LncRNA LINC01503 aggravates the progression of cervical cancer through sponging miR-342-3p to mediate FXYD3 expression

LINC01503 in cancer: from molecular mechanisms to therapeutic implications

Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) are fundamental agents that govern tumor growth and metastasis across a spectrum of cancer types. Linc01503 is a novel lncRNA situated on human chromosome 19, and it is intricately linked with the pathogenesis of multiple human cancers, underscoring its substantial role and significance in cancer development. It has been recognized as a pivotal contributor to inducing malignant behaviors in lung cancer, gastric cancer, colorectal cancer, cholangiocarcinoma, liver cancer and pancreatic cancer, among others. The dysregulation of linc01503 has been shown to strongly associate with advanced clinicopathological factors and foretell an unfavorable prognosis, indicating its prospective clinical significance as a valuable biomarker and therapeutic target for individuals with cancer. The primary objective of the current work is to present the intricate molecular pathways governed by linc01503 and its profound clinical relevance in the context of carcinogenesis. We also focus on the future prospects of linc01503-based clinical application. This will help us to better understand the regulatory mechanism of carcinogenesis and provide new ideas for precision molecular medicine.

Roles, underlying mechanisms and clinical significances of LINC01503 in human cancers

Long intergenic non-coding RNA 01503 (LINC01503) is a long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) located on human chromosome 9q34.11. There is compelling evidence indicating that LINC01503 is upregulated in multiple types of tumors and functions as a tumor stimulator. The upregulation of LINC01503 was significantly associated with the risk of 12 tumors and showed a strong correlation with clinicopathological characteristics and poor prognosis in 9 tumors. The expression of LINC01503 is regulated by transcription factors such as TP63, EGR1, c-MYC, GATA1 and AR. The downstream regulatory mechanisms of LINC01503 are complex and multifaceted. LINC01503, as a competing endogenous RNA (ceRNA), regulates gene expression by competitively inhibiting miRNA. LINC01503 may also regulate gene expression via interacting with biomolecules or recruiting chromatin-modifying complexes. In addition, LINC01503 can abnormally activate the ERK/MAPK, PI3K/AKT and Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathways to enhance tumor progression. Here, this review presents an overview of the latest research progress of LINC01503 in the field of oncology, summarizes its comprehensive network involved in multiple cancer molecular mechanisms, and explores its potential applications in cancer diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment.

A systematic framework for identifying prognostic necroptosis-related lncRNAs and verification of lncRNA CRNDE/miR-23b-3p/IDH1 regulatory axis in glioma

Glioma remains the most frequent malignancy of the central nervous system. Recently, necroptosis has been identified as a cell death process that mediates the proliferation and development of tumor cells. LncRNAs play a key role in the diagnosis and treatment of various diseases. However, the impact that necrosis-related lncRNAs (NRLs) have on glioma remains unclear. In our studies, we selected 9 NRLs to construct a prognostic model. Meanwhile, we assessed the survival curves of these 9 NRLs. Our findings found ADGRA1-AS1 and WAC-AS1 were protective lncRNAs, while MIR210HG, LINC01503, CRNDE, HOXC-AS1, ZIM2-AS1, MIR22HG and PLBD1-AS1 were risk lncRNAs. Specifically, 12 immune cells, 25 immune-correlated pathways, and TME score were differentially expressed in the both risk groups. Additionally, the study predicted and validated the necroptosis-related lncRNA CRNDE/miR-23b-3p/IDH1 axis. CRNDE was strongly expressed in glioma specimens and several cell lines. Inhibiting CRNDE resulted in a substantial reduction in the proliferation and migration of U-118MG and U251 cells. Furthermore, the study predicted that CRNDE may exhibit oncogenic features by adsorbing miR-23b-3p and positively regulating IDH1 expression. Overall, the study constructed a prognostic model in glioma, and predicted a lncRNA CRNDE/miR-23b-3p/IDH1 axis, which could potentially be useful for gene therapy of glioma.

Molecular biology of microRNA-342 during tumor progression and invasion

Cancer is considered as one of the main causes of human deaths and health challenges in the world. Various factors are involved in the high death rate of cancer patients, including late diagnosis and drug resistance that result in treatment failure and tumor recurrence. Invasive diagnostic methods are one of the main reasons of late tumor detection in cancer patients. Therefore, it is necessary to investigate the molecular tumor biology to introduce efficient non-invasive markers. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are involved in regulation of the cellular mechanisms such as cell proliferation, apoptosis, and migration. MiRNAs deregulations have been also frequently shown in different tumor types. Here, we discussed the molecular mechanisms of miR-342 during tumor growth. MiR-342 mainly functions as a tumor suppressor by the regulation of transcription factors and signaling pathways such as WNT, PI3K/AKT, NF-kB, and MAPK. Therefore, miR-342 mimics can be used as a reliable therapeutic strategy to inhibit the tumor cells growth. The present review can also pave the way to introduce the miR-342 as a non-invasive diagnostic/prognostic marker in cancer patients.

