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Clark SL, Hartwell EE, Choi DS, Krystal JH, Messing RO, Ferguson LB. Next-generation biomarkers for alcohol consumption and alcohol use disorder diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment: A critical review. ALCOHOL, CLINICAL & EXPERIMENTAL RESEARCH 2025; 49:5-24. [PMID: 39532676 PMCID: PMC11747793 DOI: 10.1111/acer.15476] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/16/2024] [Revised: 10/04/2024] [Accepted: 10/14/2024] [Indexed: 11/16/2024]
Abstract
This critical review summarizes the current state of omics-based biomarkers in the alcohol research field. We first provide definitions and background information on alcohol and alcohol use disorder (AUD), biomarkers, and "omic" technologies. We next summarize using (1) genetic information as risk/prognostic biomarkers for the onset of alcohol-related problems and the progression from regular drinking to problematic drinking (including AUD), (2) epigenetic information as diagnostic biomarkers for AUD and risk biomarkers for alcohol consumption, (3) transcriptomic information as diagnostic biomarkers for AUD, risk biomarkers for alcohol consumption, and (4) metabolomic information as diagnostic biomarkers for AUD, risk biomarkers for alcohol consumption, and predictive biomarkers for response to acamprosate in subjects with AUD. In the final section, the clinical implications of the findings are discussed, and recommendations are made for future research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shaunna L. Clark
- Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, USA
| | - Emily E. Hartwell
- Mental Illness Research, Education and Clinical Center, Crescenz Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Philadelphia, PA, USA
- Center for Studies of Addiction, Department of Psychiatry, Perelman School of Medicine of the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Doo-Sup Choi
- Department of Molecular Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics, Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and Science, Rochester, MN, USA
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychology, Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and Science, Rochester, MN, USA
- Neuroscience Program, Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and Science, Rochester, MN, USA
| | - John H. Krystal
- Department of Psychiatry, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Robert O. Messing
- Waggoner Center for Alcohol and Addiction Research, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas, USA
- Department of Neurology, Dell Medical School, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas, USA
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas, USA
| | - Laura B. Ferguson
- Waggoner Center for Alcohol and Addiction Research, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas, USA
- Department of Neurology, Dell Medical School, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas, USA
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas, USA
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2
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Ngo AL, Ahmad CM, Gharavi Alkhansari N, Nguyen L, Zhang H. Epigenetic Insights into Substance Use Disorder and Associated Psychiatric Conditions. Complex Psychiatry 2025; 11:12-36. [PMID: 40201238 PMCID: PMC11975344 DOI: 10.1159/000544912] [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: 09/11/2024] [Accepted: 02/19/2025] [Indexed: 04/10/2025] Open
Abstract
Background Substance use disorder (SUD) is closely associated with epigenetic modifications that significantly impact mental health outcomes. Alcohol and drug misuse induce widespread changes in the epigenome and transcriptome of the central nervous system, disrupting critical processes such as reward signaling and emotional regulation. These alterations in epigenetic regulation and gene expression often persist even after substance cessation, potentially contributing to the onset or worsening of psychiatric conditions, including schizophrenia, depression, stress, and anxiety. Summary This review delves into key epigenetic mechanisms underlying SUD and its comorbid psychiatric disorders, with a focus on DNA methylation, histone modifications, and noncoding RNA regulation. Additionally, it examines the influence of environmental and biological factors on the epigenome and evaluates emerging epigenetic-based therapeutic strategies aimed at treating SUD and related psychiatric conditions. Key Messages Gaining a deeper understanding of the epigenetic mechanisms driving SUD and its associated psychiatric disorders is crucial for the development of effective therapeutic interventions. This review highlights the potential of epigenetic-based pharmacological strategies to mitigate the societal and personal burdens linked to SUD and its mental health complications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ambrose Loc Ngo
- College of Medicine, Kansas City University, Kansas City, MO, USA
| | | | | | - Linda Nguyen
- College of Pharmacy, Western University, Pomona, CA, USA
| | - Huiping Zhang
- Department of Psychiatry, Boston University Chobanian and Avedisian School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA
- Section of Biomedical Genetics, Department of Medicine, Boston University Chobanian and Avedisian School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA
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3
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Severtsev VV, Pavkina MA, Ivanets NN, Vinnikova MA, Yakovlev AA. Extracellular Vesicles as Potential Biomarkers in Addictive Disorders. BIOCHEMISTRY. BIOKHIMIIA 2024; 89:1970-1984. [PMID: 39647826 DOI: 10.1134/s0006297924110117] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/22/2024] [Revised: 08/03/2024] [Accepted: 08/09/2024] [Indexed: 12/10/2024]
Abstract
Small extracellular vesicles (sEVs) and their role in mental and addictive disorders are extremely promising research areas. Because of their small size, sEVs can pass through the blood-brain barrier. The membrane of sEVs contain proteins that protect them against destruction by the organism's immune system. Due to these properties, sEVs circulating in the blood can be used as potential biomarkers of processes occurring in the brain. Exposure to psychoactive substances in vitro and in vivo affects sEV biogenesis and significantly alters the amount of sEVs and chemical composition of their cargo. Based on the published reports, sEVs carry numerous potential biomarkers of addictive pathologies, although the diagnostic significance of these markers still has to be evaluated. A large body of evidence indicates that psychoactive substances influence Rab family GTPases, Toll-like receptors, complement system components, and cytokines. In some studies, the effect of psychoactive substances on sEVs was found to be sex-dependent. It has become commonly accepted that sEVs are involved in the regulation of neuroinflammation and interaction between glial cells and neurons, as well as between peripheral cells and cells of the central nervous system. Here, we formulated a hypothesis on the existence of two mechanisms/stages involved in the effect of psychoactive substances on sEVs: the "fast" mechanism that provides neuroplasticity, and the "slow" one, resulting from the impaired biogenesis of sEVs and formation of aberrant vesicles.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vsevolod V Severtsev
- Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University, Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation, Moscow, 119048, Russia.
