches.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lenka Trnkova
- Cancer Research Institute, Biomedical Research Center of the Slovak Academy of Sciences, Dubravska cesta 9, Bratislava 845 05, Slovakia
| | - Verona Buocikova
- Cancer Research Institute, Biomedical Research Center of the Slovak Academy of Sciences, Dubravska cesta 9, Bratislava 845 05, Slovakia
| | - Michal Mego
- Cancer Research Institute, Biomedical Research Center of the Slovak Academy of Sciences, Dubravska cesta 9, Bratislava 845 05, Slovakia; 2nd Department of Oncology, Comenius University, Faculty of Medicine & National Cancer Institute, Bratislava 83310, Slovakia
| | - Andrea Cumova
- Cancer Research Institute, Biomedical Research Center of the Slovak Academy of Sciences, Dubravska cesta 9, Bratislava 845 05, Slovakia
| | - Monika Burikova
- Cancer Research Institute, Biomedical Research Center of the Slovak Academy of Sciences, Dubravska cesta 9, Bratislava 845 05, Slovakia
| | - Martin Bohac
- 2nd Department of Oncology, Comenius University, Faculty of Medicine & National Cancer Institute, Bratislava 83310, Slovakia; Regenmed Ltd., Medena 29, Bratislava 811 01, Slovakia; Institute of Medical Biology, Genetics and Clinical Genetics, Faculty of Medicine, Comenius University, Sasinkova 4, Bratislava 811 08, Slovakia
| | - Svetlana Miklikova
- Cancer Research Institute, Biomedical Research Center of the Slovak Academy of Sciences, Dubravska cesta 9, Bratislava 845 05, Slovakia
| | - Marina Cihova
- Cancer Research Institute, Biomedical Research Center of the Slovak Academy of Sciences, Dubravska cesta 9, Bratislava 845 05, Slovakia
| | - Bozena Smolkova
- Cancer Research Institute, Biomedical Research Center of the Slovak Academy of Sciences, Dubravska cesta 9, Bratislava 845 05, Slovakia.
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11
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Izumi N, Shoji K, Negishi L, Tomari Y. The dual role of Spn-E in supporting heterotypic ping-pong piRNA amplification in silkworms. EMBO Rep 2024; 25:2239-2257. [PMID: 38632376 PMCID: PMC11094040 DOI: 10.1038/s44319-024-00137-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/19/2024] [Revised: 03/31/2024] [Accepted: 04/04/2024] [Indexed: 04/19/2024] Open
Abstract
The PIWI-interacting RNA (piRNA) pathway plays a crucial role in silencing transposons in the germline. piRNA-guided target cleavage by PIWI proteins triggers the biogenesis of new piRNAs from the cleaved RNA fragments. This process, known as the ping-pong cycle, is mediated by the two PIWI proteins, Siwi and BmAgo3, in silkworms. However, the detailed molecular mechanism of the ping-pong cycle remains largely unclear. Here, we show that Spindle-E (Spn-E), a putative ATP-dependent RNA helicase, is essential for BmAgo3-dependent production of Siwi-bound piRNAs in the ping-pong cycle and that this function of Spn-E requires its ATPase activity. Moreover, Spn-E acts to suppress homotypic Siwi-Siwi ping-pong, but this function of Spn-E is independent of its ATPase activity. These results highlight the dual role of Spn-E in facilitating proper heterotypic ping-pong in silkworms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Natsuko Izumi
- Laboratory of RNA Function, Institute for Quantitative Biosciences, The University of Tokyo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, 113-0032, Japan
| | - Keisuke Shoji
- Laboratory of RNA Function, Institute for Quantitative Biosciences, The University of Tokyo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, 113-0032, Japan
- Department of Computational Biology and Medical Sciences, Graduate School of Frontier Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, 113-0032, Japan
- Graduate School of Bio-Applications and Systems Engineering, Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology, Koganei-shi, Tokyo, 184-8588, Japan
| | - Lumi Negishi
- Laboratory of Chromatin Structure and Function, Institute for Quantitative Biosciences, The University of Tokyo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, 113-0032, Japan
| | - Yukihide Tomari
- Laboratory of RNA Function, Institute for Quantitative Biosciences, The University of Tokyo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, 113-0032, Japan.
- Department of Computational Biology and Medical Sciences, Graduate School of Frontier Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, 113-0032, Japan.
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12
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Lei Q, Du C, Ma Y, Shou Y, Chen L, Feng C, Zheng Y, Yu D, Jin Y. Identifying piRNAs that regulate BaP-induced lung injuries: A bottom-up approach from toxicity pathway investigation to animal validation. ECOTOXICOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL SAFETY 2024; 277:116330. [PMID: 38636406 DOI: 10.1016/j.ecoenv.2024.116330] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2023] [Revised: 03/18/2024] [Accepted: 04/12/2024] [Indexed: 04/20/2024]
Abstract
PIWI-interacting RNAs (piRNAs) is an emerging class of small non-coding RNAs that has been recently reported to have functions in infertility, tumorigenesis, and multiple diseases in humans. Previously, 5 toxicity pathways were proposed from hundreds of toxicological studies that underlie BaP-induced lung injuries, and a "Bottom-up" approach was established to identify small non-coding RNAs that drive BaP-induced pulmonary effects by investigating the activation of these pathways in vitro, and the expression of the candidate microRNAs were validated in tissues of patients with lung diseases from publications. Here in this study, we employed the "Bottom-up" approach to identifying the roles of piRNAs and further validated the mechanisms in vivo using mouse acute lung injury model. Specifically, by non-coding RNA profiling in in vitro BaP exposure, a total of 3 suppressed piRNAs that regulate 5 toxicity pathways were proposed, including piR-004153 targeting CYP1A1, FGFR1, ITGA5, IL6R, NGRF, and SDHA, piR-020326 targeting CDK6, and piR-020388 targeting RASD1. Animal experiments demonstrated that tail vein injection of respective formulated agomir-piRNAs prior to BaP exposure could all alleviate acute lung injury that was shown by histopathological and biochemical evidences. Immunohistochemical evaluation focusing on NF-kB and Bcl-2 levels showed that exogenous piRNAs protect against BaP-induced inflammation and apoptosis, which further support that the inhibition of the 3 piRNAs had an important impact on BaP-induced lung injuries. This mechanism-driven, endpoint-supported result once again confirmed the plausibility and efficiency of the approach integrating in silico, in vitro, and in vivo evidences for the purpose of identifying key molecules.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qinkai Lei
- School of Public Health, Qingdao University, Qingdao, China
| | - Chenlong Du
- School of Public Health, Qingdao University, Qingdao, China
| | - Yumei Ma
- School of Public Health, Qingdao University, Qingdao, China
| | - Yingqing Shou
- School of Public Health, Qingdao University, Qingdao, China
| | - Li Chen
- School of Public Health, Qingdao University, Qingdao, China
| | - Chiyuan Feng
- School of Public Health, Qingdao University, Qingdao, China
| | - Yuxin Zheng
- School of Public Health, Qingdao University, Qingdao, China
| | - Dianke Yu
- School of Public Health, Qingdao University, Qingdao, China
| | - Yuan Jin
- School of Public Health, Qingdao University, Qingdao, China.
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13
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Almeida MV, Blumer M, Yuan CU, Sierra P, Price JL, Quah FX, Friman A, Dallaire A, Vernaz G, Putman ALK, Smith AM, Joyce DA, Butter F, Haase AD, Durbin R, Santos ME, Miska EA. Dynamic co-evolution of transposable elements and the piRNA pathway in African cichlid fishes. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.04.01.587621. [PMID: 38617250 PMCID: PMC11014572 DOI: 10.1101/2024.04.01.587621] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/16/2024]
Abstract
East African cichlid fishes have diversified in an explosive fashion, but the (epi)genetic basis of the phenotypic diversity of these fishes remains largely unknown. Although transposable elements (TEs) have been associated with phenotypic variation in cichlids, little is known about their transcriptional activity and epigenetic silencing. Here, we describe dynamic patterns of TE expression in African cichlid gonads and during early development. Orthology inference revealed an expansion of piwil1 genes in Lake Malawi cichlids, likely driven by PiggyBac TEs. The expanded piwil1 copies have signatures of positive selection and retain amino acid residues essential for catalytic activity. Furthermore, the gonads of African cichlids express a Piwi-interacting RNA (piRNA) pathway that target TEs. We define the genomic sites of piRNA production in African cichlids and find divergence in closely related species, in line with fast evolution of piRNA-producing loci. Our findings suggest dynamic co-evolution of TEs and host silencing pathways in the African cichlid radiations. We propose that this co-evolution has contributed to cichlid genomic diversity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Miguel Vasconcelos Almeida
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Cambridge, Tennis Court Road, Cambridge, CB2 1GA, UK
- Wellcome/CRUK Gurdon Institute, University of Cambridge, Tennis Court Road, Cambridge, CB2 1QN, UK
| | - Moritz Blumer
- Department of Genetics, University of Cambridge, Downing Street, Cambridge, CB2 3EH, UK
- These authors contributed equally
| | - Chengwei Ulrika Yuan
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Cambridge, Tennis Court Road, Cambridge, CB2 1GA, UK
- Wellcome/CRUK Gurdon Institute, University of Cambridge, Tennis Court Road, Cambridge, CB2 1QN, UK
- Department of Genetics, University of Cambridge, Downing Street, Cambridge, CB2 3EH, UK
- These authors contributed equally
| | - Pío Sierra
- Department of Genetics, University of Cambridge, Downing Street, Cambridge, CB2 3EH, UK
| | - Jonathan L. Price
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Cambridge, Tennis Court Road, Cambridge, CB2 1GA, UK
- Wellcome/CRUK Gurdon Institute, University of Cambridge, Tennis Court Road, Cambridge, CB2 1QN, UK
| | - Fu Xiang Quah
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Cambridge, Tennis Court Road, Cambridge, CB2 1GA, UK
- Department of Genetics, University of Cambridge, Downing Street, Cambridge, CB2 3EH, UK
| | - Aleksandr Friman
- National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
- Biophysics Graduate Program, Institute for Physical Science and Technology, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland 20742, USA
| | - Alexandra Dallaire
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Cambridge, Tennis Court Road, Cambridge, CB2 1GA, UK
- Wellcome/CRUK Gurdon Institute, University of Cambridge, Tennis Court Road, Cambridge, CB2 1QN, UK
- Comparative Fungal Biology, Royal Botanic Gardens Kew, Jodrell Laboratory, Richmond TW9 3DS, UK
| | - Grégoire Vernaz
- Wellcome/CRUK Gurdon Institute, University of Cambridge, Tennis Court Road, Cambridge, CB2 1QN, UK
- Department of Genetics, University of Cambridge, Downing Street, Cambridge, CB2 3EH, UK
- Present address: Zoological Institute, Department of Environmental Sciences, University of Basel, Vesalgasse 1, Basel, 4051, Switzerland
| | - Audrey L. K. Putman
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Cambridge, Tennis Court Road, Cambridge, CB2 1GA, UK
- Wellcome/CRUK Gurdon Institute, University of Cambridge, Tennis Court Road, Cambridge, CB2 1QN, UK
- Department of Genetics, University of Cambridge, Downing Street, Cambridge, CB2 3EH, UK
| | - Alan M. Smith
- School of Natural Sciences, University of Hull, Hull, HU6 7RX, UK
| | - Domino A. Joyce
- School of Natural Sciences, University of Hull, Hull, HU6 7RX, UK
| | - Falk Butter
- Institute of Molecular Biology (IMB), Quantitative Proteomics, Ackermannweg 4, Mainz, 55128, Germany
- Institute of Molecular Virology and Cell Biology, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institute, Südufer, Greifswald, 17493, Germany
| | - Astrid D. Haase
- National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Richard Durbin
- Department of Genetics, University of Cambridge, Downing Street, Cambridge, CB2 3EH, UK
- Wellcome Sanger Institute, Tree of Life, Wellcome Genome Campus, Hinxton, CB10 1SA, UK
| | - M. Emília Santos
- Department of Zoology, University of Cambridge, Downing Street, Cambridge, CB2 3EJ, UK
| | - Eric A. Miska
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Cambridge, Tennis Court Road, Cambridge, CB2 1GA, UK
- Wellcome/CRUK Gurdon Institute, University of Cambridge, Tennis Court Road, Cambridge, CB2 1QN, UK
- Wellcome Sanger Institute, Tree of Life, Wellcome Genome Campus, Hinxton, CB10 1SA, UK
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14
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Deng X, Liao T, Xie J, Kang D, He Y, Sun Y, Wang Z, Jiang Y, Miao X, Yan Y, Tang H, Zhu L, Zou Y, Liu P. The burgeoning importance of PIWI-interacting RNAs in cancer progression. SCIENCE CHINA. LIFE SCIENCES 2024; 67:653-662. [PMID: 38198029 DOI: 10.1007/s11427-023-2491-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2023] [Accepted: 11/13/2023] [Indexed: 01/11/2024]
Abstract
PIWI-interacting RNAs (piRNAs) are a class of small noncoding RNA molecules that specifically bind to piwi protein family members to exert regulatory functions in germ cells. Recent studies have found that piRNAs, as tissue-specific molecules, both play oncogenic and tumor suppressive roles in cancer progression, including cancer cell proliferation, metastasis, chemoresistance and stemness. Additionally, the atypical manifestation of piRNAs and PIWI proteins in various malignancies presents a promising strategy for the identification of novel biomarkers and therapeutic targets in the diagnosis and management of tumors. Nonetheless, the precise functions of piRNAs in cancer progression and their underlying mechanisms have yet to be fully comprehended. This review aims to examine current research on the biogenesis and functions of piRNA and its burgeoning importance in cancer progression, thereby offering novel perspectives on the potential utilization of piRNAs and piwi proteins in the management and treatment of advanced cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xinpei Deng
- State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Guangdong Provincial Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou, 510060, China
| | - Tianle Liao
- School of Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University, Shenzhen, 518107, China
| | - Jindong Xie
- State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Guangdong Provincial Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou, 510060, China
| | - Da Kang
- State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Guangdong Provincial Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou, 510060, China
| | - Yiwei He
- Key Laboratory of Cardiovascular and Cerebrovascular Medicine, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 211166, China
| | - Yuying Sun
- State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Guangdong Provincial Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou, 510060, China
| | - Zhangling Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Guangdong Provincial Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou, 510060, China
| | - Yongluo Jiang
- State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Guangdong Provincial Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou, 510060, China
| | - Xuan Miao
- State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Guangdong Provincial Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou, 510060, China
| | - Yixuan Yan
- Guanghua School of Stomatology, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510062, China
| | - Hailin Tang
- State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Guangdong Provincial Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou, 510060, China
| | - Lewei Zhu
- The First People's Hospital of Foshan, Foshan, 528000, China.
| | - Yutian Zou
- State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Guangdong Provincial Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou, 510060, China.
| | - Peng Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Guangdong Provincial Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou, 510060, China.