Circular RNA circVAPA contributes to non-small-cell lung cancer progression via miR-342-3p-dependent regulation of ZEB2

BACKGROUND

Accumulating evidence demonstrated that circular RNAs (circRNAs) play pivotal regulatory roles in the pathology of cancers. Disclosing the roles and molecular mechanisms of circRNAs in tumorigenesis and development is essential to identify novel diagnostic and therapeutic targets. In this study, we explored the role of circVAPA in non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) progression and its associated mechanism.

METHODS

The expression level of RNA was analyzed by real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR). Cell proliferation was assessed by MTT assay and colony-forming assay. Cell apoptosis was analyzed by flow cytometry. Cell migration and invasion were assessed by transwell assays. Dual-luciferase reporter, RNA pull-down, and RNA immunoprecipitation (RIP) assays were used to test the intermolecular interactions. The role of circVAPA was assessed in vivo. And xenograft tumor tissues were analyzed by immunohistochemistry (IHC) staining.

RESULTS

CircVAPA expression was upregulated in NSCLC tissues and cell lines, and a high level of circVAPA was associated with a poor prognosis of NSCLC patients. CircVAPA silencing suppressed the proliferation, migration, and invasion and induced the apoptosis of NSCLC cells. CircVAPA served as a molecular sponge for microRNA-342-3p (miR-342-3p). miR-342-3p interference largely reversed circVAPA knockdown-mediated anti-tumor effects in NSCLC cells. Zinc finger E-box-binding homeobox 2 (ZEB2) was a target of miR-342-3p, and miR-342-3p overexpression suppressed the malignant behaviors of NSCLC cells largely by downregulating ZEB2. CircVAPA silence repressed xenograft tumor growth in vivo, and IHC assay confirmed that circVAPA silence restrained the proliferation and metastasis but induced the apoptosis of NSCLC cells in vivo.

CONCLUSION

CircVAPA contributes to the progression of NSCLC by binding to miR-342-3p to upregulate ZEB2. CircVAPA/miR-342-3p/ZEB2 axis might be a novel potential target for NSCLC treatment.

The Biological Significance of Long noncoding RNAs Dysregulation and their Mechanism of Regulating Signaling Pathways in Cervical Cancer

Despite the remarkable decrease in cervical cancer incidence due to the availability of the HPV vaccine and implementation of screening programs for early detection in developed countries, this cancer remains a major health problem globally, especially in developing countries where most of the cases and mortality occur. Therefore, more understanding of molecular mechanisms of cervical cancer development might lead to the discovery of more effective diagnosis and treatment options. Research on long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) demonstrates the important roles of these molecules in many physiological processes and diseases, especially cancer. In the present review, we discussed the significance of lncRNAs altered expression in cervical cancer, highlighting their roles in regulating highly conserved signaling pathways, such as mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK), Wnt/β-catenin, Notch, and phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase/protein kinase B (PI3K/AKT) pathways and their association with the progression of cervical cancer in order to bring more insight and understanding of this disease and their potential implications in cancer diagnosis and therapy.

GATA1-induced upregulation of LINC01503 promotes carboplatin resistance in ovarian carcinoma by upregulating PD-L1 via sponging miR-766-5p

Background

Ovarian Carcinoma (OCa) is a high-mortality malignancy derived from female reproductive system. Increasing evidence has identified long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) as important regulators in OCa chemoresistance. In this study, we intended to explore the role of LINC01503 in OCa resistance to carboplatin (CBP).

Methods

Gene expression was measured by reverse transcription-quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR) in OCa cells. Western blot was adopted to detect protein levels of GATA1, PD-L1, E-cadherin, N-cadherin, Vimentin, Bcl-2, Bax, cleaved caspase-3. To assess the effects of LINC01503 on the resistance of OCa cells to CBP, Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK-8), colony formation, Transwell, and flow cytometry experiments were performed to evaluate half-maximal inhibitory concentration (IC₅₀), cell viability, migrative and invasive ability, as well as cell apoptosis. Dual-luciferase reporter assay was employed to assess the associations between the genes.

Results

LINC01503 was upregulated in CBP-resistant OCa cells. LINC01503 knockdown reduced CBP resistance in OCa cells. Besides, GATA-binding protein 1 (GATA1) activated LINC01503 transcription in CBP-resistant OCa cells. MiR-766-5p was lowly expressed in CBP-resistant cells and confirmed as a target for LINC01503. In addition, miR-766-5p overexpression increased CBP sensitivity in OCa cells. PD-L1 was verified as the target of miR-766-5p. Besides, LINC01503 upregulated PD-L1 level by regulating miR-766-5p. Furthermore, rescue experiments showed that PD-L1 overexpression abrogated the inhibited impacts of blocking LINC01503 on CBP resistance in OCa cells.