- Lopukhin Federal Research and Clinical Center of Physical-Chemical Medicine, Federal Medical-Biological Agency of the Russian Federation, Moscow, 143007, Russia
| | - Margarita A Pavkina
- Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University, Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation, Moscow, 119048, Russia
| | - Nikolay N Ivanets
- Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University, Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation, Moscow, 119048, Russia
| | - Maria A Vinnikova
- Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University, Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation, Moscow, 119048, Russia
- Moscow Scientific and Practical Center of Narcology, Moscow Healthcare Department, Moscow, 109390, Russia
| | - Alexander A Yakovlev
- Institute of Higher Nervous Activity and Neurophysiology, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, 117485, Russia
- Research and Clinical Center for Neuropsychiatry, Moscow Healthcare Department, Moscow, 115419, Russia
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4
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Wang JQ, Liang J, Wang JL, Shan F, Cao Y, Zhou X, Yan CY, Xia QR, Liu YR. Evaluation of plasma-derived extracellular vesicles miRNAs and their connection with hippocampal mRNAs in alcohol use disorder. Life Sci 2024; 351:122820. [PMID: 38857652 DOI: 10.1016/j.lfs.2024.122820] [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: 02/01/2024] [Revised: 06/05/2024] [Accepted: 06/07/2024] [Indexed: 06/12/2024]
Abstract
Alcohol use disorder (AUD) is a common mental illness with high morbidity and disability. The discovery of laboratory biomarkers has progressed slowly, resulting in suboptimal diagnosis and treatment of AUD. This study aimed to identify promising biomarkers, as well as the potential miRNA-mRNA networks associated with AUD pathogenesis. RNA sequencing was performed on plasma-derived small extracellular vesicles (sEVs) from AUD patients and healthy controls (HCs) to harvest miRNAs expression profiles. Machine learning (ML) models were built to screen characteristic miRNAs, whose target mRNAs were analyzed using TargetScan, miRanda and miRDB databases. Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) datasets (GSE181804 and GSE180722) providing postmortem hippocampal gene expression profiles of AUD subjects were mined. A total of 247 differentially expressed (DE) plasma-derived sEVs miRNAs and 122 DE hippocampal mRNAs were obtained. Then, 22 overlapping sEVs miRNAs with high importance scores were gained by intersecting 5 ML models. As a result, we established a putative sEVs miRNA-hippocampal mRNA network that can effectively distinguish AUD patients from HCs. In conclusion, we proposed 5 AUD-representative sEVs miRNAs (hsa-miR-144-5p, hsa-miR-182-5p, hsa-miR-142-5p, hsa-miR-7-5p, and hsa-miR-15b-5p) that may participate in the pathogenesis of AUD by modulating downstream target hippocampal genes. These findings may provide novel insights into the diagnosis and treatment of AUD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jie-Quan Wang
- Department of Pharmacy, Affiliated Psychological Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei 230000, China; Psychopharmacology Research Laboratory, Anhui Mental Health Center, Hefei 230000, China; Department of Pharmacy, Hefei Fourth People's Hospital, Hefei 230000, China; Anhui Clinical Research Center for Mental Disorders, Hefei 230000, China
| | - Jun Liang
- Department of Pharmacy, Affiliated Psychological Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei 230000, China; Psychopharmacology Research Laboratory, Anhui Mental Health Center, Hefei 230000, China; Department of Pharmacy, Hefei Fourth People's Hospital, Hefei 230000, China; Anhui Clinical Research Center for Mental Disorders, Hefei 230000, China
| | - Jin-Liang Wang
- Department of Pharmacy, Affiliated Psychological Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei 230000, China; Psychopharmacology Research Laboratory, Anhui Mental Health Center, Hefei 230000, China; Department of Pharmacy, Hefei Fourth People's Hospital, Hefei 230000, China; Anhui Clinical Research Center for Mental Disorders, Hefei 230000, China
| | - Feng Shan
- Department of Pharmacy, Affiliated Psychological Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei 230000, China; Psychopharmacology Research Laboratory, Anhui Mental Health Center, Hefei 230000, China; Department of Pharmacy, Hefei Fourth People's Hospital, Hefei 230000, China; Anhui Clinical Research Center for Mental Disorders, Hefei 230000, China
| | - Yin Cao
- Department of Pharmacy, Affiliated Psychological Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei 230000, China; Psychopharmacology Research Laboratory, Anhui Mental Health Center, Hefei 230000, China; Department of Pharmacy, Hefei Fourth People's Hospital, Hefei 230000, China; Anhui Clinical Research Center for Mental Disorders, Hefei 230000, China
| | - Xuan Zhou
- Department of Pharmacy, Affiliated Psychological Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei 230000, China; Psychopharmacology Research Laboratory, Anhui Mental Health Center, Hefei 230000, China; Department of Pharmacy, Hefei Fourth People's Hospital, Hefei 230000, China; Anhui Clinical Research Center for Mental Disorders, Hefei 230000, China
| | - Chun-Yu Yan
- Department of Pharmacy, Affiliated Psychological Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei 230000, China; Psychopharmacology Research Laboratory, Anhui Mental Health Center, Hefei 230000, China; Department of Pharmacy, Hefei Fourth People's Hospital, Hefei 230000, China; Anhui Clinical Research Center for Mental Disorders, Hefei 230000, China
| | - Qing-Rong Xia
- Department of Pharmacy, Affiliated Psychological Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei 230000, China; Psychopharmacology Research Laboratory, Anhui Mental Health Center, Hefei 230000, China; Department of Pharmacy, Hefei Fourth People's Hospital, Hefei 230000, China; Anhui Clinical Research Center for Mental Disorders, Hefei 230000, China.
| | - Ya-Ru Liu
- Department of Pharmacy, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei 230001, China; The Grade 3 Pharmaceutical Chemistry Laboratory of State Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Hefei 230001, China.
