Long non-coding RNA NCK1-AS1 is overexpressed in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma and predicts survival

Osthole mitigates the myofibroblast properties in oral submucous fibrosis by suppressing the TGF-β/smad2 signaling pathway and NCK-AS1 expression

Background/purpose

Natural products are gaining increasing recognition as an alternative source for alleviating fibrosis as they can regulate various mediators or pathways against fibrosis by targeting non-coding RNAs. In the current study, we aimed to investigate the therapeutic effects of osthole in oral submucous fibrosis (OSF), a precancerous condition of the oral cavity.

Materials and methods

The cytotoxicity of osthole to normal and fibrotic buccal mucosal fibroblasts (fBMFs) derived from OSF tissues was assessed using MTT assay. Collagen gel contraction and transwell migration assays were conducted to examine the myofibroblast activities. Besides, the expression of TGF-β/Smad2 signaling as well as α-SMA and type I collagen were measured. Additionally, RNA sequencing was used to identify a potential target involved in the anti-fibrotic effect of osthole.

Results

Osthole exhibited a higher cytotoxic effect on fBMFs compared to normal BMFs and dose-dependently reduced several myofibroblast activities, including collagen gel contractility and transwell migration ability. In addition, the expression of the TGF-β/Smad2 pathway was inhibited along with a lower expression of α-SMA and type I collagen in osthole-receiving cells. Moreover, the administration of osthole downregulated the expression of NCK1-AS1 in fBMFs, which was proven to mediate the anti-fibrosis property of osthole.

Conclusion

Our results indicate that osthole may be a promising compound to inhibit the progression of OSF.

NCK1 antisense RNA 1 (NCK1-AS1) exerts pro-fibrosis property in oral mucosa through modulation of miR-137/NCK1 axis

Background/Purpose

Oral submucous fibrosis (OSF) is a premalignant condition of the oral cavity, and its pathogenesis remains largely unknown. A multitude of non-coding RNAs are aberrantly expressed in OSF, and their implication for the development of OSF is a matter meriting investigation.

Materials and methods

The functional role of long non-coding RNA NCK1-AS1 in myofibroblast activation of fibrotic buccal mucosal fibroblasts (fBMFs) derived from OSF tissues was assessed. Wound healing, collagen gel contraction and transwell migration assays have been employed to assess the myofibroblast activities. In addition, a luciferase-based reporter assay was used to illustrate the potential mechanism underlying the regulation of NCK1-AS1 in myofibroblast activation.

Results

Silencing of NCK1-AS1 markedly downregulated myofibroblast activation and the expression of fibrosis markers in fBMFs. Besides, we demonstrated that NCK1-AS1 directly interacted with microRNA-137 (miR-137) and was negatively correlated with it. Moreover, we found that NCK1 was a target of miR-137 and positively related to NCK1-AS1. Our results demonstrated that NCK1-AS1 may regulate myofibroblast activation by suppressing miR-137 and upregulating NCK1.

Conclusion

We showed that NCK1-AS1 acted as a sponge of miR-137 and titrated the suppressive effect of miR-137 on NCK1 to modulate myofibroblast activation in OSF condition.

Non‑coding RNA: A promising diagnostic biomarker and therapeutic target for esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (Review)

Esophageal cancer (EC) is a common form of malignant tumor in the digestive system that is classified into two types: Esophageal squamous cell carcinomas (ESCC) and esophageal adenocarcinoma. ESCC is known for its early onset of symptoms, which can be difficult to identify, as well as its rapid progression and tendency to develop drug resistance to chemotherapy and radiotherapy. These factors contribute to the high incidence of disease and low cure rate. Therefore, a diagnostic biomarker and therapeutic target need to be identified for ESCC. Non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) are a class of molecules that are transcribed from DNA but do not encode proteins. Initially, ncRNAs were considered to be non-functional segments generated during transcription. However, with advancements in high-throughput sequencing technologies in recent years, ncRNAs have been associated with poor prognosis, drug resistance and progression of ESCC. The present study provides a comprehensive overview of the biogenesis, characteristics and functions of ncRNAs, particularly focusing on microRNA, long ncRNAs and circular RNAs. Furthermore, the ncRNAs that could potentially be used as diagnostic biomarkers and therapeutic targets for ESCC are summarized to highlight their application value and prospects in ESCC.

Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms (SNPs) in the Shadows: Uncovering their Function in Non-Coding Region of Esophageal Cancer

Esophageal cancer is a complex disease influenced by genetic and environmental factors. Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in non-coding regions of the genome have emerged as crucial contributors to esophageal cancer susceptibility. This review provides a comprehensive overview of the role of SNPs in non-coding regions and their association with esophageal cancer. The accumulation of SNPs in the genome has been implicated in esophageal cancer risk. Various studies have identified specific locations in the genome where SNPs are more likely to occur, suggesting a location-specific response. Chromatin conformational studies have shed light on the localization of SNPs and their impact on gene transcription, posttranscriptional modifications, gene expression regulation, and histone modification. Furthermore, miRNA-related SNPs have been found to play a significant role in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC). These SNPs can affect miRNA binding sites, thereby altering target gene regulation and contributing to ESCC development. Additionally, the risk of ESCC has been linked to base excision repair, suggesting that SNPs in this pathway may influence disease susceptibility. Somatic DNA segment alterations and modified expression quantitative trait loci (eQTL) have also been associated with ESCC. These alterations can lead to disrupted gene expression and cellular processes, ultimately contributing to cancer development and progression. Moreover, SNPs have been found to be associated with the long non-coding RNA HOTAIR, which plays a crucial role in ESCC pathogenesis. This review concludes with a discussion of the current and future perspectives in the field of SNPs in non-coding regions and their relevance to esophageal cancer. Understanding the functional implications of these SNPs may lead to the identification of novel therapeutic targets and the development of personalized approaches for esophageal cancer prevention and treatment.