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15
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Wei H, Gao J, Lin DH, Geng R, Liao J, Huang TY, Shang G, Jing J, Fan ZW, Pan D, Yin ZQ, Li T, Liu X, Zhao S, Chen C, Li J, Wang X, Ding D, Liu MF. piRNA loading triggers MIWI translocation from the intermitochondrial cement to chromatoid body during mouse spermatogenesis. Nat Commun 2024; 15:2343. [PMID: 38491008 PMCID: PMC10943014 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-46664-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/10/2023] [Accepted: 03/04/2024] [Indexed: 03/18/2024] Open
Abstract
The intermitochondrial cement (IMC) and chromatoid body (CB) are posited as central sites for piRNA activity in mice, with MIWI initially assembling in the IMC for piRNA processing before translocating to the CB for functional deployment. The regulatory mechanism underpinning MIWI translocation, however, has remained elusive. We unveil that piRNA loading is the trigger for MIWI translocation from the IMC to CB. Mechanistically, piRNA loading facilitates MIWI release from the IMC by weakening its ties with the mitochondria-anchored TDRKH. This, in turn, enables arginine methylation of MIWI, augmenting its binding affinity for TDRD6 and ensuring its integration within the CB. Notably, loss of piRNA-loading ability causes MIWI entrapment in the IMC and its destabilization in male germ cells, leading to defective spermatogenesis and male infertility in mice. Collectively, our findings establish the critical role of piRNA loading in MIWI translocation during spermatogenesis, offering new insights into piRNA biology in mammals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Huan Wei
- Key Laboratory of Systems Health Science of Zhejiang Province, School of Life Science, Hangzhou Institute for Advanced Study, Hangzhou 310024; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hangzhou, China
| | - Jie Gao
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Maternal Fetal Medicine, Clinical and Translational Research Center, Shanghai First Maternity and Infant Hospital, Frontier Science Center for Stem Cell Research, School of Life Sciences and Technology, Tongji University, Shanghai, 200092, China
| | - Di-Hang Lin
- New Cornerstone Science Laboratory, State Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology, State Key Laboratory of Cell Biology, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Molecular Andrology, Shanghai Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Center for Excellence in Molecular Cell Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, 200031, China
| | - Ruirong Geng
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Maternal Fetal Medicine, Clinical and Translational Research Center, Shanghai First Maternity and Infant Hospital, Frontier Science Center for Stem Cell Research, School of Life Sciences and Technology, Tongji University, Shanghai, 200092, China
| | - Jiaoyang Liao
- New Cornerstone Science Laboratory, State Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology, State Key Laboratory of Cell Biology, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Molecular Andrology, Shanghai Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Center for Excellence in Molecular Cell Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, 200031, China
| | - Tian-Yu Huang
- New Cornerstone Science Laboratory, State Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology, State Key Laboratory of Cell Biology, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Molecular Andrology, Shanghai Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Center for Excellence in Molecular Cell Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, 200031, China
| | - Guanyi Shang
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Maternal Fetal Medicine, Clinical and Translational Research Center, Shanghai First Maternity and Infant Hospital, Frontier Science Center for Stem Cell Research, School of Life Sciences and Technology, Tongji University, Shanghai, 200092, China
| | - Jiongjie Jing
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Maternal Fetal Medicine, Clinical and Translational Research Center, Shanghai First Maternity and Infant Hospital, Frontier Science Center for Stem Cell Research, School of Life Sciences and Technology, Tongji University, Shanghai, 200092, China
| | - Zong-Wei Fan
- Key Laboratory of Systems Health Science of Zhejiang Province, School of Life Science, Hangzhou Institute for Advanced Study, Hangzhou 310024; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hangzhou, China
| | - Duo Pan
- New Cornerstone Science Laboratory, State Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology, State Key Laboratory of Cell Biology, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Molecular Andrology, Shanghai Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Center for Excellence in Molecular Cell Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, 200031, China
| | - Zi-Qi Yin
- New Cornerstone Science Laboratory, State Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology, State Key Laboratory of Cell Biology, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Molecular Andrology, Shanghai Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Center for Excellence in Molecular Cell Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, 200031, China
| | - Tianming Li
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Maternal Fetal Medicine, Clinical and Translational Research Center, Shanghai First Maternity and Infant Hospital, Frontier Science Center for Stem Cell Research, School of Life Sciences and Technology, Tongji University, Shanghai, 200092, China
| | - Xinyu Liu
- New Cornerstone Science Laboratory, State Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology, State Key Laboratory of Cell Biology, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Molecular Andrology, Shanghai Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Center for Excellence in Molecular Cell Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, 200031, China
| | - Shuang Zhao
- New Cornerstone Science Laboratory, State Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology, State Key Laboratory of Cell Biology, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Molecular Andrology, Shanghai Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Center for Excellence in Molecular Cell Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, 200031, China
| | - Chen Chen
- Department of Animal Science, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan, 48824, USA
| | - Jinsong Li
- Key Laboratory of Systems Health Science of Zhejiang Province, School of Life Science, Hangzhou Institute for Advanced Study, Hangzhou 310024; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hangzhou, China
- New Cornerstone Science Laboratory, State Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology, State Key Laboratory of Cell Biology, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Molecular Andrology, Shanghai Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Center for Excellence in Molecular Cell Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, 200031, China
- School of Life Science and Technology, Shanghai Tech University, Shanghai, 201210, China
| | - Xin Wang
- Key Laboratory of Systems Health Science of Zhejiang Province, School of Life Science, Hangzhou Institute for Advanced Study, Hangzhou 310024; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hangzhou, China.
| | - Deqiang Ding
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Maternal Fetal Medicine, Clinical and Translational Research Center, Shanghai First Maternity and Infant Hospital, Frontier Science Center for Stem Cell Research, School of Life Sciences and Technology, Tongji University, Shanghai, 200092, China.
| | - Mo-Fang Liu
- Key Laboratory of Systems Health Science of Zhejiang Province, School of Life Science, Hangzhou Institute for Advanced Study, Hangzhou 310024; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hangzhou, China.
- New Cornerstone Science Laboratory, State Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology, State Key Laboratory of Cell Biology, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Molecular Andrology, Shanghai Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Center for Excellence in Molecular Cell Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, 200031, China.
- School of Life Science and Technology, Shanghai Tech University, Shanghai, 201210, China.
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16
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Yu X, Bu C, Yang X, Jiang W, He X, Sun R, Guo H, Shang L, Ou C. Exosomal non-coding RNAs in colorectal cancer metastasis. Clin Chim Acta 2024; 556:117849. [PMID: 38417779 DOI: 10.1016/j.cca.2024.117849] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/08/2023] [Revised: 02/24/2024] [Accepted: 02/25/2024] [Indexed: 03/01/2024]
Abstract
Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a type of gastrointestinal cancer with high morbidity and mortality rates, and is often accompanied by distant metastases. Metastasis is a major cause of shortened survival time and poor treatment outcomes for patients with CRC. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying the metastasis of CRC remain unclear. Exosomes are a class of small extracellular vesicles that originate from almost all human cells and can transmit biological information (e.g., nucleic acids, lipids, proteins, and metabolites) from secretory cells to target recipient cells. Recent studies have revealed that non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) can be released by exosomes into the tumour microenvironment or specific tissues, and play a pivotal role in tumorigenesis by regulating a series of key molecules or signalling pathways, particularly those involved in tumour metastasis. Exosomal ncRNAs have potential as novel therapeutic targets for CRC metastasis, and can also be used as liquid biopsy biomarkers because of their specificity and sensitivity. Therefore, further investigations into the biological function and clinical value of exosomal ncRNAs will be of great value for the prevention, early diagnosis, and treatment of CRC metastasis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoqian Yu
- Department of Pathology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha 410008, Hunan, China
| | - Chiwen Bu
- Department of General Surgery, People's Hospital of Guanyun County, Lianyungang 222200, Jiangsu, China
| | - Xuejie Yang
- Department of Pathology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha 410008, Hunan, China
| | - Wenying Jiang
- Department of Pathology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha 410008, Hunan, China
| | - Xiaoyun He
- Departments of Ultrasound Imaging, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha 410008, Hunan, China
| | - Ru Sun
- Department of Blood Transfusion, Affiliated Hospital of North Sichuan Medical College, Xichang 637000, Sichuan, China
| | - Hongbin Guo
- Department of Orthopedics, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha 410008, Hunan, China
| | - Li Shang
- Department of Pathology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha 410008, Hunan, China.
| | - Chunlin Ou
- Department of Pathology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha 410008, Hunan, China; National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Disorders, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha 410008, Hunan, China.
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17
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Chi H, Chai Y, Ma L, Wang Y, Wu Q, Wang L, Zhai J, Ma F, Tian Y, Qi N, Peng J, Fu Y, Yang X, Huang H, Ma S. The mechanism by which piR-000699 targets SLC39A14 regulates ferroptosis in aging myocardial ischemia/reperfusion injury. Acta Biochim Biophys Sin (Shanghai) 2024. [PMID: 38439666 DOI: 10.3724/abbs.2024024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/06/2024] Open
Abstract
Myocardial ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury is a classic type of cardiovascular disease characterized by injury to cardiomyocytes leading to different types of cell death. The degree of irreversible myocardial damage is closely related to age, and ferroptosis is involved in cardiomyocyte damage. However, the mechanisms underlying ferroptosis regulation in aging myocardial I/R injury are still unclear. The present study aims to explore the underlying mechanism of piRNA regulation in ferroptosis. Using left anterior descending coronary artery ligation in an aging rat model and a D-galactose-induced rat cardiomyocyte line (H9C2) to construct an aging cardiomyocyte model, we investigate whether ferroptosis occurs after reperfusion injury in vitro and in vivo. This study focuses on the upregulation of piR-000699 after hypoxia/reoxygenation treatment in aging cardiomyocytes by observing hypoxia/reoxygenation (H/R) injury indicators and ferroptosis-related indicators and clarifying the role of piR-000699 in H/R injury caused by ferroptosis in aging cardiomyocytes. Bioinformatics analysis reveals that SLC39A14 is a gene that binds to piR-000699. Our data show that ferroptosis plays an important role in I/R injury both in vivo and in vitro. Furthermore, the results show the potential role of piR-000699 in regulating SLC39A14 in ferroptosis in aging cardiomyocytes under hypoxia/reoxygenation conditions. Together, our results reveal that the mechanism by which piR-000699 binds to SLC39A14 regulates ferroptosis in aging myocardial I/R injury.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hongyang Chi
- NHC Key Laboratory of Metabolic Cardiovascular Diseases Research, Ningxia Medical University, Yinchuan 750004, China
- Ningxia Key Laboratory of Vascular Injury and Repair Research, Ningxia Medical University, Yinchuan 750004, China
- School of Laboratory Medicine, Ningxia Medical University, Yinchuan 750004, China
| | - Yue'e Chai
- College of Pharmacy, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang 561113, China
| | - Lingju Ma
- NHC Key Laboratory of Metabolic Cardiovascular Diseases Research, Ningxia Medical University, Yinchuan 750004, China
- Ningxia Key Laboratory of Vascular Injury and Repair Research, Ningxia Medical University, Yinchuan 750004, China
- Department of Geriatrics and Special Needs Medicine, General Hospital of Ningxia Medical University, Yinchuan 750004, China
| | - Yichen Wang
- NHC Key Laboratory of Metabolic Cardiovascular Diseases Research, Ningxia Medical University, Yinchuan 750004, China
- Ningxia Key Laboratory of Vascular Injury and Repair Research, Ningxia Medical University, Yinchuan 750004, China
| | - Qianqian Wu
- NHC Key Laboratory of Metabolic Cardiovascular Diseases Research, Ningxia Medical University, Yinchuan 750004, China
- Ningxia Key Laboratory of Vascular Injury and Repair Research, Ningxia Medical University, Yinchuan 750004, China
| | - Lexin Wang
- NHC Key Laboratory of Metabolic Cardiovascular Diseases Research, Ningxia Medical University, Yinchuan 750004, China
- Ningxia Key Laboratory of Vascular Injury and Repair Research, Ningxia Medical University, Yinchuan 750004, China
| | - Junjie Zhai
- NHC Key Laboratory of Metabolic Cardiovascular Diseases Research, Ningxia Medical University, Yinchuan 750004, China
- Ningxia Key Laboratory of Vascular Injury and Repair Research, Ningxia Medical University, Yinchuan 750004, China
| | - Fufun Ma
- School of Laboratory Medicine, Ningxia Medical University, Yinchuan 750004, China
| | - Yancheng Tian
- School of Laboratory Medicine, Ningxia Medical University, Yinchuan 750004, China
| | - Ning Qi
- School of Laboratory Medicine, Ningxia Medical University, Yinchuan 750004, China
| | - Jianhong Peng
- NHC Key Laboratory of Metabolic Cardiovascular Diseases Research, Ningxia Medical University, Yinchuan 750004, China
- Ningxia Key Laboratory of Vascular Injury and Repair Research, Ningxia Medical University, Yinchuan 750004, China
| | - Youjuan Fu
- NHC Key Laboratory of Metabolic Cardiovascular Diseases Research, Ningxia Medical University, Yinchuan 750004, China
- Ningxia Key Laboratory of Vascular Injury and Repair Research, Ningxia Medical University, Yinchuan 750004, China
| | - Xiaoling Yang
- NHC Key Laboratory of Metabolic Cardiovascular Diseases Research, Ningxia Medical University, Yinchuan 750004, China
- Ningxia Key Laboratory of Vascular Injury and Repair Research, Ningxia Medical University, Yinchuan 750004, China
| | - Hui Huang
- Department of Geriatrics and Special Needs Medicine, General Hospital of Ningxia Medical University, Yinchuan 750004, China
| | - Shengchao Ma
- NHC Key Laboratory of Metabolic Cardiovascular Diseases Research, Ningxia Medical University, Yinchuan 750004, China
- Ningxia Key Laboratory of Vascular Injury and Repair Research, Ningxia Medical University, Yinchuan 750004, China
- School of Laboratory Medicine, Ningxia Medical University, Yinchuan 750004, China
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18
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Tosar JP, Castellano M, Costa B, Cayota A. Small RNA structural biochemistry in a post-sequencing era. Nat Protoc 2024; 19:595-602. [PMID: 38057624 DOI: 10.1038/s41596-023-00936-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/23/2023] [Accepted: 08/25/2023] [Indexed: 12/08/2023]
Abstract
High-throughput sequencing has had an enormous impact on small RNA research during the past decade. However, sequencing only offers a one-dimensional view of the transcriptome and is often highly biased. Additionally, the 'sequence, map and annotate' approach, used widely in small RNA research, can lead to flawed interpretations of the data, lacking biological plausibility, due in part to database issues. Even in the absence of technical biases, the loss of three-dimensional information is a major limitation to understanding RNA stability, turnover and function. For example, noncoding RNA-derived fragments seem to exist mainly as dimers, tetramers or as nicked forms of their parental RNAs, contrary to widespread assumptions. In this perspective, we will discuss main sources of bias during small RNA-sequencing, present several useful bias-reducing strategies and provide guidance on the interpretation of small RNA-sequencing results, with emphasis on RNA fragmentomics. As sequencing offers a one-dimensional projection of a four-dimensional reality, prior structure-level knowledge is often needed to make sense of the data. Consequently, while less-biased sequencing methods are welcomed, integration of orthologous experimental techniques is also strongly recommended.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juan Pablo Tosar
- Functional Genomics Laboratory, Institut Pasteur de Montevideo, Montevideo, Uruguay.