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Nakashima M, Suga N, Yoshikawa S, Ikeda Y, Matsuda S. Potential Molecular Mechanisms of Alcohol Use Disorder with Non-Coding RNAs and Gut Microbiota for the Development of Superior Therapeutic Application. Genes (Basel) 2024; 15:431. [PMID: 38674366 PMCID: PMC11049149 DOI: 10.3390/genes15040431] [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: 02/16/2024] [Revised: 03/27/2024] [Accepted: 03/28/2024] [Indexed: 04/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Many investigations have evaluated the expression of noncoding RNAs (ncRNAs) as well as their related molecular functions and biological machineries in individuals with alcohol dependence. Alcohol dependence may be one of the most prevailing psychological disorders globally, and its pathogenesis is intricate and inadequately comprehended. There is substantial evidence indicating significant links between multiple genetic factors and the development of alcohol dependence. In particular, the critical roles of ncRNAs have been emphasized in the pathology of mental illnesses, probably including alcohol dependence. In the comprehension of the action of ncRNAs and their machineries of modification, furthermore, they have emerged as therapeutic targets for a variety of psychiatric illnesses, including alcohol dependence. It is worth mentioning that the dysregulated expression of ncRNAs has been regularly detected in individuals with alcohol dependence. An in-depth knowledge of the roles of ncRNAs and m6A modification may be valuable for the development of a novel treatment against alcohol dependence. In general, a more profound understanding of the practical roles of ncRNAs might make important contributions to the precise diagnosis and/or actual management of alcohol dependence. Here, in this review, we mostly focused on up-to-date knowledge regarding alterations and/or modifications in the expression of ncRNAs in individuals with alcohol dependence. Then, we present prospects for future research and therapeutic applications with a novel concept of the engram system.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | - Satoru Matsuda
- Department of Food Science and Nutrition, Nara Women’s University, Kita-Uoya Nishimachi, Nara 630-8506, Japan
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Dabrowski KR, Floris G, Gillespie A, Daws SE. Orbitofrontal intronic circular RNA from Nrxn3 mediates reward learning and motivation for reward. Prog Neurobiol 2024; 232:102546. [PMID: 38036039 PMCID: PMC10843848 DOI: 10.1016/j.pneurobio.2023.102546] [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: 07/17/2023] [Revised: 10/27/2023] [Accepted: 11/20/2023] [Indexed: 12/02/2023]
Abstract
The orbitofrontal cortex (OFC) is a vital component of brain reward circuitry that is important for reward seeking behavior. However, OFC-mediated molecular mechanisms underlying rewarding behavior are understudied. Here, we report the first circular RNA (circRNA) profile associated with appetitive reward and identify regulation of 92 OFC circRNAs by sucrose self-administration. Among these changes, we observed downregulation of circNrxn3, a circRNA originating from neurexin 3 (Nrxn3), a gene involved in synaptogenesis, learning, and memory. Transcriptomic profiling via RNA sequencing and qPCR of the OFC following in vivo knock-down of circNrxn3 revealed differential regulation of genes associated with pathways important for learning and memory and altered splicing of Nrxn3. Furthermore, circNrxn3 knock-down enhanced sucrose self-administration and motivation for sucrose. Using RNA-immunoprecipitation, we report binding of circNrxn3 to the known Nrxn3 splicing factor SAM68. circNrxn3 is the first reported circRNA capable of regulating reward behavior and circNrxn3-mediated interactions with SAM68 may impact subsequent downstream processing of RNAs such as the regulation of gene expression and splicing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Konrad R Dabrowski
- Center for Substance Abuse Research, Lewis Katz School of Medicine, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA, USA; Department of Biology, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Gabriele Floris
- Center for Substance Abuse Research, Lewis Katz School of Medicine, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA, USA; Department of Neural Sciences, Lewis Katz School of Medicine, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Aria Gillespie
- Center for Substance Abuse Research, Lewis Katz School of Medicine, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA, USA; Department of Neural Sciences, Lewis Katz School of Medicine, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Stephanie E Daws
- Center for Substance Abuse Research, Lewis Katz School of Medicine, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA, USA; Department of Neural Sciences, Lewis Katz School of Medicine, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA, USA.
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7
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Zhang W, Zhou B, Yang X, Zhao J, Hu J, Ding Y, Zhan S, Yang Y, Chen J, Zhang F, Zhao B, Deng F, Lin Z, Sun Q, Zhang F, Yao Z, Liu W, Li C, Liu KX. Exosomal circEZH2_005, an intestinal injury biomarker, alleviates intestinal ischemia/reperfusion injury by mediating Gprc5a signaling. Nat Commun 2023; 14:5437. [PMID: 37673874 PMCID: PMC10482849 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-41147-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2022] [Accepted: 08/24/2023] [Indexed: 09/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Intestinal ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury is a severe clinical condition without optimal diagnostic markers nor clear molecular etiological insights. Plasma exosomal circular RNAs (circRNAs) are valuable biomarkers and therapeutic targets for various diseases, but their role in intestinal I/R injury remains unknown. Here we screen the expression profile of circRNAs in intestinal tissue exosomes collected from intestinal I/R mice and identify circEZH2_005 as a significantly downregulated exosomal circRNA. In parallel, circEZH2_005 is also reduced in the plasma of clinical cardiac surgery patients who developed postoperative intestinal I/R injury. Exosomal circEZH2_005 displays a significant diagnostic value for intestinal injury induced by I/R. Mechanistically, circEZH2_005 is highly expressed in intestinal crypt cells. CircEZH2_005 upregulation promotes the proliferation of Lgr5+ stem cells by direct interaction with hnRNPA1, and enhanced Gprc5a stability, thereby alleviating I/R-induced intestinal mucosal damage. Hence, exosomal circEZH2_005 may serve as a biomarker for intestinal I/R injury and targeting the circEZH2_005/hnRNPA1/Gprc5a axis may be a potential therapeutic strategy for intestinal I/R injury.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenjuan Zhang
- Department of Anesthesiology, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 1838 Guangzhou Avenue North, Guangzhou, 510515, China
| | - Bowei Zhou
- Department of Anesthesiology, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 1838 Guangzhou Avenue North, Guangzhou, 510515, China
| | - Xiao Yang
- Department of Anesthesiology, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 1838 Guangzhou Avenue North, Guangzhou, 510515, China
| | - Jin Zhao
- Department of Anesthesiology, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 1838 Guangzhou Avenue North, Guangzhou, 510515, China
| | - Jingjuan Hu
- Department of Anesthesiology, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 1838 Guangzhou Avenue North, Guangzhou, 510515, China
| | - Yuqi Ding
- Department of Anesthesiology, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 1838 Guangzhou Avenue North, Guangzhou, 510515, China
| | - Shuteng Zhan
- Department of Anesthesiology, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 1838 Guangzhou Avenue North, Guangzhou, 510515, China
| | - Yifeng Yang
- Department of Anesthesiology, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 1838 Guangzhou Avenue North, Guangzhou, 510515, China
| | - Jun Chen
- Department of Anesthesiology, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 1838 Guangzhou Avenue North, Guangzhou, 510515, China
| | - Fu Zhang
- Department of Anesthesiology, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 1838 Guangzhou Avenue North, Guangzhou, 510515, China
| | - Bingcheng Zhao
- Department of Anesthesiology, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 1838 Guangzhou Avenue North, Guangzhou, 510515, China
| | - Fan Deng
- Department of Anesthesiology, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 1838 Guangzhou Avenue North, Guangzhou, 510515, China
| | - Zebin Lin
- Department of Anesthesiology, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 1838 Guangzhou Avenue North, Guangzhou, 510515, China
| | - Qishun Sun
- Department of Anesthesiology, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 1838 Guangzhou Avenue North, Guangzhou, 510515, China
| | - Fangling Zhang
- Department of Anesthesiology, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 1838 Guangzhou Avenue North, Guangzhou, 510515, China
| | - Zhiwen Yao
- Department of Anesthesiology, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 1838 Guangzhou Avenue North, Guangzhou, 510515, China
| | - Weifeng Liu
- Department of Anesthesiology, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 1838 Guangzhou Avenue North, Guangzhou, 510515, China
| | - Cai Li
- Department of Anesthesiology, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 1838 Guangzhou Avenue North, Guangzhou, 510515, China.
| | - Ke-Xuan Liu
- Department of Anesthesiology, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 1838 Guangzhou Avenue North, Guangzhou, 510515, China.