Conclusion

GATA1-induced LINC01503 expedited CBP resistance in OCa cells via the miR-766-5p/PD-L1 axis, providing a new target for improving the efficacy of OCa chemotherapy.

Graphical Abstract

Hsa_circ_0004674 promotes osteosarcoma doxorubicin resistance by regulating the miR-342-3p/FBN1 axis

Background

The occurrence of chemoresistance is a common problem in tumor treatment. Circular RNA (circRNA) has been confirmed to be related to tumor chemoresistance. However, the role and the underlying molecular mechanism of hsa_circ_0004674 in the chemoresistance of osteosarcoma (OS) are still unclear.

Methods

The expression of hsa_circ_0004674, miR-342-3p, and fibrillin-1 (FBN1) was determined by qRT-PCR. Cell counting kit 8 assay was used to evaluate the doxorubicin (DXR) resistance of cells. The proliferation and apoptosis of cells were measured using colony formation assay and flow cytometry. Western blot analysis was utilized to examine the protein levels of resistance markers, Wnt/β-catenin pathway markers and FBN1. The interaction between miR-342-3p and hsa_circ_0004674 or FBN1 was confirmed by dual-luciferase reporter assay and RNA pull-down assay. Moreover, animal experiments were performed to assess the effect of hsa_circ_0004674 silencing on the DXR sensitive of OS in vivo.

Results

The upregulated hsa_circ_0004674 was found in DXR-resistant OS tissues and cells. Knockdown of hsa_circ_0004674 could inhibit the DXR resistance of OS cells in vitro and promote the DXR sensitive of OS tumors in vivo. In addition, we discovered that hsa_circ_0004674 could sponge miR-342-3p, and miR-342-3p could target FBN1. MiR-342-3p inhibitor could reverse the inhibition effect of hsa_circ_0004674 knockdown on the DXR resistance of OS cells. Similarly, the suppressive effect of miR-342-3p on the DXR resistance of OS cells also could be reversed by FBN1 overexpression. Furthermore, we revealed that hsa_circ_0004674 silencing inhibited the activity of Wnt/β-catenin pathway by the miR-342-3p/FBN1 axis.

Conclusion

Hsa_circ_0004674 facilitated the DXR resistance of OS through Wnt/β-catenin pathway via regulating the miR-342-3p/FBN1 axis, suggesting that hsa_circ_0004674 was a promising target for the chemoresistance of OS.

Expression mode and prognostic value of FXYD family members in colon cancer

The FXYD gene family comprises seven members that encode a class of small-membrane proteins characterized by an FXYD motif and interact with Na⁺/K⁺-ATPase. Until now, the expression patterns and prognostic roles of the FXYD family in colon cancer (CC) have not been systematically reported. Gene expression, methylation, clinicopathological features and the prognoses of CC patients were obtained from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database. The expression feature and prognostic values of FXYD members were identified. Gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA) was performed to explore the potential mechanism underlying the function of the FXYD family in CC. Tumor Immune Estimation Resource (TIMER) and CIBERSORT analysis were used to assess the correlations between FXYD family members and tumor immune infiltrating cells (TIICs). FXYD family members were differentially expressed in CC except for FXYD2. FXYD2, FXYD3 and FXYD4 were revealed as independent prognostic factors for recurrence, while FXYD3 and FXYD7 were identified as prognostic factors for survival according to univariate and multivariate analyses with Cox regression. GSEA revealed that FXYD family members were involved in complicated biological functions underlying cancer progression. TIMER and CIBERSORT analyses showed significant associations between FXYD family genes and TIICs. The present study comprehensively revealed the expression mode and prognostic value of FXYD members in CC, providing insights for further study of the FXYD family as potential clinical biomarkers in CC.

Upregulation of LINC01503 promotes cervical cancer progression by targeting the miR-615-3p/CCND1 axis

Mounting evidence indicates that long non-coding RNAs influence the progression of cervical cancer, but the precise function of LINC01503 in the pathogenesis of the disease remains unknown. Here, we found higher levels of LINC01503 in cervical cancer tissues. High LINC01503 expression was associated with enhanced progression of cervical cancer as indicated by advanced FIGO stage, increased metastasis of tumor cells to lymph nodes, and invasion into deeper cervical tissues. LINC01503 inhibition markedly suppressed the invasion and proliferative ability of tumor cells. Mechanistically, LINC01503 was demonstrated to negatively modulate the expression of miR-615-3p in cervical cancer. CCND1 was found to be a target of miR-615-3p. Rescue experiments indicated that LINC01503 inhibition suppressed the invasion and proliferative ability of the tumor cells, a phenomenon that was reversed following miR-615-3p inhibition or CCND1 overexpression. Collectively, these data indicate that LINC01503 enhances the progression of cervical cancer cells via interaction with miR-615-3p/CCND1 axis.