- Analytical Biochemistry Unit, Center for Nuclear Research, School of Science, Universidad de la República, Montevideo, Uruguay.
| | - Mauricio Castellano
- Functional Genomics Laboratory, Institut Pasteur de Montevideo, Montevideo, Uruguay
- Biochemistry Department, School of Science, Universidad de la República, Montevideo, Uruguay
| | - Bruno Costa
- Functional Genomics Laboratory, Institut Pasteur de Montevideo, Montevideo, Uruguay
- Analytical Biochemistry Unit, Center for Nuclear Research, School of Science, Universidad de la República, Montevideo, Uruguay
| | - Alfonso Cayota
- Functional Genomics Laboratory, Institut Pasteur de Montevideo, Montevideo, Uruguay
- Hospital de Clínicas, Universidad de la República, Montevideo, Uruguay
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19
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Balan T, Lerner LK, Holoch D, Duharcourt S. Small-RNA-guided histone modifications and somatic genome elimination in ciliates. WILEY INTERDISCIPLINARY REVIEWS. RNA 2024; 15:e1848. [PMID: 38605483 DOI: 10.1002/wrna.1848] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/25/2024] [Revised: 03/22/2024] [Accepted: 03/22/2024] [Indexed: 04/13/2024]
Abstract
Transposable elements and other repeats are repressed by small-RNA-guided histone modifications in fungi, plants and animals. The specificity of silencing is achieved through base-pairing of small RNAs corresponding to the these genomic loci to nascent noncoding RNAs, which allows the recruitment of histone methyltransferases that methylate histone H3 on lysine 9. Self-reinforcing feedback loops enhance small RNA production and ensure robust and heritable repression. In the unicellular ciliate Paramecium tetraurelia, small-RNA-guided histone modifications lead to the elimination of transposable elements and their remnants, a definitive form of repression. In this organism, germline and somatic functions are separated within two types of nuclei with different genomes. At each sexual cycle, development of the somatic genome is accompanied by the reproducible removal of approximately a third of the germline genome. Instead of recruiting a H3K9 methyltransferase, small RNAs corresponding to eliminated sequences tether Polycomb Repressive Complex 2, which in ciliates has the unique property of catalyzing both lysine 9 and lysine 27 trimethylation of histone H3. These histone modifications that are crucial for the elimination of transposable elements are thought to guide the endonuclease complex, which triggers double-strand breaks at these specific genomic loci. The comparison between ciliates and other eukaryotes underscores the importance of investigating small-RNAs-directed chromatin silencing in a diverse range of organisms. This article is categorized under: Regulatory RNAs/RNAi/Riboswitches > RNAi: Mechanisms of Action.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas Balan
- Université Paris Cité, CNRS, Institut Jacques Monod, Paris, France
| | | | - Daniel Holoch
- Université Paris Cité, CNRS, Institut Jacques Monod, Paris, France
- Institut Curie, INSERM U934/CNRS UMR 3215, Paris Sciences et Lettres Research University, Sorbonne University, Paris, France
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20
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Xie G, Du X, Hu H, Du J. Molecular mechanisms of the RNA polymerases in plant RNA-directed DNA methylation. Trends Biochem Sci 2024; 49:247-256. [PMID: 38072749 DOI: 10.1016/j.tibs.2023.11.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/09/2023] [Revised: 11/16/2023] [Accepted: 11/21/2023] [Indexed: 03/10/2024]
Abstract
In plants, two atypical DNA-dependent RNA polymerases, RNA polymerase IV (Pol IV) and Pol V, and an RNA-DEPENDENT RNA POLYMERASE 2 (RDR2) together produce noncoding RNAs (ncRNAs) to guide the plant-specific RNA-directed DNA methylation (RdDM). Although both Pol IV and Pol V have evolved from the canonical Pol II, they have adapted to different roles in RdDM. The mechanisms of their adaptation are key to understanding plant DNA methylation and the divergent evolution of polymerases. In this review, we summarize insights that have emerged from recent structural studies of Pol IV, Pol V, and RDR2 and discuss their structural features critical for efficient ncRNA production in RdDM.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guohui Xie
- Key Laboratory of Molecular Design for Plant Cell Factory of Guangdong Higher Education Institutes, Institute of Plant and Food Science, Department of Biology, School of Life Sciences, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen 518055, China
| | - Xuan Du
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, International Cancer Center, Shenzhen University Medical School, Shenzhen 518060, China
| | - Hongmiao Hu
- MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Cambridge CB2 0QH, UK
| | - Jiamu Du
- Key Laboratory of Molecular Design for Plant Cell Factory of Guangdong Higher Education Institutes, Institute of Plant and Food Science, Department of Biology, School of Life Sciences, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen 518055, China; Institute for Biological Electron Microscopy, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen 518055, China.
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21
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Pastore B, Hertz HL, Tang W. Pre-piRNA trimming safeguards piRNAs against erroneous targeting by RNA-dependent RNA polymerase. Cell Rep 2024; 43:113692. [PMID: 38244197 PMCID: PMC10949418 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2024.113692] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/03/2023] [Revised: 12/13/2023] [Accepted: 01/04/2024] [Indexed: 01/22/2024] Open
Abstract
The Piwi/Piwi-interacting RNA (piRNA) pathway protects genome integrity in animal germ lines. Maturation of piRNAs involves nucleolytic processing at both 5' and 3' ends. The ribonuclease PARN-1 and its orthologs mediate piRNA 3' trimming in worms, insects, and mammals. However, the significance of this evolutionarily conserved processing step is not fully understood. Employing C. elegans as a model, we recently discovered that 3' trimming protects piRNAs against non-templated nucleotide additions and degradation. Here, we find that worms lacking PARN-1 accumulate an uncharacterized RNA species termed anti-piRNAs, which are antisense to piRNAs. Anti-piRNAs associate with Piwi proteins, are 17-19 nucleotides long, and begin with 5' guanine or adenine. Untrimmed pre-piRNAs are misdirected by the terminal nucleotidyltransferase RDE-3 and RNA-dependent RNA polymerase EGO-1, leading to the formation of anti-piRNAs. This work identifies a class of small RNAs in parn-1 mutants and provides insight into the activities of RDE-3, EGO-1, and Piwi proteins.
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Affiliation(s)
- Benjamin Pastore
- Department of Biological Chemistry and Pharmacology, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, USA; Center for RNA Biology, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, USA; Ohio State Biochemistry Program, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, USA
| | - Hannah L Hertz
- Department of Biological Chemistry and Pharmacology, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, USA; Center for RNA Biology, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, USA
| | - Wen Tang
- Department of Biological Chemistry and Pharmacology, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, USA; Center for RNA Biology, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, USA; Ohio State Biochemistry Program, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, USA.
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22
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Le Breton A, Bettencourt MP, Gendrel AV. Navigating the brain and aging: exploring the impact of transposable elements from health to disease. Front Cell Dev Biol 2024; 12:1357576. [PMID: 38476259 PMCID: PMC10927736 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2024.1357576] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/18/2023] [Accepted: 02/08/2024] [Indexed: 03/14/2024] Open
Abstract
Transposable elements (TEs) are mobile genetic elements that constitute on average 45% of mammalian genomes. Their presence and activity in genomes represent a major source of genetic variability. While this is an important driver of genome evolution, TEs can also have deleterious effects on their hosts. A growing number of studies have focused on the role of TEs in the brain, both in physiological and pathological contexts. In the brain, their activity is believed to be important for neuronal plasticity. In neurological and age-related disorders, aberrant activity of TEs may contribute to disease etiology, although this remains unclear. After providing a comprehensive overview of transposable elements and their interactions with the host, this review summarizes the current understanding of TE activity within the brain, during the aging process, and in the context of neurological and age-related conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Anne-Valerie Gendrel
- Instituto de Medicina Molecular João Lobo Antunes, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisbon, Portugal
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23
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Gál L, Fóthi Á, Orosz G, Nagy S, Than NG, Orbán TI. Exosomal small RNA profiling in first-trimester maternal blood explores early molecular pathways of preterm preeclampsia. Front Immunol 2024; 15:1321191. [PMID: 38455065 PMCID: PMC10917917 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2024.1321191] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/13/2023] [Accepted: 01/25/2024] [Indexed: 03/09/2024] Open
Abstract
Introduction Preeclampsia (PE) is a severe obstetrical syndrome characterized by new-onset hypertension and proteinuria and it is often associated with fetal intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR). PE leads to long-term health complications, so early diagnosis would be crucial for timely prevention. There are multiple etiologies and subtypes of PE, and this heterogeneity has hindered accurate identification in the presymptomatic phase. Recent investigations have pointed to the potential role of small regulatory RNAs in PE, and these species, which travel in extracellular vesicles (EVs) in the circulation, have raised the possibility of non-invasive diagnostics. The aim of this study was to investigate the behavior of exosomal regulatory small RNAs in the most severe subtype of PE with IUGR. Methods We isolated exosomal EVs from first-trimester peripheral blood plasma samples of women who later developed preterm PE with IUGR (n=6) and gestational age-matched healthy controls (n=14). The small RNA content of EVs and their differential expression were determined by next-generation sequencing and further validated by quantitative real-time PCR. We also applied the rigorous exceRpt bioinformatics pipeline for small RNA identification, followed by target verification and Gene Ontology analysis. Results Overall, >2700 small RNAs were identified in all samples and, of interest, the majority belonged to the RNA interference (RNAi) pathways. Among the RNAi species, 16 differentially expressed microRNAs were up-regulated in PE, whereas up-regulated and down-regulated members were equally found among the six identified Piwi-associated RNAs. Gene ontology analysis of the predicted small RNA targets showed enrichment of genes in pathways related to immune processes involved in decidualization, placentation and embryonic development, indicating that dysregulation of the induced small RNAs is connected to the impairment of immune pathways in preeclampsia development. Finally, the subsequent validation experiments revealed that the hsa_piR_016658 piRNA is a promising biomarker candidate for preterm PE associated with IUGR. Discussion Our rigorously designed study in a homogeneous group of patients unraveled small RNAs in circulating maternal exosomes that act on physiological pathways dysregulated in preterm PE with IUGR. Therefore, our small RNA hits are not only suitable biomarker candidates, but the revealed biological pathways may further inform us about the complex pathology of this severe PE subtype.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luca Gál
- Gene Regulation Research Group, Institute of Molecular Life Sciences, HUN-REN Research Centre for Natural Sciences, Budapest, Hungary
- Doctoral School of Biology, Institute of Biology, ELTE Eötvös Loránd University, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Ábel Fóthi
- Gene Regulation Research Group, Institute of Molecular Life Sciences, HUN-REN Research Centre for Natural Sciences, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Gergő Orosz
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Debrecen, Debrecen, Hungary
| | - Sándor Nagy
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Petz Aladár University Teaching Hospital, Győr, Hungary
- Faculty of Health and Sport Sciences, Széchenyi István University, Győr, Hungary
| | - Nándor Gábor Than
- Systems Biology of Reproduction Research Group, Institute of Molecular Life Sciences, HUN-REN Research Centre for Natural Sciences, Budapest, Hungary
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary
- Maternity Private Clinic of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Budapest, Hungary
- Genesis Theranostix Group, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Tamás I. Orbán
- Gene Regulation Research Group, Institute of Molecular Life Sciences, HUN-REN Research Centre for Natural Sciences, Budapest, Hungary
- Doctoral School of Biology, Institute of Biology, ELTE Eötvös Loránd University, Budapest, Hungary
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24
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Mayer MP, Blair L, Blatch GL, Borges TJ, Chadli A, Chiosis G, de Thonel A, Dinkova-Kostova A, Ecroyd H, Edkins AL, Eguchi T, Fleshner M, Foley KP, Fragkostefanakis S, Gestwicki J, Goloubinoff P, Heritz JA, Heske CM, Hibshman JD, Joutsen J, Li W, Lynes M, Mendillo ML, Mivechi N, Mokoena F, Okusha Y, Prahlad V, Repasky E, Sannino S, Scalia F, Shalgi R, Sistonen L, Sontag E, van Oosten-Hawle P, Vihervaara A, Wickramaratne A, Wang SXY, Zininga T. Stress biology: Complexity and multifariousness in health and disease. Cell Stress Chaperones 2024; 29:143-157. [PMID: 38311120 PMCID: PMC10939078 DOI: 10.1016/j.cstres.2024.01.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2024] Open
Abstract
Preserving and regulating cellular homeostasis in the light of changing environmental conditions or developmental processes is of pivotal importance for single cellular and multicellular organisms alike. To counteract an imbalance in cellular homeostasis transcriptional programs evolved, called the heat shock response, unfolded protein response, and integrated stress response, that act cell-autonomously in most cells but in multicellular organisms are subjected to cell-nonautonomous regulation. These transcriptional programs downregulate the expression of most genes but increase the expression of heat shock genes, including genes encoding molecular chaperones and proteases, proteins involved in the repair of stress-induced damage to macromolecules and cellular structures. Sixty-one years after the discovery of the heat shock response by Ferruccio Ritossa, many aspects of stress biology are still enigmatic. Recent progress in the understanding of stress responses and molecular chaperones was reported at the 12th International Symposium on Heat Shock Proteins in Biology, Medicine and the Environment in the Old Town Alexandria, VA, USA from 28th to 31st of October 2023.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthias P Mayer
- Center for Molecular Biology of Heidelberg University (ZMBH), DKFZ-ZMBH Alliance, Heidelberg, Germany.