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8
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Gao X, Yu Y, Wang H, Liu G, Sun X, Wang Z, Jiang X. Emerging roles of circ_NRIP1 in tumor development and cancer therapy (Review). Oncol Lett 2023; 26:321. [PMID: 37332333 PMCID: PMC10272956 DOI: 10.3892/ol.2023.13907] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2022] [Accepted: 05/15/2023] [Indexed: 06/20/2023] Open
Abstract
Circular RNA (circRNA) is a class of endogenous non-coding RNA, a type of single-stranded covalently closed RNA molecule formed by alternative splicing of exons or introns. Previous studies have demonstrated that circRNA participates in modulating biological processes such as cell proliferation, differentiation and apoptosis, and plays key roles in tumor occurrence and development. CircRNA nuclear receptor interacting protein 1 (circ_NRIP1), a form of circRNA, is abnormally expressed in certain human tumor types. It is present at a higher abundance compared with cognate linear transcripts and can regulate malignant biological behaviors such as tumor proliferation, invasion and migration, revealing a currently unexplored frontier in cancer progression. The present review presents a pattern of circ_NRIP1 expression in various malignant tumor types and highlights its significance in cancer development, in addition to its potential as a disease indicator or future therapeutic agent.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xin Gao
- General Surgery Department, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin, Heilongjiang 150086, P.R. China
| | - Yongbo Yu
- General Surgery Department, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin, Heilongjiang 150086, P.R. China
| | - Haicun Wang
- General Surgery Department, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin, Heilongjiang 150086, P.R. China
| | - Guanglin Liu
- General Surgery Department, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin, Heilongjiang 150086, P.R. China
| | - Xinyu Sun
- General Surgery Department, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin, Heilongjiang 150086, P.R. China
| | - Zhidong Wang
- General Surgery Department, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin, Heilongjiang 150086, P.R. China
| | - Xingming Jiang
- General Surgery Department, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin, Heilongjiang 150086, P.R. China
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9
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Daws SE, Gillespie A. Circular RNA regulation and function in drug seeking phenotypes. Mol Cell Neurosci 2023; 125:103841. [PMID: 36935046 PMCID: PMC10247439 DOI: 10.1016/j.mcn.2023.103841] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/12/2022] [Revised: 02/27/2023] [Accepted: 03/06/2023] [Indexed: 03/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Drug overdoses have increased dramatically in the United States over the last decade where they are now the leading cause of accidental death. To develop efficient therapeutic options for decreasing drug consumption and overdose risk, it is critical to understand the neurobiological changes induced by drug exposure. Chronic systemic exposure to all drug classes, including opioids, psychostimulants, nicotine, cannabis, and alcohol, induces profound molecular neuroadaptations within the central nervous system that may reveal crucial information about the lasting effects that these substances impart on brain cells. Transcriptome analyses of messenger RNAs (mRNAs) have identified gene patterns in the brain that result from exposure to various classes of drugs. However, mRNAs represent only a small fraction of the RNA within the cell, and drug exposure also impacts other classes of RNA that are largely understudied, especially circular RNAs. Circular RNAs (circRNAs) are a naturally occurring RNA species formed from back-splicing events during mRNA processing and are enriched in the nervous system. circRNAs are a pleiotropic class of RNAs and have a diverse impact on cellular function, with putative functions including regulation of mRNA transcription, protein translation, microRNA sponging, and sequestration of RNA-binding proteins. Recent studies have demonstrated that circRNAs can modulate cognition and are regulated in the brain in response to drug exposure, yet very few studies have explored the contribution of circRNAs to drug seeking phenotypes. In this review, we will provide an overview of the mechanisms of circRNA function in the cell to highlight how drug-induced circRNA dysregulation may impact the molecular substrates that mediate drug seeking behavior and the current studies that have reported drug-induced dysregulation of circRNAs in the brain. Furthermore, we will discuss how principles of circRNA biology can be adapted to study circRNAs in models of drug exposure and seek to provide further insight into the neurobiology of addiction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephanie E Daws
- Center for Substance Abuse Research, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA, USA; Department of Neural Sciences, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA, USA.