Systematic Analysis of the Expression and Prognostic Significance of P4HA1 in Pancreatic Cancer and Construction of a lncRNA-miRNA-P4HA1 Regulatory Axis

Objectives

Prolyl 4-hydroxylase subunit alpha 1 (P4HA1) plays a crucial role in modulating extracellular matrix component and promoting tumor progression by changing tumor adhesion, migration, and other biological behaviors in some cancers. However, its expression pattern, biological function, and underlying mechanism in pancreatic cancer remain largely unclear.

Materials and Methods

In this study, a set of bioinformatics tools were used to analyze the expression of P4HA1 and its prognostic value in pancreatic cancer. In addition, the mechanism through which P4HA1 promotes the progression of pancreatic cancer was explored by constructing a competing endogenous RNA (ceRNA) regulatory axis.

Results

It was found that the mRNA and protein expression of P4HA1 was significantly higher in pancreatic cancer tissues than in normal tissues. Its high P4HA1 expression correlated with poor clinicopathological features (T stage: P = 0.0078; N stage: P = 0.0124; TNM stage: P = 0.0013; pathological grade: P = 0.0108) and poor prognosis [OS: HR = 1, 95% CI (1-1.01), P = 0.00028; DSS: HR = 1, 95% CI (1-1.01), P = 0.00049; PFI: HR = 1.01, 95% CI (1.01-1.02), P = 0.0057; and DFI: HR = 1, 95% CI (1-1.01), P = 0.0034]. The LINC01503/miR-335-5p/P4HA1 axis might mediate the effects of P4HA1 in promoting the progression on pancreatic cancer.

Conclusions

Collectively, our findings suggest that high expression of P4HA1 may be used as a promising prognostic biomarker and could be considered for the development of a novel therapeutic strategy for pancreatic cancer in the future.

EGR1-mediated linc01503 promotes cell cycle progression and tumorigenesis in gastric cancer

Objectives

Long non‐coding RNAs (lncRNAs) are key mediators in various malignancies. Linc01503 was previously elucidated to promote gastric cancer (GC) cell invasion. However, the upstream mechanism of linc01503 and its involvement in GC cell cycle, apoptosis and tumorigenesis still remain unclear.

Materials and Methods

Bioinformatics analysis and quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (qRT‐PCR) assays were implicated to detect linc01503 level in GC. The role of linc01503 was detected by in vitro functional assays and in vivo xenograft tumour models. The association between linc01503 and its upstream effector was identified by chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) assays. The mechanistic model of linc01503 was clarified using subcellular separation, fluorescence in situ hybridization, RNA‐sequencing, RNA immunoprecipitation (RIP) and ChIP assays.

Results

Linc01503 was remarkably elevated in GC and tightly linked with the overall survival of patients with GC. The key transcription factor early growth response protein 1 (EGR1) critically activated the transcription of linc01503. Functionally, linc01503 knockdown resulted in the activation of apoptosis and G1/G0 phase arrest in GC. Mechanistically, linc01503 interacted with histone modification enzyme enhancer of zeste 2 (EZH2) and lysine (K)‐specific demethylase 1A (LSD1), thereby mediating the transcriptional silencing of dual‐specificity phosphatase 5 (DUSP5) and cyclin‐dependent kinase inhibitor 1A (CDKN1A) in GC.

Conclusions

EGR1‐activated linc01503 could epigenetically silence DUSP5/CDKN1A expression to mediate cell cycle progression and tumorigenesis, implicating it as a prospective target for GC therapeutics.

Ultrasound Microbubble-Mediated microRNA-505 Regulates Cervical Cancer Cell Growth via AKT2

The application of ultrasound and microbubbles (USMB-) mediated microRNA (miR) is a promising approach of gene delivery for cancer treatment. We aimed to discuss the effects of USMB-miR-505 on cervical cancer (CC) development. miR-505 mediated by USMB was prepared. The effect of miR-505 on its transfection efficiency and the effect of miR-505 on HeLa cell proliferation, cell cycle, apoptosis, migration, and invasion were studied. The target gene of miR-505 was predicted, and its expression in CC was detected. The effect of the target gene on HeLa cells was further verified. USMB-miR-505 showed a higher transfection efficiency than miR-505 alone. The inhibitory effect of miR-505 mediated by USMB on HeLa cells was better than miR-505. miR-505 targeted AKT2, which was upregulated in CC. Overexpression of AKT2 reversed the inhibitory effect of USMB-miR-505 on HeLa cell malignant behaviors. Overall, we highlighted that USMB-miR-505 inhibited HeLa cell malignant behaviors by targeting AKT2.