| | - Laura Blair
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Morsani College of Medicine, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL 33612, USA
| | - Gregory L Blatch
- Biomedical Research and Drug Discovery Research Group, Faculty of Health Sciences, Higher Colleges of Technology, Sharjah, United Arab Emirates; Biomedical Biotechnology Research Unit, Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology, Rhodes University, Grahamstown, South Africa
| | - Thiago J Borges
- Department of Surgery, Center for Transplantation Sciences, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02129, USA
| | - Ahmed Chadli
- Georgia Cancer Center, Medical College of Georgia at Augusta University, Augusta, GA 30912, USA
| | - Gabriela Chiosis
- Department of Medicine, Division of Solid Tumors, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY 10065, USA; Chemical Biology Program, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY 10065, USA
| | - Aurélie de Thonel
- CNRS, UMR 7216, 75250 Paris Cedex 13, Paris, France; Univeristy of Paris Diderot, Sorbonne Paris Cité, Paris, France; Département Hospitalo-Universitaire DHU PROTECT, Paris, France
| | - Albena Dinkova-Kostova
- Division of Cellular and Systems Medicine, Jacqui Wood Cancer Centre, School of Medicine, University of Dundee, Dundee, UK
| | - Heath Ecroyd
- Molecular Horizons and School of Chemistry and Molecular Bioscience, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, New South Wales 2522, Australia
| | - Adrienne L Edkins
- Biomedical Biotechnology Research Unit (BioBRU), Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology, Rhodes University, Makhanda, South Africa
| | - Takanori Eguchi
- Department of Dental Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University, Okayama 700-8525, Japan
| | - Monika Fleshner
- Department of Integrative Physiology, University of Colorado at Boulder, Boulder, CO 80309, USA
| | | | - Sotirios Fragkostefanakis
- Department of Biosciences, Molecular Cell Biology of Plants, Goethe University Frankfurt am Main, Frankfurt am Main 60438, Germany
| | - Jason Gestwicki
- Institute for Neurodegenerative Diseases, University of California, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA
| | - Pierre Goloubinoff
- Department of Plant Molecular Biology, Faculty of Biology and Medicine, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Jennifer A Heritz
- Department of Urology, SUNY Upstate Medical University, Syracuse, NY 13210, USA; Upstate Cancer Center, SUNY Upstate Medical University, Syracuse, NY 13210, USA; Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, SUNY Upstate Medical University, Syracuse, NY 13210, USA
| | - Christine M Heske
- Pediatric Oncology Branch, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Jonathan D Hibshman
- Biology Department, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Jenny Joutsen
- Department of Pathology, Lapland Central Hospital, Lapland Wellbeing Services County, Rovaniemi, Finland
| | - Wei Li
- Department of Dermatology and the Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Southern California Keck Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA 90033, USA
| | - Michael Lynes
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT 06269, USA
| | - Marc L Mendillo
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL 60611, USA; Simpson Querrey Center for Epigenetics, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL 60611, USA
| | - Nahid Mivechi
- Molecular Chaperone Biology, Medical College of Georgia, Georgia Cancer Center, Augusta University, Augusta, GA 30912, USA
| | - Fortunate Mokoena
- Department of Biochemistry, North-West University, Mmabatho 2735, South Africa
| | - Yuka Okusha
- Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02215, USA
| | - Veena Prahlad
- Department of Cell Stress Biology, Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center, Buffalo, NY 14203, USA
| | - Elizabeth Repasky
- Department of Hematology and Oncology, Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center, Buffalo, NY 14263, USA
| | - Sara Sannino
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15260, USA
| | - Federica Scalia
- Department of Biomedicine, Neuroscience and Advanced Diagnostics (BIND), University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy; Euro-Mediterranean Institute of Science and Technology (IEMEST), Palermo, Italy
| | - Reut Shalgi
- Department of Biochemistry, Rappaport Faculty of Medicine, Technion-Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa 31096, Israel
| | - Lea Sistonen
- Faculty of Science and Engineering, Cell Biology, Åbo Akademi University, Turku, Finland; Turku Bioscience Centre, University of Turku and Åbo Akademi University, Turku, Finland
| | - Emily Sontag
- Department of Biological Sciences, Marquette University, Milwaukee, WI 53233, USA
| | | | - Anniina Vihervaara
- Department of Gene Technology, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, Science for Life Laboratory, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Anushka Wickramaratne
- Laboratory of Molecular Biology, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Shawn Xiang Yang Wang
- Developmental Therapeutics Program, VCU Comprehensive Massey Cancer Center, VCU Institute of Molecular Medicine, Virginia Commonwealth University, School of Medicine, Richmond, VA 23298, USA
| | - Tawanda Zininga
- Department of Biochemistry, Stellenbosch University, Stellenbosch 7602, South Africa
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Garcia-Borja E, Siegl F, Mateu R, Slaby O, Sedo A, Busek P, Sana J. Critical appraisal of the piRNA-PIWI axis in cancer and cancer stem cells. Biomark Res 2024; 12:15. [PMID: 38303021 PMCID: PMC10836005 DOI: 10.1186/s40364-024-00563-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2023] [Accepted: 01/15/2024] [Indexed: 02/03/2024] Open
Abstract
Small noncoding RNAs play an important role in various disease states, including cancer. PIWI proteins, a subfamily of Argonaute proteins, and PIWI-interacting RNAs (piRNAs) were originally described as germline-specific molecules that inhibit the deleterious activity of transposable elements. However, several studies have suggested a role for the piRNA-PIWI axis in somatic cells, including somatic stem cells. Dysregulated expression of piRNAs and PIWI proteins in human tumors implies that, analogously to their roles in undifferentiated cells under physiological conditions, these molecules may be important for cancer stem cells and thus contribute to cancer progression. We provide an overview of piRNA biogenesis and critically review the evidence for the role of piRNA-PIWI axis in cancer stem cells. In addition, we examine the potential of piRNAs and PIWI proteins to become biomarkers in cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elena Garcia-Borja
- Laboratory of Cancer Cell Biology, Institute of Biochemistry and Experimental Oncology, First Faculty of Medicine, Charles University, U Nemocnice 478/5, Prague 2, 128 53, Czech Republic
| | - Frantisek Siegl
- Central European Institute of Technology, Masaryk University, Kamenice 753/5, Brno, 625 00, Czech Republic
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Science, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Rosana Mateu
- Laboratory of Cancer Cell Biology, Institute of Biochemistry and Experimental Oncology, First Faculty of Medicine, Charles University, U Nemocnice 478/5, Prague 2, 128 53, Czech Republic
| | - Ondrej Slaby
- Central European Institute of Technology, Masaryk University, Kamenice 753/5, Brno, 625 00, Czech Republic
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Medicine, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Aleksi Sedo
- Laboratory of Cancer Cell Biology, Institute of Biochemistry and Experimental Oncology, First Faculty of Medicine, Charles University, U Nemocnice 478/5, Prague 2, 128 53, Czech Republic
| | - Petr Busek
- Laboratory of Cancer Cell Biology, Institute of Biochemistry and Experimental Oncology, First Faculty of Medicine, Charles University, U Nemocnice 478/5, Prague 2, 128 53, Czech Republic.
| | - Jiri Sana
- Central European Institute of Technology, Masaryk University, Kamenice 753/5, Brno, 625 00, Czech Republic.
- Department of Comprehensive Cancer Care, Masaryk Memorial Cancer Institute, Brno, Czech Republic.
- Department of Pathology, University Hospital Brno, Brno, Czech Republic.
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26
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Zhang B, Zhong Y, Du J, Ye R, Fan B, Deng Y, Bai R, Feng Y, Yang X, Huang Y, Liang B, Zheng J, Rong W, Yang X, Huang Z. 1,2-Dichloroethane induces testicular pyroptosis by activating piR-mmu-1019957/IRF7 pathway and the protective effects of melatonin. ENVIRONMENT INTERNATIONAL 2024; 184:108480. [PMID: 38341879 DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2024.108480] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2023] [Revised: 01/10/2024] [Accepted: 02/02/2024] [Indexed: 02/13/2024]
Abstract
1,2-Dichloroethane (1,2-DCE) is a prevalent environmental contaminant, and our study revealed its induction of testicular toxicity in mice upon subacute exposure. Melatonin, a prominent secretory product of the pineal gland, has been shown to offer protection against pyroptosis in male reproductive toxicity. However, the exact mechanism underlying 1,2-DCE-induced testicular toxicity and the comprehensive extent of melatonin's protective effects in this regard remain largely unexplored. Therefore, we sequenced testis piRNAs in mice exposed to environmentally relevant concentrations of 1,2-DCE by 28-day dynamic inhalation, and investigated the role of key piRNAs using GC-2 spd cells. Our results showed that 1,2-DCE induced mouse testicular damage and GC-2 spd cell pyroptosis. 1,2-DCE upregulated the expression of pyroptosis-correlated proteins in both mouse testes and GC-2 spd cells. 1,2-DCE exposure caused pore formation on cellular membranes and lactate dehydrogenase leakage in GC-2 spd cells. Additionally, we identified three upregulated piRNAs in 1,2-DCE-exposed mouse testes, among which piR-mmu-1019957 induced pyroptosis in GC-2 spd cells, and its inhibition alleviated 1,2-DCE-induced pyroptosis. PiR-mmu-1019957 mimic and 1,2-DCE treatment activated the expression of interferon regulatory factor 7 (IRF7) in GC-2 spd cells. IRF7 knockdown reversed 1,2-DCE-induced cellular pyroptosis, and overexpression of piR-mmu-1019957 did not promote pyroptosis when IRF7 was inhibited. Notably, melatonin reversed 1,2-DCE-caused testicular toxicity, cellular pyroptosis, and upregulated piR-mmu-1019957 and IRF7. Collectively, our findings indicated that melatonin mitigates this effect, suggesting its potential as a therapeutic intervention against 1,2-DCE-induced male reproductive toxicity in clinical practice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bingli Zhang
- NMPA Key Laboratory for Safety Evaluation of Cosmetics, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Tropical Disease Research, Department of Toxicology, School of Public Health, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China
| | - Yizhou Zhong
- NMPA Key Laboratory for Safety Evaluation of Cosmetics, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Tropical Disease Research, Department of Toxicology, School of Public Health, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China
| | - Jiaxin Du
- NMPA Key Laboratory for Safety Evaluation of Cosmetics, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Tropical Disease Research, Department of Toxicology, School of Public Health, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China
| | - Rongyi Ye
- NMPA Key Laboratory for Safety Evaluation of Cosmetics, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Tropical Disease Research, Department of Toxicology, School of Public Health, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China
| | - Bingchi Fan
- NMPA Key Laboratory for Safety Evaluation of Cosmetics, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Tropical Disease Research, Department of Toxicology, School of Public Health, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China
| | - Yanhong Deng
- NMPA Key Laboratory for Safety Evaluation of Cosmetics, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Tropical Disease Research, Department of Toxicology, School of Public Health, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China
| | - Ruobing Bai
- NMPA Key Laboratory for Safety Evaluation of Cosmetics, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Tropical Disease Research, Department of Toxicology, School of Public Health, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China
| | - Yu Feng
- NMPA Key Laboratory for Safety Evaluation of Cosmetics, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Tropical Disease Research, Department of Toxicology, School of Public Health, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China
| | - Xiaohong Yang
- NMPA Key Laboratory for Safety Evaluation of Cosmetics, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Tropical Disease Research, Department of Toxicology, School of Public Health, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China
| | - Yuji Huang
- NMPA Key Laboratory for Safety Evaluation of Cosmetics, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Tropical Disease Research, Department of Toxicology, School of Public Health, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China
| | - Boxuan Liang
- NMPA Key Laboratory for Safety Evaluation of Cosmetics, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Tropical Disease Research, Department of Toxicology, School of Public Health, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China
| | - Jiewei Zheng
- Department of Toxicology, Guangdong Provincial Hospital for Occupational Disease Prevention and Treatment, Guangzhou 510300, China
| | - Weifeng Rong
- Institute of Chemical Surveillance, Guangdong Provincial Hospital for Occupational Disease Prevention and Treatment, Guangzhou 510300, China
| | - Xingfen Yang
- NMPA Key Laboratory for Safety Evaluation of Cosmetics, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Tropical Disease Research, Department of Toxicology, School of Public Health, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China
| | - Zhenlie Huang
- NMPA Key Laboratory for Safety Evaluation of Cosmetics, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Tropical Disease Research, Department of Toxicology, School of Public Health, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China.
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27
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Liu J, Lu F. The piRNA size matters. Natl Sci Rev 2024; 11:nwad297. [PMID: 38327666 PMCID: PMC10849359 DOI: 10.1093/nsr/nwad297] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/22/2023] [Revised: 11/21/2023] [Accepted: 11/21/2023] [Indexed: 02/09/2024] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Jingwen Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Developmental Biology, Institute of Genetics and Developmental Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, China
| | - Falong Lu
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Developmental Biology, Institute of Genetics and Developmental Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, China
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Liu Y, Tan Y, Zhang Z, Yi M, Zhu L, Peng W. The interaction between ageing and Alzheimer's disease: insights from the hallmarks of ageing. Transl Neurodegener 2024; 13:7. [PMID: 38254235 PMCID: PMC10804662 DOI: 10.1186/s40035-024-00397-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/13/2023] [Revised: 12/31/2023] [Accepted: 01/02/2024] [Indexed: 01/24/2024] Open
Abstract
Ageing is a crucial risk factor for Alzheimer's disease (AD) and is characterised by systemic changes in both intracellular and extracellular microenvironments that affect the entire body instead of a single organ. Understanding the specific mechanisms underlying the role of ageing in disease development can facilitate the treatment of ageing-related diseases, such as AD. Signs of brain ageing have been observed in both AD patients and animal models. Alleviating the pathological changes caused by brain ageing can dramatically ameliorate the amyloid beta- and tau-induced neuropathological and memory impairments, indicating that ageing plays a crucial role in the pathophysiological process of AD. In this review, we summarize the impact of several age-related factors on AD and propose that preventing pathological changes caused by brain ageing is a promising strategy for improving cognitive health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuqing Liu
- Department of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, No.139 Middle Renmin Road, Changsha, 410011, Hunan, People's Republic of China
- National Clinical Research Center for Metabolic Diseases, Changsha, 410011, People's Republic of China
| | - Yejun Tan
- School of Mathematics, University of Minnesota Twin Cities, Minneapolis, MN, 55455, USA
| | - Zheyu Zhang
- Department of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, No.139 Middle Renmin Road, Changsha, 410011, Hunan, People's Republic of China
- National Clinical Research Center for Metabolic Diseases, Changsha, 410011, People's Republic of China
| | - Min Yi
- Department of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, No.139 Middle Renmin Road, Changsha, 410011, Hunan, People's Republic of China
- National Clinical Research Center for Metabolic Diseases, Changsha, 410011, People's Republic of China
| | - Lemei Zhu
- Academician Workstation, Changsha Medical University, Changsha, 410219, People's Republic of China
| | - Weijun Peng
- Department of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, No.139 Middle Renmin Road, Changsha, 410011, Hunan, People's Republic of China.