| | - Aria Gillespie
- Center for Substance Abuse Research, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA, USA; Department of Neural Sciences, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA, USA
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10
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Xu W, Hong Q, Zhou Y, Chen X, Li L, Wang M, Chen W, Xie X, Zhuang D, Lai M, Zhou W, Liu H. Circulating plasma and exosome levels of the miR-320 family as a non-invasive biomarker for methamphetamine use disorder. Front Psychiatry 2023; 14:1160341. [PMID: 37181871 PMCID: PMC10167009 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2023.1160341] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2023] [Accepted: 04/06/2023] [Indexed: 05/16/2023] Open
Abstract
The neurobiological mechanism underlying methamphetamine (MA) use disorder was still unclear, and no specific biomarker exists for clinical diagnosis of this disorder. Recent studies have demonstrated that microRNAs (miRNAs) are involved in the pathological process of MA addiction. The purpose of this study was to identify novel miRNAs for the diagnosis biomarkers of MA user disorder. First, members of the miR-320 family, including miR-320a-3p, miR-320b, and miR-320c, were screened and analyzed in the circulating plasma and exosomes by microarray and sequencing. Secondly, plasma miR-320 was quantified by real-time quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) in eighty-two MA patients and fifty age-gender-matched healthy controls. Meanwhile, we also analyzed exosomal miR-320 expression in thirty-nine MA patients and twenty-one age-matched healthy controls. Furthermore, the diagnostic power was evaluated using the area under the curve (AUC) of the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve. The expression of miR-320 significantly increased in plasma and exosomes of MA patients compared with healthy controls. The AUC of the ROC curves of miR-320 in plasma and exosomes of MA patients were 0.751 and 0.962, respectively. And the sensitivities of miR-320 were 0.900 and 0.846, respectively, whereas the specificities of miR-320 were 0.537 and 0.952, respectively, in plasma and exosomes in MA patients. And the increased plasma miR-320 was positively correlated with cigarette smoking, age of onset, and daily use of MA in MA patients. Finally, cardiovascular disease, synaptic plasticity, and neuroinflammation were predicted to be the target pathways related to miR-320. Taken together, our findings indicated that plasma and exosomal miR-320 might be used as a potential blood-based biomarker for diagnosing MA use disorder.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenjin Xu
- Laboratory of Behavioral Neuroscience, Ningbo Kangning Hospital, Ningbo Institute of Microcirculation and Henbane, School of Medicine, Ningbo University, Ningbo, Zhejiang, China
- Key Laboratory of Addiction Research of Zhejiang Province, Ningbo, Zhejiang, China
| | - Qingxiao Hong
- Laboratory of Behavioral Neuroscience, Ningbo Kangning Hospital, Ningbo Institute of Microcirculation and Henbane, School of Medicine, Ningbo University, Ningbo, Zhejiang, China
- Key Laboratory of Addiction Research of Zhejiang Province, Ningbo, Zhejiang, China
| | - Yun Zhou
- Laboratory of Behavioral Neuroscience, Ningbo Kangning Hospital, Ningbo Institute of Microcirculation and Henbane, School of Medicine, Ningbo University, Ningbo, Zhejiang, China
| | - Xiaoyu Chen
- Laboratory of Behavioral Neuroscience, Ningbo Kangning Hospital, Ningbo Institute of Microcirculation and Henbane, School of Medicine, Ningbo University, Ningbo, Zhejiang, China
| | - Longhui Li
- Laboratory of Behavioral Neuroscience, Ningbo Kangning Hospital, Ningbo Institute of Microcirculation and Henbane, School of Medicine, Ningbo University, Ningbo, Zhejiang, China
- Key Laboratory of Addiction Research of Zhejiang Province, Ningbo, Zhejiang, China
| | - Majie Wang
- Laboratory of Behavioral Neuroscience, Ningbo Kangning Hospital, Ningbo Institute of Microcirculation and Henbane, School of Medicine, Ningbo University, Ningbo, Zhejiang, China
- Key Laboratory of Addiction Research of Zhejiang Province, Ningbo, Zhejiang, China
| | - Weisheng Chen
- Laboratory of Behavioral Neuroscience, Ningbo Kangning Hospital, Ningbo Institute of Microcirculation and Henbane, School of Medicine, Ningbo University, Ningbo, Zhejiang, China
- Key Laboratory of Addiction Research of Zhejiang Province, Ningbo, Zhejiang, China
| | - Xiaohu Xie
- Laboratory of Behavioral Neuroscience, Ningbo Kangning Hospital, Ningbo Institute of Microcirculation and Henbane, School of Medicine, Ningbo University, Ningbo, Zhejiang, China
- Key Laboratory of Addiction Research of Zhejiang Province, Ningbo, Zhejiang, China
| | - Dingding Zhuang
- Laboratory of Behavioral Neuroscience, Ningbo Kangning Hospital, Ningbo Institute of Microcirculation and Henbane, School of Medicine, Ningbo University, Ningbo, Zhejiang, China
- Key Laboratory of Addiction Research of Zhejiang Province, Ningbo, Zhejiang, China
| | - Miaojun Lai
- Laboratory of Behavioral Neuroscience, Ningbo Kangning Hospital, Ningbo Institute of Microcirculation and Henbane, School of Medicine, Ningbo University, Ningbo, Zhejiang, China
- Key Laboratory of Addiction Research of Zhejiang Province, Ningbo, Zhejiang, China
| | - Wenhua Zhou
- Laboratory of Behavioral Neuroscience, Ningbo Kangning Hospital, Ningbo Institute of Microcirculation and Henbane, School of Medicine, Ningbo University, Ningbo, Zhejiang, China
- Key Laboratory of Addiction Research of Zhejiang Province, Ningbo, Zhejiang, China
| | - Huifen Liu
- Laboratory of Behavioral Neuroscience, Ningbo Kangning Hospital, Ningbo Institute of Microcirculation and Henbane, School of Medicine, Ningbo University, Ningbo, Zhejiang, China
- Key Laboratory of Addiction Research of Zhejiang Province, Ningbo, Zhejiang, China
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11
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Wang X, Wang J, An Z, Yang A, Qiu M, Tan Z. CircXPO1 Promotes Glioblastoma Malignancy by Sponging miR-7-5p. Cells 2023; 12:831. [PMID: 36980172 PMCID: PMC10047377 DOI: 10.3390/cells12060831] [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: 12/13/2022] [Revised: 02/08/2023] [Accepted: 02/24/2023] [Indexed: 03/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Mounting evidence suggests that circular RNAs play important roles in the development and progression of cancers. However, their function in glioblastomas (GBM) is still unclear. By circRNA array analysis, we found that circXPO1 (hsa_circ_102737) was significantly upregulated in GBM, and qPCR analysis verified that the circXPO1 expression level was increased in both GBM tissues and cell lines. Functional studies demonstrated that the knockdown of circXPO1 in GBM cell lines repressed cell proliferation and migration; conversely, the overexpression of circXPO1 promoted the malignancy of GBM cells. In line with these findings, circXPO1 inhibition effectively suppressed gliomagenesis in the in situ transplantation model of nude mice. Through bioinformatic analyses and dual-luciferase reporter assays, we showed that circXPO1 directly bound to miR-7-5p, which acted as a tumor suppressor through the negative regulation of RAF1. In conclusion, our studies suggest that the circXPO1/miR-7-5p/RAF1 axis promotes brain tumor formation and may be a potential therapeutic target for GBM treatment.