The Role of the Transforming Growth Factor-β Signaling Pathway in Gastrointestinal Cancers

Transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) has attracted attention as a tumor suppressor because of its potent growth-suppressive effect on epithelial cells. Dysregulation of the TGF-β signaling pathway is considered to be one of the key factors in carcinogenesis, and genetic alterations affecting TGF-β signaling are extraordinarily common in cancers of the gastrointestinal system, such as hereditary nonpolyposis colon cancer and pancreatic cancer. Accumulating evidence suggests that TGF-β is produced from various types of cells in the tumor microenvironment and mediates extracellular matrix deposition, tumor angiogenesis, the formation of CAFs, and suppression of the anti-tumor immune reaction. It is also being considered as a factor that promotes the malignant transformation of cancer, particularly the invasion and metastasis of cancer cells, including epithelial-mesenchymal transition. Therefore, elucidating the role of TGF-β signaling in carcinogenesis, cancer invasion, and metastasis will provide novel basic insight for diagnosis and prognosis and the development of new molecularly targeted therapies for gastrointestinal cancers. In this review, we outline an overview of the complex mechanisms and functions of TGF-β signaling. Furthermore, we discuss the therapeutic potentials of targeting the TGF-β signaling pathway for gastrointestinal cancer treatment and discuss the remaining challenges and future perspectives on targeting this pathway.

A review on the role of NCK1 Antisense RNA 1 (NCK1-AS1) in diverse disorders

NCK1 Antisense RNA 1 (NCK1-AS1), alternatively named as NCK1-DT, is a long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) with important roles in the carcinogenesis. Multiple studies verified its oncogenic role in different types of cancer, including gastric cancer, non-small cell lung cancer, glioma, prostate cancer and cervical cancer. NCK1-AS1 functions as a sponge for several microRNAs, including miR-137, miR-22-3p, miR-526b-5p, miR-512-5p, miR-138-2-3p and miR-6857. In this review we present an outline of NCK1-AS1 function in malignant conditions as well as atherosclerosis.

LncRNA NCK1-AS1-mediated regulatory functions in human diseases

Disease development requires the activation of complex multi-factor processes involving numerous long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs), which describe non-protein-coding RNAs longer than 200 nucleotides. Emerging evidence indicates that lncRNAs act as essential regulators that perform pivotal roles in the pathogenesis and progression of human diseases. The mechanisms underlying lncRNA involvement in diverse diseases have been extensively explored, and lncRNAs are considered powerful biomarkers for clinical practice. The lncRNA noncatalytic region of tyrosine kinase adaptor protein 1 (NCK1) antisense 1 (NCK1-AS1), also known as NCK1 divergent transcript (NCK1-DT), is encoded on human chromosome 3q22.3 and produces a 27,274-base-long transcript. NCK1-AS1 has increasingly been characterized as a causative agent for multiple diseases. The abnormal expression and involvement of NCK1-AS1 in various biological processes have been associated with several diseases. Further exploration of the mechanisms through which NCK1-AS1 contributes to disease development and progression will provide a foundation for potential clinical applications of NCK1-AS1 in the diagnosis and treatment of various diseases. This review summarizes the current understanding of the various functions and mechanisms through which NCK1-AS1 contributes to various diseases and the clinical application prospects for NCK1-AS1.

The Emerging Role of Long Non-Coding RNAs in Esophageal Cancer: Functions in Tumorigenesis and Clinical Implications

Esophageal cancer (EC) is one of the most common malignancies of digestive tracts with poor five-year survival rate. Hence, it is very significant to further investigate the occurrence and development mechanism of esophageal cancer, find more effective biomarkers and promote early diagnosis and effective treatment. Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) are generally defined as non-protein-coding RNAs with more than 200 nucleotides in length. Existing researches have shown that lncRNAs could act as sponges, guides, scaffolds, and signal molecules to influence the oncogene or tumor suppressor expressions at transcriptional, post-transcriptional, and protein levels in crucial cellular processes. Currently, the dysregulated lncRNAs are reported to involve in the pathogenesis and progression of EC. Importantly, targeting EC-related lncRNAs through genome editing, RNA interference and molecule drugs may be one of the most potential therapeutic methods for the future EC treatment. In this review, we summarized the biological functions and molecular mechanisms of lncRNAs, including oncogenic lncRNAs and tumor suppressor lncRNAs in EC. In addition, we generalized the excellent potential lncRNA candidates for diagnosis, prognosis and therapy in EC. Finally, we discussed the current challenges and opportunities of lncRNAs for EC.