- National Clinical Research Center for Metabolic Diseases, Changsha, 410011, People's Republic of China.
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Lauschke VM, Zhou Y, Ingelman-Sundberg M. Pharmacogenomics Beyond Single Common Genetic Variants: The Way Forward. Annu Rev Pharmacol Toxicol 2024; 64:33-51. [PMID: 37506333 DOI: 10.1146/annurev-pharmtox-051921-091209] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/30/2023]
Abstract
Interindividual variability in genes encoding drug-metabolizing enzymes, transporters, receptors, and human leukocyte antigens has a major impact on a patient's response to drugs with regard to efficacy and safety. Enabled by both technological and conceptual advances, the field of pharmacogenomics is developing rapidly. Major progress in omics profiling methods has enabled novel genotypic and phenotypic characterization of patients and biobanks. These developments are paralleled by advances in machine learning, which have allowed us to parse the immense wealth of data and establish novel genetic markers and polygenic models for drug selection and dosing. Pharmacogenomics has recently become more widespread in clinical practice to personalize treatment and to develop new drugs tailored to specific patient populations. In this review, we provide an overview of the latest developments in the field and discuss the way forward, including how to address the missing heritability, develop novel polygenic models, and further improve the clinical implementation of pharmacogenomics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Volker M Lauschke
- Dr. Margarete Fischer-Bosch Institute for Clinical Pharmacology, Stuttgart, Germany
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden;
- Tübingen University, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Yitian Zhou
- Dr. Margarete Fischer-Bosch Institute for Clinical Pharmacology, Stuttgart, Germany
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden;
- Tübingen University, Tübingen, Germany
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30
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Ge QQ, Han Q, Han Y, Ma F, Li CZ, Zhang CY. A multi-cycle signal amplification-mediated single quantum dot nanosensor for PIWI-interacting RNA detection. Chem Commun (Camb) 2024; 60:408-411. [PMID: 38084051 DOI: 10.1039/d3cc05639b] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/05/2024]
Abstract
We construct a single quantum dot-based nanosensor for piRNA detection based on ligation-mediated multi-cycle signal amplification. This nanosensor is homogenous, selective, and sensitive with a detection limit of 0.104 fM. Moreover, it can detect the endogenous piRNA level in different cell lines, and discriminate cancer tissues from normal tissues.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qi-Qin Ge
- School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Southeast University, Nanjing 211189, China.
| | - Qian Han
- School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Southeast University, Nanjing 211189, China.
| | - Yun Han
- School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Southeast University, Nanjing 211189, China.
| | - Fei Ma
- School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Southeast University, Nanjing 211189, China.
| | - Chen-Zhong Li
- Biomedical Engineering, School of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shenzhen, 518172, China.
| | - Chun-Yang Zhang
- School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Southeast University, Nanjing 211189, China.
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31
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Xu H, Zhang S, Duan Q, Lou M, Ling Y. Comprehensive analyses of 435 goat transcriptomes provides insight into male reproduction. Int J Biol Macromol 2024; 255:127942. [PMID: 37979751 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2023.127942] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/02/2023] [Revised: 09/25/2023] [Accepted: 11/01/2023] [Indexed: 11/20/2023]
Abstract
A systematic analysis of genes related to reproduction is crucial for obtaining a comprehensive understanding of the molecular mechanisms that underlie male reproductive traits in mammals. Here, we utilized 435 goat transcriptome datasets to unveil the testicular tissue-specific genes (TSGs), allele-specific expression (ASE) genes and their uncharacterized transcriptional features related to male goat reproduction. Results showed a total of 1790 TSGs were identified in goat testis, which was the most among all tissues. GO enrichment analyses suggested that testicular TSGs were mainly involved in spermatogenesis, multicellular organism development, spermatid development, and flagellated sperm motility. Subsequently, a total of 95 highly conserved TSGs (HCTSGs), 508 middle conserved TSGs (MCTSGs) and 42 no conserved TSGs (NCTSGs) were identified in goat testis. GO enrichment analyses suggested that the HCTSGs and MCTSGs has a more important association with male reproduction than NCTSGs. Additionally, we identified 644 ASE genes, including 88 tissue-specific ASE (TS-ASE) genes (e.g., FSIP2, TDRD9). GO enrichment analyses indicated that both ASE genes and TS-ASE genes were associated with goat male reproduction. Overall, this study revealed an extensive gene set involved in the regulation of male goat reproduction and their dynamic transcription patterns. Data reported here provide valuable insights for a further improvement of the economic benefits of goats as well as future treatments for male infertility.
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Affiliation(s)
- Han Xu
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Anhui Agricultural University, Hefei 230036, Anhui, China
| | - Sihuan Zhang
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Anhui Agricultural University, Hefei 230036, Anhui, China
| | - Qin Duan
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Anhui Agricultural University, Hefei 230036, Anhui, China
| | - Mengyu Lou
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Anhui Agricultural University, Hefei 230036, Anhui, China
| | - Yinghui Ling
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Anhui Agricultural University, Hefei 230036, Anhui, China; Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Local Livestock and Poultry Genetic Resource Conservation and Bio-Breeding, Anhui Agricultural University, Hefei 230036, Anhui, China.
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Wei C, Yan X, Mann JM, Geng R, Xie H, Demireva EY, Sun L, Ding D, Chen C. PNLDC1 catalysis and postnatal germline function are required for piRNA trimming, LINE1 silencing, and spermatogenesis in mice. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.12.26.573375. [PMID: 38234819 PMCID: PMC10793440 DOI: 10.1101/2023.12.26.573375] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/19/2024]
Abstract
PIWI-interacting RNAs (piRNAs) play critical and conserved roles in transposon silencing and gene regulation in the animal germline. Two distinct piRNA populations are present during mouse spermatogenesis: pre-pachytene piRNAs in fetal/neonatal testes and pachytene piRNAs in adult testes. PNLDC1 is required for both pre-pachytene piRNA and pachytene piRNA 3' end maturation in multiple species. However, whether PNLDC1 is the bona fide piRNA trimmer and the physiological role of 3' trimming of two distinct piRNA populations in spermatogenesis remain unclear. Here, by inactivating Pnldc1 exonuclease activity in vitro and in mice, we reveal that PNLDC1 trimmer activity is required for both pre-pachytene piRNA and pachytene piRNA 3' end trimming and male fertility. Furthermore, conditional inactivation of Pnldc1 in postnatal germ cells causes LINE1 transposon de-repression and spermatogenic arrest in mice. This indicates that pachytene piRNA trimming, but not pre-pachytene piRNA trimming, is essential for mouse germ cell development and transposon silencing. Our findings highlight the potential of inhibiting germline piRNA trimmer activity as a potential means for male contraception.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chao Wei
- Department of Animal Science, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan 48824, USA
| | - Xiaoyuan Yan
- Department of Animal Science, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan 48824, USA
| | - Jeffrey M. Mann
- Department of Animal Science, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan 48824, USA
| | - Ruirong Geng
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Maternal and Fetal Medicine, Clinical and Translational Research Center, Shanghai First Maternity and Infant Hospital, Frontier Science Center for Stem Cell Research, School of Life Sciences and Technology, Tongji University, Shanghai 200092, China
| | - Huirong Xie
- Transgenic and Genome Editing Facility, Institute for Quantitative Health Science & Engineering, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan 48824, USA
| | - Elena Y. Demireva
- Transgenic and Genome Editing Facility, Institute for Quantitative Health Science & Engineering, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan 48824, USA
| | - Liangliang Sun
- Department of Chemistry, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan 48824, USA
| | - Deqiang Ding
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Maternal and Fetal Medicine, Clinical and Translational Research Center, Shanghai First Maternity and Infant Hospital, Frontier Science Center for Stem Cell Research, School of Life Sciences and Technology, Tongji University, Shanghai 200092, China
| | - Chen Chen
- Department of Animal Science, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan 48824, USA
- Reproductive and Developmental Sciences Program, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan 48824, USA
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Biology, Michigan State University, Grand Rapids, Michigan 49503, USA
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Sohn EJ, Han ME, Park YM, Kim YH, Oh SO. The potential of piR-823 as a diagnostic biomarker in oncology: A systematic review. PLoS One 2023; 18:e0294685. [PMID: 38060527 PMCID: PMC10703285 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0294685] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/23/2023] [Accepted: 11/06/2023] [Indexed: 12/18/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Emerging evidence has demonstrated that PIWI-interacting RNAs (piRNAs) play important roles in various physiological processes and contribute to cancer progression. Moreover, piRNAs and PIWI protein levels are associated with the prognosis and chemoresistance of various cancers. The limitations of biomarkers challenge early detection and monitoring of chemoresistance and cancer relapse. METHODS To evaluate the potential of piRNA as a diagnostic biomarker in oncology, we systematically reviewed previous studies on the subject. PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane databases were searched to evaluate the diagnostic relevance of piRNAs in cancer. Eighteen studies (2,352 patients) were included. The quality of each study was evaluated with AMSTAR and QUADAS-2 tool. RESULTS & CONCLUSIONS The area under the curve (AUC) values of 26 piRNAs in patients with cancer ranged from 0.624 to 0.978, with piR-9491 showing the highest value (0.978). The sensitivity of the total of 21 piRNAs in cancer patients was between 42.86 and 100, with piR-9491 showing the highest sensitivity (100). The specificity of these 21 piRNAs ranged from 60.10 to 96.67 (with piR-018569 showing the highest specificity (96.67)). Their odds ratios were between 1.61 and 44.67, and piR-12488 showed the highest odds ratio (44.67). Generally, the piRNAs in this review showed better sensitivity and AUC values than current clinical diagnostic biomarkers, although current biomarkers appear to be more specific. Reviewed piRNAs showed better diagnostic performance than currently used clinical biomarkers. Notably, piR-823 showed a significant diagnostic performance in four types of cancer (colorectal, esophageal, gastric, and renal cell cancer). However, all 18 studies included in this review were a case-control study. So, further prospective studies are required for their validation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eun Jung Sohn
- Research Center for Molecular Control of Cancer Cell Diversity, Pusan National University, Yangsan, Republic of Korea
- Department of Anatomy, School of Medicine, Pusan National University, Yangsan, Republic of Korea
| | - Myoung-Eun Han
- Research Center for Molecular Control of Cancer Cell Diversity, Pusan National University, Yangsan, Republic of Korea
- Department of Anatomy, School of Medicine, Pusan National University, Yangsan, Republic of Korea
| | - Young Mok Park
- Department of Surgery, School of Medicine, Pusan National University, Yangsan, Republic of Korea
| | - Yun Hak Kim
- Department of Anatomy, School of Medicine, Pusan National University, Yangsan, Republic of Korea
- Department of Biomedical Informatics, School of Medicine, Pusan National University, Yangsan, Republic of Korea
| | - Sae-Ock Oh
- Research Center for Molecular Control of Cancer Cell Diversity, Pusan National University, Yangsan, Republic of Korea
- Department of Anatomy, School of Medicine, Pusan National University, Yangsan, Republic of Korea
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Wu Z, Yu X, Zhang S, He Y, Guo W. Novel roles of PIWI proteins and PIWI-interacting RNAs in human health and diseases. Cell Commun Signal 2023; 21:343. [PMID: 38031146 PMCID: PMC10685540 DOI: 10.1186/s12964-023-01368-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/18/2023] [Accepted: 10/26/2023] [Indexed: 12/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Non-coding RNA has aroused great research interest recently, they play a wide range of biological functions, such as regulating cell cycle, cell proliferation, and intracellular substance metabolism. Piwi-interacting RNAs (piRNAs) are emerging small non-coding RNAs that are 24-31 nucleotides in length. Previous studies on piRNAs were mainly limited to evaluating the binding to the PIWI protein family to play the biological role. However, recent studies have shed more lights on piRNA functions; aberrant piRNAs play unique roles in many human diseases, including diverse lethal cancers. Therefore, understanding the mechanism of piRNAs expression and the specific functional roles of piRNAs in human diseases is crucial for developing its clinical applications. Presently, research on piRNAs mainly focuses on their cancer-specific functions but lacks investigation of their expressions and epigenetic modifications. This review discusses piRNA's biogenesis and functional roles and the recent progress of functions of piRNA/PIWI protein complexes in human diseases. Video Abstract.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zeyu Wu
- Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450052, China
- Key Laboratory of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery and Digestive Organ Transplantation of Henan Province, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450052, China
- Open and Key Laboratory of Hepatobiliary & Pancreatic Surgery and Digestive Organ Transplantation at Henan Universities, Zhengzhou, 450052, China
- Henan Key Laboratory of Digestive Organ Transplantation, Zhengzhou, 450052, China
| | - Xiao Yu
- Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450052, China
- Key Laboratory of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery and Digestive Organ Transplantation of Henan Province, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450052, China
- Open and Key Laboratory of Hepatobiliary & Pancreatic Surgery and Digestive Organ Transplantation at Henan Universities, Zhengzhou, 450052, China
- Henan Key Laboratory of Digestive Organ Transplantation, Zhengzhou, 450052, China
| | - Shuijun Zhang
- Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450052, China
- Key Laboratory of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery and Digestive Organ Transplantation of Henan Province, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450052, China
- Open and Key Laboratory of Hepatobiliary & Pancreatic Surgery and Digestive Organ Transplantation at Henan Universities, Zhengzhou, 450052, China
- Henan Key Laboratory of Digestive Organ Transplantation, Zhengzhou, 450052, China
| | - Yuting He
- Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450052, China.
- Key Laboratory of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery and Digestive Organ Transplantation of Henan Province, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450052, China.
- Open and Key Laboratory of Hepatobiliary & Pancreatic Surgery and Digestive Organ Transplantation at Henan Universities, Zhengzhou, 450052, China.