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12
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Papageorgiou G, Amoah SK, Pierotti C, Otero M, Eckel S, Coffey K, Allan AM, Caldwell KK, Mellios N. Prenatal alcohol exposure results in brain region- and sex-specific changes in circHomer1 expression in adult mouse brain. Front Neurosci 2023; 17:1087950. [PMID: 36875647 PMCID: PMC9983553 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2023.1087950] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2022] [Accepted: 01/16/2023] [Indexed: 02/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Circular RNAs (circRNAs) are a novel category of covalently-closed non-coding RNAs mainly derived from the back-splicing of exons or introns of protein-coding genes. In addition to their inherent high overall stability, circRNAs, have been shown to have strong functional effects on gene expression via a multitude of transcriptional and post-transcriptional mechanisms. Furthermore, circRNAs, appear to be particularly enriched in the brain and able to influence both prenatal development and postnatal brain function. However, little is known about the potential involvement of circRNAs in the long term influence of prenatal alcohol exposure (PAE) in the brain and their relevance for Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASD). Using circRNA-specific quantification, we have found that circHomer1, an activity-dependent circRNA derived from Homer protein homolog 1 (Homer1) and enriched in postnatal brain, is significantly down-regulated in the male frontal cortex and hippocampus of mice subjected to modest PAE. Our data further suggest that the expression of H19, an imprinted embryonic brain-enriched long non-coding RNA (lncRNA), is significantly up-regulated in the frontal cortex of male PAE mice. Furthermore, we show opposing changes in the developmental- and brain region specific- expression of circHomer1 and H19. Lastly, we show that knockdown of H19 results in robust increases in circHomer1 but not linear HOMER1 mRNA expression in human glioblastoma cell lines. Taken together, our work uncovers notable sex- and brain region-specific alterations in circRNA and lncRNA expression following PAE and introduces novel mechanistic insights with potential relevance to FASD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Grigorios Papageorgiou
- Department of Neurosciences, University of New Mexico School of Medicine, Albuquerque, NM, United States
| | - Stephen K. Amoah
- Department of Neurosciences, University of New Mexico School of Medicine, Albuquerque, NM, United States
| | - Caroline Pierotti
- Department of Neurosciences, University of New Mexico School of Medicine, Albuquerque, NM, United States
| | - Madison Otero
- Department of Neurosciences, University of New Mexico School of Medicine, Albuquerque, NM, United States
| | - Sophie Eckel
- Department of Neurosciences, University of New Mexico School of Medicine, Albuquerque, NM, United States
| | - Kacie Coffey
- Department of Neurosciences, University of New Mexico School of Medicine, Albuquerque, NM, United States
| | - Andrea M. Allan
- Department of Neurosciences, University of New Mexico School of Medicine, Albuquerque, NM, United States
| | - Kevin K. Caldwell
- Department of Neurosciences, University of New Mexico School of Medicine, Albuquerque, NM, United States
| | - Nikolaos Mellios
- Department of Neurosciences, University of New Mexico School of Medicine, Albuquerque, NM, United States
- Autophagy, Inflammation, and Metabolism (AIM) Center, Albuquerque, NM, United States
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13
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Uterine Flushing Fluid-Derived Let-7b Targets CXCL10 to Regulate Uterine Receptivity in Goats during Embryo Implantation. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:ijms24032799. [PMID: 36769111 PMCID: PMC9917504 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24032799] [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: 11/21/2022] [Revised: 01/21/2023] [Accepted: 01/23/2023] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Exosomes have the ability to carry a wide range of chemicals, convey them to target cells or target regions, and act as "messengers." For the purpose of investigating embryo attachment, it is helpful to comprehend the range of exosomal mRNAs and miRNAs derived from the uterine flushing fluid before and after embryo attachment. In this study, we recovered exosomes from goat uterine rinsing fluid at 5, 15, and 18 days of gestation and used RNA-Seq to identify the mRNA and miRNA profiles of exosomes obtained from uterine rinsing fluid before and after embryo implantation. In total, 91 differently expressed miRNAs and 27,487 differentially expressed mRNAs were found. The target genes predicted by the differentially expressed miRNAs and the differentially expressed mRNAs were mainly membrane-related organelles with catalytic activity, binding activity, transcriptional regulation activity, and involved in metabolism, biological regulation, development, and other processes. This was revealed by GO analysis. Furthermore, KEGG analysis revealed that they were abundant in signaling pathways associated with embryo implantation, including the "PI3K-Akt signaling pathway," "Toll-like receptor signaling pathway," "TGF-beta signaling route," "Notch signaling pathway," and others. Moreover, our research has demonstrated, for the first time, that chi-let-7b-5p specifically targets the 3'UTR of CXCL10. Our research offers a fresh viewpoint on the mechanics of embryo attachment.
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14
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Domi E, Barchiesi R, Barbier E. Epigenetic Dysregulation in Alcohol-Associated Behaviors: Preclinical and Clinical Evidence. Curr Top Behav Neurosci 2023. [PMID: 36717533 DOI: 10.1007/7854_2022_410] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/01/2023]
Abstract
Alcohol use disorder (AUD) is characterized by loss of control over intake and drinking despite harmful consequences. At a molecular level, AUD is associated with long-term neuroadaptations in key brain regions that are involved in reward processing and decision-making. Over the last decades, a great effort has been made to understand the neurobiological basis underlying AUD. Epigenetic mechanisms have emerged as an important mechanism in the regulation of long-term alcohol-induced gene expression changes. Here, we review the literature supporting a role for epigenetic processes in AUD. We particularly focused on the three most studied epigenetic mechanisms: DNA methylation, Histone modification and non-coding RNAs. Clinical studies indicate an association between AUD and DNA methylation both at the gene and global levels. Using behavioral paradigms that mimic some of the characteristics of AUD, preclinical studies demonstrate that changes in epigenetic mechanisms can functionally impact alcohol-associated behaviors. While many studies support a therapeutic potential for targeting epigenetic enzymes, more research is needed to fully understand their role in AUD. Identification of brain circuits underlying alcohol-associated behaviors has made major advances in recent years. However, there are very few studies that investigate how epigenetic mechanisms can affect these circuits or impact the neuronal ensembles that promote alcohol-associated behaviors. Studies that focus on the role of circuit-specific and cell-specific epigenetic changes for clinically relevant alcohol behaviors may provide new insights on the functional role of epigenetic processes in AUD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Esi Domi
- Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, Center for Social and Affective Neuroscience, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden
- School of Pharmacy, Pharmacology Unit, Center for Neuroscience, University of Camerino, Camerino, Italy
| | - Riccardo Barchiesi
- Department of Neuroscience, Waggoner Center for Alcohol and Alcohol Addiction Research, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, USA
| | - Estelle Barbier
- Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, Center for Social and Affective Neuroscience, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden.
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15
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Baratta AM, Mangieri RA, Aziz HC, Lopez MF, Farris SP, Homanics GE. Effect of chronic intermittent ethanol vapor exposure on RNA content of brain-derived extracellular vesicles. Alcohol 2022; 105:9-24. [PMID: 36055466 PMCID: PMC10173183 DOI: 10.1016/j.alcohol.2022.08.006] [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] [Received: 03/17/2022] [Revised: 08/18/2022] [Accepted: 08/18/2022] [Indexed: 01/26/2023]
Abstract
Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are important players in normal biological function and disease pathogenesis. Of the many biomolecules packaged into EVs, coding and noncoding RNA transcripts are of particular interest for their ability to significantly alter cellular and molecular processes. Here we investigate how chronic ethanol exposure impacts EV RNA cargo and the functional outcomes of these changes. Following chronic intermittent ethanol (CIE) vapor exposure, EVs were isolated from male and female C57BL/6J mouse brain. Total RNA from EVs was analyzed by lncRNA/mRNA microarray to survey changes in RNA cargo following vapor exposure. Differential expression analysis of microarray data revealed a number of lncRNA and mRNA types differentially expressed in CIE compared to control EVs. Weighted gene co-expression network analysis identified multiple male and female specific modules related to neuroinflammation, cell death, demyelination, and synapse organization. To functionally test these changes, whole-cell voltage-clamp recordings were used to assess synaptic transmission. Incubation of nucleus accumbens brain slices with EVs led to a reduction in spontaneous excitatory postsynaptic current amplitude, although no changes in synaptic transmission were observed between control and CIE EV administration. These results indicate that CIE vapor exposure significantly changes the RNA cargo of brain-derived EVs, which have the ability to impact neuronal function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Annalisa M Baratta
- Center for Neuroscience, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States
| | - Regina A Mangieri
- College of Pharmacy, University of Texas at Austin, Texas, United States
| | - Heather C Aziz
- College of Pharmacy, University of Texas at Austin, Texas, United States
| | - Marcelo F Lopez
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Science, Charleston Alcohol Research Center, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, South Carolina, United States
| | - Sean P Farris
- Center for Neuroscience, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States; Department of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States; Department of Biomedical Informatics, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States
| | - Gregg E Homanics
- Center for Neuroscience, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States; Department of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States; Department of Pharmacology and Chemical Biology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States; Department of Neurobiology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States.
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16
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Ferguson LB, Mayfield RD, Messing RO. RNA biomarkers for alcohol use disorder. Front Mol Neurosci 2022; 15:1032362. [PMID: 36407766 PMCID: PMC9673015 DOI: 10.3389/fnmol.2022.1032362] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2022] [Accepted: 10/17/2022] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
Alcohol use disorder (AUD) is highly prevalent and one of the leading causes of disability in the US and around the world. There are some molecular biomarkers of heavy alcohol use and liver damage which can suggest AUD, but these are lacking in sensitivity and specificity. AUD treatment involves psychosocial interventions and medications for managing alcohol withdrawal, assisting in abstinence and reduced drinking (naltrexone, acamprosate, disulfiram, and some off-label medications), and treating comorbid psychiatric conditions (e.g., depression and anxiety). It has been suggested that various patient groups within the heterogeneous AUD population would respond more favorably to specific treatment approaches. For example, there is some evidence that so-called reward-drinkers respond better to naltrexone than acamprosate. However, there are currently no objective molecular markers to separate patients into optimal treatment groups or any markers of treatment response. Objective molecular biomarkers could aid in AUD diagnosis and patient stratification, which could personalize treatment and improve outcomes through more targeted interventions. Biomarkers of treatment response could also improve AUD management and treatment development. Systems biology considers complex diseases and emergent behaviors as the outcome of interactions and crosstalk between biomolecular networks. A systems approach that uses transcriptomic (or other -omic data, e.g., methylome, proteome, metabolome) can capture genetic and environmental factors associated with AUD and potentially provide sensitive, specific, and objective biomarkers to guide patient stratification, prognosis of treatment response or relapse, and predict optimal treatments. This Review describes and highlights state-of-the-art research on employing transcriptomic data and artificial intelligence (AI) methods to serve as molecular biomarkers with the goal of improving the clinical management of AUD. Considerations about future directions are also discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura B. Ferguson
- Waggoner Center for Alcohol and Addiction Research, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, United States,Department of Neurology, Dell Medical School, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, United States,Department of Neuroscience, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, United States,*Correspondence: Laura B. Ferguson,
| | - R. Dayne Mayfield
- Waggoner Center for Alcohol and Addiction Research, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, United States,Department of Neuroscience, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, United States
| | - Robert O. Messing
- Waggoner Center for Alcohol and Addiction Research, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, United States,Department of Neurology, Dell Medical School, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, United States,Department of Neuroscience, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, United States
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17
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Molibeli KM, Hu R, Liu Y, Xiong D, Tang L. Potential Clinical Applications of Exosomal Circular RNAs: More than Diagnosis. Front Mol Biosci 2021; 8:769832. [PMID: 34901159 PMCID: PMC8652074 DOI: 10.3389/fmolb.2021.769832] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/02/2021] [Accepted: 11/04/2021] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Exosomes are small vesicles derived from cells used as cell-to-cell communication goods in numerous diseases including tumorigenesis, neurological diseases, cardiovascular diseases and other diseases. Circular RNAs (circRNAs) are an innovative constituent of non-coding endogenous RNAs generated through backsplicing, catalyzed by RNA polymerase Ⅱ. These non-coding RNAs have been suggested to control gene expression through miRNA sponging, RNA-binding protein regulation and translational capabilities. Genome-wide RNA sequence analyses observed that circRNAs were stably improved in exosomes in association to parental cells. Little attention has been dedicated to exosomal circRNAs (exo-circRNAs). However, research has demonstrated that exo-circRNAs may have important regulatory functions because of their stability in cells and within exosomes. If well understood, the precise roles and mechanisms of exo-circRNAs might surge the impending clinical applications of these molecules as markers in the identification, prediction and treatment of various diseases. In this review, we outline recent findings regarding exo-circRNAs which includes their functions and highlights their potential applications and therapeutic targets in human diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kearabetsoe Matseliso Molibeli