- Henan Key Laboratory of Digestive Organ Transplantation, Zhengzhou, 450052, China.
| | - Wenzhi Guo
- Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450052, China.
- Key Laboratory of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery and Digestive Organ Transplantation of Henan Province, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450052, China.
- Open and Key Laboratory of Hepatobiliary & Pancreatic Surgery and Digestive Organ Transplantation at Henan Universities, Zhengzhou, 450052, China.
- Henan Key Laboratory of Digestive Organ Transplantation, Zhengzhou, 450052, China.
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Sun M, Fan X, Long Q, Zang H, Zhang Y, Liu X, Feng P, Song Y, Li K, Wu Y, Jiang H, Chen D, Guo R. First Characterization and Regulatory Function of piRNAs in the Apis mellifera Larval Response to Ascosphaera apis Invasion. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:16358. [PMID: 38003547 PMCID: PMC10671575 DOI: 10.3390/ijms242216358] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/21/2023] [Revised: 11/09/2023] [Accepted: 11/12/2023] [Indexed: 11/26/2023] Open
Abstract
piRNAs are a class of small non-coding RNAs that play essential roles in modulating gene expression and abundant biological processes. To decode the piRNA-regulated larval response of western honeybees (Apis mellifera) to Ascosphaera apis infection, the expression pattern of piRNAs in Apis mellifera ligustica larval guts after A. apis inoculation was analyzed based on previously obtained high-quality small RNA-seq datasets, followed by structural characterization, target prediction, regulatory network investigation, and functional dissection. Here, 504, 657, and 587 piRNAs were respectively identified in the 4-, 5-, and 6-day-old larval guts after inoculation with A. apis, with 411 ones shared. These piRNAs shared a similar length distribution and first base bias with mammal piRNAs. Additionally, 96, 103, and 143 DEpiRNAs were detected in the 4-, 5-, and 6-day-old comparison groups. Targets of the DEpiRNAs were engaged in diverse pathways such as the phosphatidylinositol signaling system, inositol phosphate metabolism, and Wnt signaling pathway. These targets were involved in three energy metabolism-related pathways, eight development-associated signaling pathways, and seven immune-relevant pathways such as the Jak-STAT signaling pathway. The expression trends of five randomly selected DEpiRNAs were verified using a combination of RT-PCR and RT-qPCR. The effective overexpression and knockdown of piR-ame-945760 in A. apis-infected larval guts were achieved by feeding a specific mimic and inhibitor. Furthermore, piR-ame-945760 negatively regulated the expression of two target immune mRNAs, SOCS5 and ARF1, in the larval gut during the A. apis infection. These findings indicated that the overall expression level of piRNAs was increased and the expression pattern of piRNAs in larval guts was altered due to the A. apis infection, DEpiRNAs were putative regulators in the A. apis-response of A. m. ligustica worker larvae. Our data provide not only a platform for the functional investigation of piRNAs in honeybees, especially in bee larvae, but also a foundation for illuminating the piRNA-involved mechanisms underlying the host response to the A. apis infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Minghui Sun
- College of Animal Sciences (College of Bee Science), Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350002, China; (M.S.); (X.F.); (Q.L.); (H.Z.); (Y.Z.); (X.L.); (P.F.); (Y.S.); (K.L.); (D.C.)
| | - Xiaoxue Fan
- College of Animal Sciences (College of Bee Science), Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350002, China; (M.S.); (X.F.); (Q.L.); (H.Z.); (Y.Z.); (X.L.); (P.F.); (Y.S.); (K.L.); (D.C.)
| | - Qi Long
- College of Animal Sciences (College of Bee Science), Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350002, China; (M.S.); (X.F.); (Q.L.); (H.Z.); (Y.Z.); (X.L.); (P.F.); (Y.S.); (K.L.); (D.C.)
| | - He Zang
- College of Animal Sciences (College of Bee Science), Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350002, China; (M.S.); (X.F.); (Q.L.); (H.Z.); (Y.Z.); (X.L.); (P.F.); (Y.S.); (K.L.); (D.C.)
| | - Yiqiong Zhang
- College of Animal Sciences (College of Bee Science), Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350002, China; (M.S.); (X.F.); (Q.L.); (H.Z.); (Y.Z.); (X.L.); (P.F.); (Y.S.); (K.L.); (D.C.)
| | - Xiaoyu Liu
- College of Animal Sciences (College of Bee Science), Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350002, China; (M.S.); (X.F.); (Q.L.); (H.Z.); (Y.Z.); (X.L.); (P.F.); (Y.S.); (K.L.); (D.C.)
| | - Peilin Feng
- College of Animal Sciences (College of Bee Science), Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350002, China; (M.S.); (X.F.); (Q.L.); (H.Z.); (Y.Z.); (X.L.); (P.F.); (Y.S.); (K.L.); (D.C.)
| | - Yuxuan Song
- College of Animal Sciences (College of Bee Science), Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350002, China; (M.S.); (X.F.); (Q.L.); (H.Z.); (Y.Z.); (X.L.); (P.F.); (Y.S.); (K.L.); (D.C.)
| | - Kunze Li
- College of Animal Sciences (College of Bee Science), Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350002, China; (M.S.); (X.F.); (Q.L.); (H.Z.); (Y.Z.); (X.L.); (P.F.); (Y.S.); (K.L.); (D.C.)
| | - Ying Wu
- Apiculture Science Institute of Jilin Province, Jilin 132000, China; (Y.W.); (H.J.)
| | - Haibin Jiang
- Apiculture Science Institute of Jilin Province, Jilin 132000, China; (Y.W.); (H.J.)
| | - Dafu Chen
- College of Animal Sciences (College of Bee Science), Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350002, China; (M.S.); (X.F.); (Q.L.); (H.Z.); (Y.Z.); (X.L.); (P.F.); (Y.S.); (K.L.); (D.C.)
- National & Local United Engineering Laboratory of Natural Biotoxin, Fuzhou 350002, China
- Apitherapy Research Institute of Fujian Province, Fuzhou 350002, China
| | - Rui Guo
- College of Animal Sciences (College of Bee Science), Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350002, China; (M.S.); (X.F.); (Q.L.); (H.Z.); (Y.Z.); (X.L.); (P.F.); (Y.S.); (K.L.); (D.C.)
- National & Local United Engineering Laboratory of Natural Biotoxin, Fuzhou 350002, China
- Apitherapy Research Institute of Fujian Province, Fuzhou 350002, China
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Olotu O, Ahmedani A, Kotaja N. Small Non-Coding RNAs in Male Reproduction. Semin Reprod Med 2023; 41:213-225. [PMID: 38346711 DOI: 10.1055/s-0044-1779726] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/20/2024]
Abstract
Male reproductive functions are strictly regulated in order to maintain sperm production and fertility. All processes are controlled by precise regulation of gene expression, which creates specific gene expression programs for different developmental stages and cell types, and forms the functional basis for the reproductive system. Small non-coding RNAs (sncRNAs) are involved in gene regulation by targeting mRNAs for translational repression and degradation through complementary base pairing to recognize their targets. This review article summarizes the current knowledge on the function of different classes of sncRNAs, in particular microRNAs (miRNAs) and PIWI-interacting RNAs (piRNAs), during male germ cell differentiation, with the focus on sncRNAs expressed in the germline. Although transcriptionally inactive, mature spermatozoa contain a complex population of sncRNAs, and we also discuss the recently identified role of sperm sncRNAs in the intergenerational transmission of epigenetic information on father's environmental and lifestyle exposures to offspring. Finally, we summarize the current information on the utility of sncRNAs as potential biomarkers of infertility that may aid in the diagnosis and prediction of outcomes of medically assisted reproduction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Opeyemi Olotu
- Integrative Physiology and Pharmacology Unit, Institute of Biomedicine, University of Turku, Turku, Finland
| | - Ammar Ahmedani
- Integrative Physiology and Pharmacology Unit, Institute of Biomedicine, University of Turku, Turku, Finland
| | - Noora Kotaja
- Integrative Physiology and Pharmacology Unit, Institute of Biomedicine, University of Turku, Turku, Finland
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Jing F, Li X, Jiang H, Sun J, Guo Q. Combating drug resistance in hepatocellular carcinoma: No awareness today, no action tomorrow. Biomed Pharmacother 2023; 167:115561. [PMID: 37757493 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopha.2023.115561] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2023] [Revised: 09/18/2023] [Accepted: 09/19/2023] [Indexed: 09/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), the sixth most common cancer worldwide, is associated with a high degree of malignancy and poor prognosis. Patients with early HCC may benefit from surgical resection to remove tumor tissue and a margin of healthy tissue surrounding it. Unfortunately, most patients with HCC are diagnosed at an advanced or distant stage, at which point resection is not feasible. Systemic therapy is now routinely prescribed to patients with advanced HCC; however, drug resistance has become a major obstacle to the treatment of HCC and exploring purported mechanisms promoting drug resistance remains a challenge. Here, we focus on the determinants of drug resistance from the perspective of non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs), liver cancer stem cells (LCSCs), autophagy, epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), exosomes, ferroptosis, and the tumor microenvironment (TME), with the aim to provide new insights into HCC treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fanbo Jing
- The department of clinical pharmacy. The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao, China
| | - Xiao Li
- The department of clinical pharmacy. The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao, China
| | - Hui Jiang
- Qingdao Haici Hospital, Qingdao 266000, China
| | - Jialin Sun
- The department of clinical pharmacy. The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao, China
| | - Qie Guo
- The department of clinical pharmacy. The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao, China.
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Soureas K, Papadimitriou MA, Panoutsopoulou K, Pilala KM, Scorilas A, Avgeris M. Cancer quiescence: non-coding RNAs in the spotlight. Trends Mol Med 2023; 29:843-858. [PMID: 37516569 DOI: 10.1016/j.molmed.2023.07.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/14/2023] [Revised: 06/30/2023] [Accepted: 07/07/2023] [Indexed: 07/31/2023]
Abstract
Cancer quiescence reflects the ability of cancer cells to enter a reversible slow-cycling or mitotically dormant state and represents a powerful self-protecting mechanism preventing cancer cell 'damage' from hypoxic conditions, nutrient deprivation, immune surveillance, and (chemo)therapy. When stress conditions are restrained, and tumor microenvironment becomes beneficial, quiescent cancer cells re-enter cell cycle to facilitate tumor spread and cancer progression/metastasis. Recent studies have highlighted the dynamic role of regulatory non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) in orchestrating cancer quiescence. The elucidation of regulatory ncRNA networks will shed light on the quiescence-proliferation equilibrium and, ultimately, pave the way for new treatment options. Herein, we have summarized the ever-growing role of ncRNAs upon cancer quiescence regulation and their impact on treatment resistance and modern cancer therapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Konstantinos Soureas
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Biology, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece; Laboratory of Clinical Biochemistry - Molecular Diagnostics, Second Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 'P. & A. Kyriakou' Children's Hospital, Athens, Greece
| | - Maria-Alexandra Papadimitriou
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Biology, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - Konstantina Panoutsopoulou
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Biology, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - Katerina-Marina Pilala
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Biology, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - Andreas Scorilas
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Biology, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - Margaritis Avgeris
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Biology, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece; Laboratory of Clinical Biochemistry - Molecular Diagnostics, Second Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 'P. & A. Kyriakou' Children's Hospital, Athens, Greece.
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Lawlor MA, Ellison CE. Evolutionary dynamics between transposable elements and their host genomes: mechanisms of suppression and escape. Curr Opin Genet Dev 2023; 82:102092. [PMID: 37517354 PMCID: PMC10530431 DOI: 10.1016/j.gde.2023.102092] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2023] [Revised: 06/27/2023] [Accepted: 07/02/2023] [Indexed: 08/01/2023]
Abstract
Transposable elements (TEs) are ubiquitous among eukaryotic species. Their evolutionary persistence is likely due to a combination of tolerogenic, evasive/antagonistic, and cooperative interactions with their host genomes. Here, we focus on metazoan species and review recent advances related to the harmful effects of TE insertions, including how epigenetic effects and TE-derived RNAs can damage host cells. We discuss new findings related to host pathways that silence TEs, such as the piRNA pathway and the APOBEC3 and Kruppel-associated box zinc finger gene families. Finally, we summarize novel strategies used by TEs to evade host silencing, including the Y chromosome as a permissive niche for TE mobilization and TE counterdefense strategies to block host silencing factors.
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Pastore B, Hertz HL, Tang W. Pre-piRNA trimming safeguards piRNAs against erroneous targeting by RNA-dependent RNA Polymerase. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.09.26.559619. [PMID: 37808652 PMCID: PMC10557677 DOI: 10.1101/2023.09.26.559619] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/10/2023]
Abstract
In animal germ lines, The Piwi/piRNA pathway plays a crucial role in safeguarding genome integrity and promoting fertility. Following transcription from discrete genomic loci, piRNA precursors undergo nucleolytic processing at both 5' and 3' ends. The ribonuclease PARN-1 and its orthologs mediate piRNA 3' trimming in worms, insects and mammals. Yet, the significance of this evolutionarily conserved processing step is not well understood. Employing C. elegans as a model organism, our recent work has demonstrated that 3' trimming protects piRNAs against non-templated nucleotide additions and degradation. In this study, we present an unexpected finding that C. elegans deficient for PARN-1 accumulate a heretofore uncharacterized RNA species termed anti-piRNAs, which are antisense to piRNAs. These anti-piRNAs associate with Piwi proteins and display the propensity for a length of 17-19 nucleotides and 5' guanine and adenine residues. We show that untrimmed pre-piRNAs in parn-1 mutants are modified by the terminal nucleotidyltransferase RDE-3 and erroneously targeted by the RNA-dependent RNA polymerase EGO-1, thereby giving rise to anti-piRNAs. Taken together, our work identifies a previously unknown class of small RNAs upon loss of parn-1 and provides mechanistic insight to activities of RDE-3, EGO-1 and Piwi proteins.
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Loubalova Z, Konstantinidou P, Haase AD. Themes and variations on piRNA-guided transposon control. Mob DNA 2023; 14:10. [PMID: 37660099 PMCID: PMC10474768 DOI: 10.1186/s13100-023-00298-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/28/2023] [Accepted: 08/21/2023] [Indexed: 09/04/2023] Open
Abstract
PIWI-interacting RNAs (piRNAs) are responsible for preventing the movement of transposable elements in germ cells and protect the integrity of germline genomes. In this review, we examine the common elements of piRNA-guided silencing as well as the differences observed between species. We have categorized the mechanisms of piRNA biogenesis and function into modules. Individual PIWI proteins combine these modules in various ways to produce unique PIWI-piRNA pathways, which nevertheless possess the ability to perform conserved functions. This modular model incorporates conserved core mechanisms and accommodates variable co-factors. Adaptability is a hallmark of this RNA-based immune system. We believe that considering the differences in germ cell biology and resident transposons in different organisms is essential for placing the variations observed in piRNA biology into context, while still highlighting the conserved themes that underpin this process.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zuzana Loubalova
- National Institutes of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Parthena Konstantinidou
- National Institutes of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Astrid D Haase
- National Institutes of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA.