- School of Life Science, Central South University, Changsha, China.,Xiangya School of Medicine, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Rong Hu
- School of Life Science, Central South University, Changsha, China.,Xiangya School of Medicine, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Yuze Liu
- School of Life Science, Central South University, Changsha, China.,Xiangya School of Medicine, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Dehui Xiong
- School of Life Science, Central South University, Changsha, China.,Xiangya School of Medicine, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Lijun Tang
- School of Life Science, Central South University, Changsha, China.,Xiangya School of Medicine, Central South University, Changsha, China
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18
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Sayad A, Najafi S, Kashi AH, Hosseini SJ, Akrami SM, Taheri M, Ghafouri-Fard S. Circular RNAs in renal cell carcinoma: Functions in tumorigenesis and diagnostic and prognostic potentials. Pathol Res Pract 2021; 229:153720. [PMID: 34942510 DOI: 10.1016/j.prp.2021.153720] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/07/2021] [Revised: 11/20/2021] [Accepted: 11/25/2021] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
Circular RNAs (circRNAs) are non-coding RNAs with closed ends which makes them resistant to degrading enzyme RNAse R. These RNA molecules show cell, tissue or organ specific expression. Regulatory functions have been reported for a number of circRNAs. Particularly, they have been found to affect cell cycle and control cell proliferation. CircRNAs are involved in physiological processes like natural organ development. Their dysregulation in high-throughput technologies have been shown in a growing number of diseases especially many types of cancers such as renal cell carcinoma (RCC). Differentially expressed circRNAs in RCC tissues compared to normal tissues may affect carcinogenesis process. Overexpressed circRNAs promote tumorigenic functions of RCC cell lines while down-regulated transcripts repress them. Both dysregulated circRNAs are correlated with clinicopathological features, prognosis and survival in RCC patients which along with their acceptable diagnostic values suggest them as potential biomarkers in diagnosis or prediction of prognosis of RCC patients. In this review, we have assessed tumorigenic or tumor-suppressing effects of circRNAs and also their diagnostic and prognostic potentials in RCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arezou Sayad
- Department of Medical Genetics, School of Medicine, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Sajad Najafi
- Student Research Committee, Department of Medical Biotechnology, School of Advanced Technologies in Medicine, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Amir Hossein Kashi
- Urology and Nephrology Research Center, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Seyed Jalil Hosseini
- Men's Health and Reproductive Health Research Center, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Seyed Mohamamd Akrami
- Department of Medical Genetics, School of Medicine Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Mohammad Taheri
- Urology and Nephrology Research Center, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran; Skull Base Research Center, Loghman Hakim Hospital, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
| | - Soudeh Ghafouri-Fard
- Department of Medical Genetics, School of Medicine, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
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19
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Huang P, Du S, Lin Y, Huang Z, Li H, Chen G, Chen S, Chen Q, Da L, Shi H, Wei W, Yang L, Sun Y, Zheng B. Identification of Three Potential circRNA Biomarkers of Polycystic Ovary Syndrome by Bioinformatics Analysis and Validation. Int J Gen Med 2021; 14:5959-5968. [PMID: 34588800 PMCID: PMC8473987 DOI: 10.2147/ijgm.s324126] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/16/2021] [Accepted: 08/26/2021] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Objective It is well known that circRNAs are closely involved in the progression of various diseases. However, their functions and potential regulatory mechanisms in polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) remain largely unknown. In the present study, our aim was to investigate the potential diagnostic value of circRNAs in PCOS. Methods The circRNA dataset GSE145296, mRNA dataset GSE155489 and miRNA GSE138572 were downloaded from Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database. Then, differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified. Based on the potential interactions, a network of cirRNA-related competing endogenous RNAs (ceRNAs) was constructed. Biological functions were predicted by Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway enrichment analyses. For further validation, qRT-PCR method was used to detect the expression level of the candidate circRNAs. Then, receiver operating characteristics (ROC) were constructed to evaluate the diagnostic value of the three differentially expressed circRNA (DE-circRNA). Results We constructed a network of cirRNA-related ceRNA network. Hsa_circ_0075691, hsa_circ_0075692 and hsa_circ_0085997 were validate to be dysregulated in PCOS. Conclusion Hsa_circ_0075691, hsa_circ_0075692 and hsa_circ_0085997 may be potential diagnostic biomarkers of PCOS, but their specific regulatory mechanisms still need to be further studied.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pengyu Huang
- Reproductive Medicine Center, Fujian Maternity and Child Health Hospital, Affiliated Hospital of Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, 350001, People's Republic of China
| | - Shengrong Du
- Reproductive Medicine Center, Fujian Maternity and Child Health Hospital, Affiliated Hospital of Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, 350001, People's Republic of China
| | - Yunhong Lin
- Reproductive Medicine Center, Fujian Maternity and Child Health Hospital, Affiliated Hospital of Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, 350001, People's Republic of China
| | - Zhiqing Huang
- Reproductive Medicine Center, Fujian Maternity and Child Health Hospital, Affiliated Hospital of Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, 350001, People's Republic of China
| | - Haiyan Li
- Reproductive Medicine Center, Fujian Maternity and Child Health Hospital, Affiliated Hospital of Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, 350001, People's Republic of China
| | - Gangxin Chen
- Reproductive Medicine Center, Fujian Maternity and Child Health Hospital, Affiliated Hospital of Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, 350001, People's Republic of China
| | - Suzhu Chen
- Reproductive Medicine Center, Fujian Maternity and Child Health Hospital, Affiliated Hospital of Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, 350001, People's Republic of China
| | - Qingfen Chen
- Reproductive Medicine Center, Fujian Maternity and Child Health Hospital, Affiliated Hospital of Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, 350001, People's Republic of China
| | - Lincui Da
- Reproductive Medicine Center, Fujian Maternity and Child Health Hospital, Affiliated Hospital of Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, 350001, People's Republic of China
| | - Hang Shi
- Reproductive Medicine Center, Fujian Maternity and Child Health Hospital, Affiliated Hospital of Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, 350001, People's Republic of China
| | - Wei Wei
- Reproductive Medicine Center, Fujian Maternity and Child Health Hospital, Affiliated Hospital of Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, 350001, People's Republic of China
| | - Lei Yang
- Reproductive Medicine Center, Fujian Maternity and Child Health Hospital, Affiliated Hospital of Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, 350001, People's Republic of China
| | - Yan Sun
- Reproductive Medicine Center, Fujian Maternity and Child Health Hospital, Affiliated Hospital of Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, 350001, People's Republic of China
| | - Beihong Zheng
- Reproductive Medicine Center, Fujian Maternity and Child Health Hospital, Affiliated Hospital of Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, 350001, People's Republic of China
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