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42
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Taverna S, Masucci A, Cammarata G. PIWI-RNAs Small Noncoding RNAs with Smart Functions: Potential Theranostic Applications in Cancer. Cancers (Basel) 2023; 15:3912. [PMID: 37568728 PMCID: PMC10417041 DOI: 10.3390/cancers15153912] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/23/2023] [Revised: 07/26/2023] [Accepted: 07/27/2023] [Indexed: 08/13/2023] Open
Abstract
P-element-induced wimpy testis (PIWI)-interacting RNAs (piRNAs) are a new class of small noncoding RNAs (ncRNAs) that bind components of the PIWI protein family. piRNAs are specifically expressed in different human tissues and regulate important signaling pathways. Aberrant expressions of piRNAs and PIWI proteins have been associated with tumorigenesis and cancer progression. Recent studies reported that piRNAs are contained in extracellular vesicles (EVs), nanosized lipid particles, with key roles in cell-cell communication. EVs contain several bioactive molecules, such as proteins, lipids, and nucleic acids, including emerging ncRNAs. EVs are one of the components of liquid biopsy (LB) a non-invasive method for detecting specific molecular biomarkers in liquid samples. LB could become a crucial tool for cancer diagnosis with piRNAs as biomarkers in a precision oncology approach. This review summarizes the current findings on the roles of piRNAs in different cancer types, focusing on potential theranostic applications of piRNAs contained in EVs (EV-piRNAs). Their roles as non-invasive diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers and as new therapeutic options have been also discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Simona Taverna
- Institute of Translational Pharmacology (IFT), National Research Council (CNR), 90146 Palermo, Italy
| | - Anna Masucci
- Department of Biomedicine, Neurosciences and Advanced Diagnostics, Institute of Clinical Biochemistry, Clinical Molecular Medicine, Laboratory Medicine, University of Palermo, 90127 Palermo, Italy;
| | - Giuseppe Cammarata
- Institute of Translational Pharmacology (IFT), National Research Council (CNR), 90146 Palermo, Italy
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Timofeeva AV, Fedorov IS, Asaturova AV, Sannikova MV, Tregubova AV, Mayboroda OA, Khabas GN, Frankevich VE, Sukhikh GT. Blood Plasma Small Non-Coding RNAs as Diagnostic Molecules for the Progesterone-Receptor-Negative Phenotype of Serous Ovarian Tumors. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:12214. [PMID: 37569592 PMCID: PMC10419267 DOI: 10.3390/ijms241512214] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/12/2023] [Revised: 07/28/2023] [Accepted: 07/28/2023] [Indexed: 08/13/2023] Open
Abstract
The expression level of the progesterone receptor (PGR) plays a crucial role in determining the biological characteristics of serous ovarian carcinoma. Low PGR expression is associated with chemoresistance and a poorer outcome. In this study, our objective was to explore the relationship between tumor progesterone receptor levels and RNA profiles (miRNAs, piwiRNAs, and mRNAs) to understand their biological characteristics and behavior. To achieve this, we employed next-generation sequencing of small non-coding RNAs, quantitative RT-PCR, and immunohistochemistry to analyze both FFPE and frozen tumor samples, as well as blood plasma from patients with benign cystadenoma (BSC), serous borderline tumor (SBT), low-grade serous ovarian carcinoma (LGSOC), and high-grade serous ovarian carcinoma (HGSOC). Our findings revealed significant upregulation of MMP7 and MUC16, along with downregulation of PGR, in LGSOC and HGSOC compared to BSC. We observed significant correlations of PGR expression levels in tumor tissue with the contents of miR-199a-5p, miR-214-3p, miR-424-3p, miR-424-5p, and miR-125b-5p, which potentially target MUC16, MMP7, and MMP9, as well as with the tissue content of miR-16-5p, miR-17-5p, miR-20a-5p, and miR-93-5p, which are associated with the epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) of cells. The levels of EMT-associated miRNAs were significantly correlated with the content of hsa_piR_022437, hsa_piR_009295, hsa_piR_020813, hsa_piR_004307, and hsa_piR_019914 in tumor tissues. We developed two optimal logistic regression models using the quantitation of hsa_piR_020813, miR-16-5p, and hsa_piR_022437 or hsa_piR_004307, hsa_piR_019914, and miR-93-5p in the tumor tissue, which exhibited a significant ability to diagnose the PGR-negative tumor phenotype with 93% sensitivity. Of particular interest, the blood plasma levels of miR-16-5p and hsa_piR_022437 could be used to diagnose the PGR-negative tumor phenotype with 86% sensitivity even before surgery and chemotherapy. This knowledge can help in choosing the most effective treatment strategy for this aggressive type of ovarian cancer, such as neoadjuvant chemotherapy followed by cytoreduction in combination with hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy and targeted therapy, thus enhancing the treatment's effectiveness and the patient's longevity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Angelika V. Timofeeva
- National Medical Research Center for Obstetrics, Gynecology and Perinatology Named after Academician V.I. Kulakov Ministry of Healthcare of the Russian Federation, Ac. Oparina 4, 117997 Moscow, Russia; (I.S.F.); (A.V.A.); (M.V.S.); (A.V.T.); (G.N.K.); (V.E.F.); (G.T.S.)
| | - Ivan S. Fedorov
- National Medical Research Center for Obstetrics, Gynecology and Perinatology Named after Academician V.I. Kulakov Ministry of Healthcare of the Russian Federation, Ac. Oparina 4, 117997 Moscow, Russia; (I.S.F.); (A.V.A.); (M.V.S.); (A.V.T.); (G.N.K.); (V.E.F.); (G.T.S.)
| | - Aleksandra V. Asaturova
- National Medical Research Center for Obstetrics, Gynecology and Perinatology Named after Academician V.I. Kulakov Ministry of Healthcare of the Russian Federation, Ac. Oparina 4, 117997 Moscow, Russia; (I.S.F.); (A.V.A.); (M.V.S.); (A.V.T.); (G.N.K.); (V.E.F.); (G.T.S.)
| | - Maya V. Sannikova
- National Medical Research Center for Obstetrics, Gynecology and Perinatology Named after Academician V.I. Kulakov Ministry of Healthcare of the Russian Federation, Ac. Oparina 4, 117997 Moscow, Russia; (I.S.F.); (A.V.A.); (M.V.S.); (A.V.T.); (G.N.K.); (V.E.F.); (G.T.S.)
| | - Anna V. Tregubova
- National Medical Research Center for Obstetrics, Gynecology and Perinatology Named after Academician V.I. Kulakov Ministry of Healthcare of the Russian Federation, Ac. Oparina 4, 117997 Moscow, Russia; (I.S.F.); (A.V.A.); (M.V.S.); (A.V.T.); (G.N.K.); (V.E.F.); (G.T.S.)
| | - Oleg A. Mayboroda
- Center for Proteomics and Metabolomics, Leiden University Medical Center, Postbus 9600, 2300 RC Leiden, The Netherlands;
| | - Grigory N. Khabas
- National Medical Research Center for Obstetrics, Gynecology and Perinatology Named after Academician V.I. Kulakov Ministry of Healthcare of the Russian Federation, Ac. Oparina 4, 117997 Moscow, Russia; (I.S.F.); (A.V.A.); (M.V.S.); (A.V.T.); (G.N.K.); (V.E.F.); (G.T.S.)
| | - Vladimir E. Frankevich
- National Medical Research Center for Obstetrics, Gynecology and Perinatology Named after Academician V.I. Kulakov Ministry of Healthcare of the Russian Federation, Ac. Oparina 4, 117997 Moscow, Russia; (I.S.F.); (A.V.A.); (M.V.S.); (A.V.T.); (G.N.K.); (V.E.F.); (G.T.S.)
- Laboratory of Translational Medicine, Siberian State Medical University, 634050 Tomsk, Russia
| | - Gennady T. Sukhikh
- National Medical Research Center for Obstetrics, Gynecology and Perinatology Named after Academician V.I. Kulakov Ministry of Healthcare of the Russian Federation, Ac. Oparina 4, 117997 Moscow, Russia; (I.S.F.); (A.V.A.); (M.V.S.); (A.V.T.); (G.N.K.); (V.E.F.); (G.T.S.)
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, Perinatology and Reproductology, First Moscow State Medical University Named after I.M. Sechenov, 119991 Moscow, Russia
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Good DJ. Non-Coding RNAs in Human Health and Diseases. Genes (Basel) 2023; 14:1429. [PMID: 37510332 PMCID: PMC10380012 DOI: 10.3390/genes14071429] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/06/2023] [Accepted: 07/03/2023] [Indexed: 07/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) are, arguably, the enigma of the RNA transcriptome. Even though there are more annotated ncRNAs (25,967) compared to mRNAs (19,827), we know far less about each of the genes that produce ncRNA, especially in terms of their regulation, molecular functions, and interactions. Further, we are only beginning to understand the role of differential regulation or function of ncRNAs caused by genetic and epigenetic perturbations, such as single nucleotide variants (SNV), deletions, insertions, and histone/DNA modifications. The 22 papers in this Special Issue describe the emerging roles of ncRNAs in neurological, cardiovascular, immune, and hepatic systems, to name a few, as well as in diseases such as cancer, Prader-Willi Syndrome, cardiac arrhythmias, and diabetes. As we begin to understand the function and regulation of this class of RNAs, strategies targeting ncRNAs could lead to improved therapeutic interventions for some conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Deborah J Good
- Department of Human Nutrition, Foods, and Exercise, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA 24060, USA
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Gainetdinov I, Vega-Badillo J, Cecchini K, Bagci A, Colpan C, De D, Bailey S, Arif A, Wu PH, MacRae IJ, Zamore PD. Relaxed targeting rules help PIWI proteins silence transposons. Nature 2023:10.1038/s41586-023-06257-4. [PMID: 37344600 PMCID: PMC10338343 DOI: 10.1038/s41586-023-06257-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/15/2022] [Accepted: 05/24/2023] [Indexed: 06/23/2023]
Abstract
In eukaryotes, small RNA guides, such as small interfering RNAs and microRNAs, direct AGO-clade Argonaute proteins to regulate gene expression and defend the genome against external threats. Only animals make a second clade of Argonaute proteins: PIWI proteins. PIWI proteins use PIWI-interacting RNAs (piRNAs) to repress complementary transposon transcripts1,2. In theory, transposons could evade silencing through target site mutations that reduce piRNA complementarity. Here we report that, unlike AGO proteins, PIWI proteins efficiently cleave transcripts that are only partially paired to their piRNA guides. Examination of target binding and cleavage by mouse and sponge PIWI proteins revealed that PIWI slicing tolerates mismatches to any target nucleotide, including those flanking the scissile phosphate. Even canonical seed pairing is dispensable for PIWI binding or cleavage, unlike plant and animal AGOs, which require uninterrupted target pairing from the seed to the nucleotides past the scissile bond3,4. PIWI proteins are therefore better equipped than AGO proteins to target newly acquired or rapidly diverging endogenous transposons without recourse to new small RNA guides. Conversely, the minimum requirements for PIWI slicing are sufficient to avoid inadvertent silencing of host RNAs. Our results demonstrate the biological advantage of PIWI over AGO proteins in defending the genome against transposons and suggest an explanation for why the piRNA pathway was retained in animal evolution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ildar Gainetdinov
- RNA Therapeutics Institute and Howard Hughes Medical Institute, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA.
| | - Joel Vega-Badillo
- RNA Therapeutics Institute and Howard Hughes Medical Institute, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA
| | - Katharine Cecchini
- RNA Therapeutics Institute and Howard Hughes Medical Institute, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA
| | - Ayca Bagci
- RNA Therapeutics Institute and Howard Hughes Medical Institute, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA
| | - Cansu Colpan
- RNA Therapeutics Institute and Howard Hughes Medical Institute, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA
- Voyager Therapeutics, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Dipayan De
- Department of Integrative Structural and Computational Biology, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Shannon Bailey
- RNA Therapeutics Institute and Howard Hughes Medical Institute, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA
| | - Amena Arif
- RNA Therapeutics Institute and Howard Hughes Medical Institute, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA
- Beam Therapeutics, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Pei-Hsuan Wu
- RNA Therapeutics Institute and Howard Hughes Medical Institute, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA
- University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Ian J MacRae
- Department of Integrative Structural and Computational Biology, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Phillip D Zamore
- RNA Therapeutics Institute and Howard Hughes Medical Institute, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA.
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Wang X, Lin DH, Yan Y, Wang AH, Liao J, Meng Q, Yang WQ, Zuo H, Hua MM, Zhang F, Zhu H, Zhou H, Huang TY, He R, Li G, Tan YQ, Shi HJ, Gou LT, Li D, Wu L, Zheng Y, Fu XD, Li J, Liu R, Li GH, Liu MF. The PIWI-specific insertion module helps load longer piRNAs for translational activation essential for male fertility. SCIENCE CHINA. LIFE SCIENCES 2023:10.1007/s11427-023-2390-5. [PMID: 37335463 DOI: 10.1007/s11427-023-2390-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2023] [Accepted: 06/07/2023] [Indexed: 06/21/2023]
Abstract
PIWI-clade proteins harness piRNAs of 24-33 nt in length. Of great puzzles are how PIWI-clade proteins incorporate piRNAs of different sizes and whether the size matters to PIWI/piRNA function. Here we report that a PIWI-Ins module unique in PIWI-clade proteins helps define the length of piRNAs. Deletion of PIWI-Ins in Miwi shifts MIWI to load with shorter piRNAs and causes spermiogenic failure in mice, demonstrating the functional importance of this regulatory module. Mechanistically, we show that longer piRNAs provide additional complementarity to target mRNAs, thereby enhancing the assembly of the MIWI/eIF3f/HuR super-complex for translational activation. Importantly, we identify a c.1108C>T (p.R370W) mutation of HIWI (human PIWIL1) in infertile men and demonstrate in Miwi knock-in mice that this genetic mutation impairs male fertility by altering the property of PIWI-Ins in selecting longer piRNAs. These findings reveal a critical role of PIWI-Ins-ensured longer piRNAs in fine-tuning MIWI/piRNA targeting capacity, proven essential for spermatid development and male fertility.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xin Wang
- Key Laboratory of Systems Health Science of Zhejiang Province, School of Life Science, Hangzhou Institute for Advanced Study, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hangzhou, 310024, China
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology, State Key Laboratory of Cell Biology, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Molecular Andrology, Shanghai Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Center for Excellence in Molecular Cell Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, 200031, China
| | - Di-Hang Lin
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology, State Key Laboratory of Cell Biology, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Molecular Andrology, Shanghai Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Center for Excellence in Molecular Cell Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, 200031, China
| | - Yue Yan
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology, State Key Laboratory of Cell Biology, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Molecular Andrology, Shanghai Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Center for Excellence in Molecular Cell Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, 200031, China
| | - An-Hui Wang
- Laboratory of Molecular Modeling and Design, State Key Laboratory of Molecular Reaction Dynamics, Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Dalian, 116023, China
| | - Jiaoyang Liao
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology, State Key Laboratory of Cell Biology, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Molecular Andrology, Shanghai Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Center for Excellence in Molecular Cell Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, 200031, China
| | - Qian Meng
- Department of Analytical Chemistry and CAS Key Laboratory of Receptor Research, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, 201203, China
| | - Wen-Qing Yang
- School of Life Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai, 201210, China
| | - Heng Zuo
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology, State Key Laboratory of Cell Biology, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Molecular Andrology, Shanghai Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Center for Excellence in Molecular Cell Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, 200031, China
| | - Min-Min Hua
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology, State Key Laboratory of Cell Biology, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Molecular Andrology, Shanghai Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Center for Excellence in Molecular Cell Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, 200031, China
- NHC Key Lab of Reproduction Regulation (Shanghai Institute for Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Technologies), Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China
| | - Fengjuan Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology, State Key Laboratory of Cell Biology, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Molecular Andrology, Shanghai Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Center for Excellence in Molecular Cell Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, 200031, China
| | - Hongwen Zhu
- Department of Analytical Chemistry and CAS Key Laboratory of Receptor Research, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, 201203, China
| | - Hu Zhou
- Department of Analytical Chemistry and CAS Key Laboratory of Receptor Research, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, 201203, China
| | - Tian-Yu Huang
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology, State Key Laboratory of Cell Biology, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Molecular Andrology, Shanghai Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Center for Excellence in Molecular Cell Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, 200031, China
| | - Rui He
- Key Laboratory of Fertility Preservation and Maintenance of Ministry of Education, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Ningxia Medical University, Yinchuan, 750004, China
| | - Guangyong Li
- Department of Urology, General Hospital of Ningxia Medical University, Ningxia Medical University, Yinchuan, 750004, China
| | - Yue-Qiu Tan
- Institute of Reproductive and Stem Cell Engineering, College of Basic of Medicine, Central South University, Changsha, 410000, China
| | - Hui-Juan Shi
- NHC Key Lab of Reproduction Regulation (Shanghai Institute for Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Technologies), Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China
| | - Lan-Tao Gou
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology, State Key Laboratory of Cell Biology, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Molecular Andrology, Shanghai Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Center for Excellence in Molecular Cell Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, 200031, China
| | - Dangsheng Li
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology, State Key Laboratory of Cell Biology, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Molecular Andrology, Shanghai Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Center for Excellence in Molecular Cell Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, 200031, China
| | - Ligang Wu
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology, State Key Laboratory of Cell Biology, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Molecular Andrology, Shanghai Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Center for Excellence in Molecular Cell Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, 200031, China
| | - Yonggang Zheng
- Department of Physiology, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, 75390, USA
| | - Xiang-Dong Fu
- Westlake Laboratory of Life Sciences and Biomedicine, School of Life Sciences, Westlake University, Hangzhou, 310024, China
| | - Jinsong Li
- Key Laboratory of Systems Health Science of Zhejiang Province, School of Life Science, Hangzhou Institute for Advanced Study, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hangzhou, 310024, China
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology, State Key Laboratory of Cell Biology, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Molecular Andrology, Shanghai Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Center for Excellence in Molecular Cell Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, 200031, China
- School of Life Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai, 201210, China
| | - Rujuan Liu
- School of Life Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai, 201210, China.
| | - Guo-Hui Li
- Laboratory of Molecular Modeling and Design, State Key Laboratory of Molecular Reaction Dynamics, Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Dalian, 116023, China.
| | - Mo-Fang Liu
- Key Laboratory of Systems Health Science of Zhejiang Province, School of Life Science, Hangzhou Institute for Advanced Study, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hangzhou, 310024, China.
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology, State Key Laboratory of Cell Biology, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Molecular Andrology, Shanghai Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Center for Excellence in Molecular Cell Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, 200031, China.
- School of Life Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai, 201210, China.
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Zhang W, Zheng Z, Wang K, Mao W, Li X, Wang G, Zhang Y, Huang J, Zhang N, Wu P, Liu J, Zhang H, Che J, Peng B, Zheng J, Li W, Yao X. piRNA-1742 promotes renal cell carcinoma malignancy by regulating USP8 stability through binding to hnRNPU and thereby inhibiting MUC12 ubiquitination. Exp Mol Med 2023; 55:1258-1271. [PMID: 37332045 PMCID: PMC10318070 DOI: 10.1038/s12276-023-01010-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/24/2022] [Revised: 02/13/2023] [Accepted: 03/15/2023] [Indexed: 06/20/2023] Open
Abstract
Accumulating studies have confirmed that PIWI-interacting RNAs (piRNAs) are considered epigenetic effectors in cancer. We performed piRNA microarray expression analysis on renal cell carcinoma (RCC) tumor tissues and paired normal tissues and performed a series of in vivo and in vitro experiments to explore piRNAs associated with RCC progression and investigate their functional mechanisms. We found that piR-1742 was highly expressed in RCC tumors and that patients with high piR-1742 expression had a poor prognosis. Inhibition of piR-1742 significantly reduced tumor growth in RCC xenograft and organoid models. Mechanistically, piRNA-1742 regulates the stability of USP8 mRNA by binding directly to hnRNPU, which acts as a deubiquitinating enzyme that inhibits the ubiquitination of MUC12 and promotes the development of malignant RCC. Subsequently, nanotherapeutic systems loaded with piRNA-1742 inhibitors were found to effectively inhibit the metastasis and growth of RCC in vivo. Therefore, this study highlights the functional importance of piRNA-related ubiquitination in RCC and demonstrates the development of a related nanotherapeutic system, possibly contributing to the development of therapeutic approaches for RCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wentao Zhang
- Department of Urology, Shanghai Tenth People's Hospital, Tongji University, Shanghai, P. R. China
- Urologic Cancer Institute, School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai, P. R. China
| | - Zongtai Zheng
- Department of Urology, Guangdong Second Provincial General Hospital, Guangzhou, P. R. China
| | - Keyi Wang
- Department of Urology, Shanghai Tenth People's Hospital, Tongji University, Shanghai, P. R. China
- Urologic Cancer Institute, School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai, P. R. China
| | - Weipu Mao
- Department of Urology, Shanghai Tenth People's Hospital, Tongji University, Shanghai, P. R. China
- Urologic Cancer Institute, School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai, P. R. China
- Department of Urology, Affiliated Zhongda Hospital of Southeast University, Nanjing, P. R. China
| | - Xue Li
- Department of Pathology, Beijing Chao-Yang Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, P. R. China
| | - Guangchun Wang
- Department of Urology, Shanghai Tenth People's Hospital, Tongji University, Shanghai, P. R. China
- Urologic Cancer Institute, School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai, P. R. China
| | - Yuanyuan Zhang
- Institute for Regenerative Medicine, Wake Forest University, Winston-Salem, NC, USA
| | - Jianhua Huang
- Department of Urology, Shanghai Tenth People's Hospital, Tongji University, Shanghai, P. R. China
- Urologic Cancer Institute, School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai, P. R. China
| | - Ning Zhang
- Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Pengfei Wu
- Department of Urology, Shanghai Tenth People's Hospital, Tongji University, Shanghai, P. R. China
- Urologic Cancer Institute, School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai, P. R. China
| | - Ji Liu
- Department of Urology, Shanghai Tenth People's Hospital, Tongji University, Shanghai, P. R. China
- Urologic Cancer Institute, School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai, P. R. China
| | - Haimin Zhang
- Department of Urology, Shanghai Tenth People's Hospital, Tongji University, Shanghai, P. R. China
- Urologic Cancer Institute, School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai, P. R. China
| | - Jianping Che
- Department of Urology, Shanghai Tenth People's Hospital, Tongji University, Shanghai, P. R. China
- Urologic Cancer Institute, School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai, P. R. China
| | - Bo Peng
- Department of Urology, Shanghai Tenth People's Hospital, Tongji University, Shanghai, P. R. China.
- Urologic Cancer Institute, School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai, P. R. China.
| | - Junhua Zheng
- State Key Laboratory of Oncogenes and Related Genes, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, P. R. China.
- Department of Urology, Renji Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, P. R. China.
| | - Wei Li
- Department of Urology, Shanghai Tenth People's Hospital, Tongji University, Shanghai, P. R. China.
- Urologic Cancer Institute, School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai, P. R. China.
- Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.
| | - Xudong Yao
- Department of Urology, Shanghai Tenth People's Hospital, Tongji University, Shanghai, P. R. China.
- Urologic Cancer Institute, School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai, P. R. China.
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The epigenetic regulatory mechanism of PIWI/piRNAs in human cancers. Mol Cancer 2023; 22:45. [PMID: 36882835 PMCID: PMC9990219 DOI: 10.1186/s12943-023-01749-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/25/2022] [Accepted: 02/16/2023] [Indexed: 03/09/2023] Open
Abstract
PIWI proteins have a strong correlation with PIWI-interacting RNAs (piRNAs), which are significant in development and reproduction of organisms. Recently, emerging evidences have indicated that apart from the reproductive function, PIWI/piRNAs with abnormal expression, also involve greatly in varieties of human cancers. Moreover, human PIWI proteins are usually expressed only in germ cells and hardly in somatic cells, so the abnormal expression of PIWI proteins in different types of cancer offer a promising opportunity for precision medicine. In this review, we discussed current researches about the biogenesis of piRNA, its epigenetic regulatory mechanisms in human cancers, such as N6-methyladenosine (m6A) methylation, histone modifications, DNA methylation and RNA interference, providing novel insights into the markers for clinical diagnosis, treatment and prognosis in human cancers.
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49
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Herbert A, Pavlov F, Konovalov D, Poptsova M. Conserved microRNAs and Flipons Shape Gene Expression during Development by Altering Promoter Conformations. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:ijms24054884. [PMID: 36902315 PMCID: PMC10003719 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24054884] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/27/2022] [Revised: 02/09/2023] [Accepted: 02/14/2023] [Indexed: 03/06/2023] Open
Abstract
The classical view of gene regulation draws from prokaryotic models, where responses to environmental changes involve operons regulated by sequence-specific protein interactions with DNA, although it is now known that operons are also modulated by small RNAs. In eukaryotes, pathways based on microRNAs (miR) regulate the readout of genomic information from transcripts, while alternative nucleic acid structures encoded by flipons influence the readout of genetic programs from DNA. Here, we provide evidence that miR- and flipon-based mechanisms are deeply connected. We analyze the connection between flipon conformation and the 211 highly conserved human miR that are shared with other placental and other bilateral species. The direct interaction between conserved miR (c-miR) and flipons is supported by sequence alignments and the engagement of argonaute proteins by experimentally validated flipons as well as their enrichment in promoters of coding transcripts important in multicellular development, cell surface glycosylation and glutamatergic synapse specification with significant enrichments at false discovery rates as low as 10-116. We also identify a second subset of c-miR that targets flipons essential for retrotransposon replication, exploiting that vulnerability to limit their spread. We propose that miR can act in a combinatorial manner to regulate the readout of genetic information by specifying when and where flipons form non-B DNA (NoB) conformations, providing the interactions of the conserved hsa-miR-324-3p with RELA and the conserved hsa-miR-744 with ARHGAP5 genes as examples.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alan Herbert
- InsideOutBio, 42 8th Street, Charlestown, MA 02129, USA
- Correspondence:
| | - Fedor Pavlov
- Laboratory of Bioinformatics, Faculty of Computer Science, National Research University Higher School of Economics, 11 Pokrovsky Bulvar, 101000 Moscow, Russia
| | - Dmitrii Konovalov
- Laboratory of Bioinformatics, Faculty of Computer Science, National Research University Higher School of Economics, 11 Pokrovsky Bulvar, 101000 Moscow, Russia
| | - Maria Poptsova
- Laboratory of Bioinformatics, Faculty of Computer Science, National Research University Higher School of Economics, 11 Pokrovsky Bulvar, 101000 Moscow, Russia
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Orbán TI. One locus, several functional RNAs-emerging roles of the mechanisms responsible for the sequence variability of microRNAs. Biol Futur 2023:10.1007/s42977-023-00154-7. [PMID: 36847925 DOI: 10.1007/s42977-023-00154-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/24/2022] [Accepted: 02/08/2023] [Indexed: 03/01/2023]
Abstract
With the development of modern molecular genetics, the original "one gene-one enzyme" hypothesis has been outdated. For protein coding genes, the discovery of alternative splicing and RNA editing provided the biochemical background for the RNA repertoire of a single locus, which also serves as an important pillar for the enormous protein variability of the genomes. Non-protein coding RNA genes were also revealed to produce several RNA species with distinct functions. The loci of microRNAs (miRNAs), encoding for small endogenous regulatory RNAs, were also found to produce a population of small RNAs, rather than a single defined product. This review aims to present the mechanisms contributing to the astonishing variability of miRNAs revealed by the new sequencing technologies. One important source is the careful balance of arm selection, producing sequentially different 5p- or 3p-miRNAs from the same pre-miRNA, thereby broadening the number of regulated target RNAs and the phenotypic response. In addition, the formation of 5', 3' and polymorphic isomiRs, with variable end and internal sequences also leads to a higher number of targeted sequences, and increases the regulatory output. These miRNA maturation processes, together with other known mechanisms such as RNA editing, further increase the potential outcome of this small RNA pathway. By discussing the subtle mechanisms behind the sequence diversity of miRNAs, this review intends to reveal this engaging aspect of the inherited "RNA world", how it contributes to the almost infinite molecular variability among living organisms, and how this variability can be exploited to treat human diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tamás I Orbán
- Institute of Enzymology, Research Centre for Natural Sciences, Eötvös Loránd Research Network, Magyar Tudósok Körútja 2, Budapest, 1117, Hungary.
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