DARS-AS1 Knockdown Inhibits the Growth of Cervical Cancer Cells via Downregulating HMGB1 via Sponging miR-188-5p

LncRNA DARS-AS1 in human cancers: A comprehensive review of its potency as a biomarker and therapeutic target

Long non-coding RNAs have emerged as important players in cancer biology. Increasing evidence has uncovered their potency in improving cancer management as they can be used as a credible prognostic and diagnostic biomarker. Recently, DARS-AS1 has gained significant attention for its involvement in facilitating tumor progression. So far, numerous research has been reported its upregulation in different malignancies of human body systems and revealed its association with cancer hallmarks as well as clinicopathological characteristics. Importantly, targeting DARS-AS1 holds promise in cancer therapy. In the current study, we provide an in-depth analysis of its expression status and explore the underlying mechanisms through which DARS-AS1 contributes to tumor initiation, growth, invasion, and metastasis. Additionally, we examine the correlation between DARS-AS1 expression and clinicopathological features of cancer patients, shedding light on its potential as a cancer biomarker. Furthermore, we discuss the therapeutic potential of targeting DARS-AS1 in cancer treatment, highlighting emerging strategies, such as RNA interference and small molecule inhibitors. Boosting the understanding of its functional role can open new avenues for precision medicine, thus resulting in better outcomes for cancer patients.

A comprehensive review on the functional role of miRNA clusters in cervical cancer

Cervical cancer (CC) poses a significant health threat in women globally. MicroRNA clusters (MCs), comprising multiple miRNA-encoding genes, are pivotal in gene regulation. Various factors, including circular RNA and DNA methylation, govern MC expression. Dysregulated MC expression correlates strongly with CC development via promoting the acquisition of cancer hallmarks. Certain MCs show promise for diagnosis, prognosis and therapy selection due to their distinct expression patterns in normal, premalignant and tumor tissues. This review explains the regulation and biological functions of MCs and highlights the clinical relevance of abnormal MC expression in CC.

DARS-AS1: A Vital Oncogenic LncRNA Regulator with Potential for Cancer Prognosis and Therapy

DARS-AS1, short for Aspartyl-tRNA synthetase antisense RNA 1, has emerged as a pivotal player in cancers. Upregulation of this lncRNA is a recurrent phenomenon observed across various cancer types, where it predominantly assumes oncogenic roles, exerting influence on multiple facets of tumor cell biology. This aberrant expression of DARS-AS1 has triggered extensive research investigations, aiming to unravel its roles and clinical values in cancer. In this review, we elucidate the significant correlation between dysregulated DARS-AS1 expression and adverse survival prognoses in cancer patients, drawing from existing literature and pan-cancer analyses from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA). Additionally, we provide comprehensive insights into the diverse functions of DARS-AS1 in various cancers. Our review encompasses the elucidation of the molecular mechanisms, ceRNA networks, functional mediators, and signaling pathways, as well as its involvement in therapy resistance, coupled with the latest advancements in DARS-AS1-related cancer research. These recent updates enrich our comprehensive comprehension of the pivotal role played by DARS-AS1 in cancer, thereby paving the way for future applications of DARS-AS1-targeted strategies in tumor prognosis evaluation and therapeutic interventions. This review furnishes valuable insights to advance the ongoing efforts in combating cancer effectively.

miR-188-5p and Host MALAT1 Regulate RBE Cell Migration, Invasion, and Apoptosis via Up-regulating PSMD10 in Cholangiocarcinoma

The study is designed to explore the regulatory network that MALAT1 competitively binds with miR-188-5p to up-regulate PSMD10 to facilitate cholangiocarcinoma cell migration and invasion and suppress apoptosis. qRT-PCR and fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) were used to examine the expression and positive signal of MALAT1 and miR-188-5p in cholangiocarcinoma tissues and HIBEC, HCCC-9810, RBE, and QBC939 cells. Western blot, qRT-PCR, and immunohistochemistry were selected to detect PSMD10 expression in cholangiocarcinoma tissues and cell lines. Dual luciferase reporter gene assay was adopted to verify that miR-188-5p targeted MALAT1 and PSMD10. qRT-PCR, pull down, and western blot were used to examine the regulation of MALAT1-miR-188-5p-PSMD10 axis. Transwell, wound healing assay, and Tunel cell apoptosis were adopted to respectively detect the regulatory abilities of MALAT1-miR-188-5p-PSMD10 axis on cell invasion, migration, and apoptosis. Western blot was used to detect the regulation mechanism of MALAT1 on Bax, Bcl-2, and caspase-3 proteins. Nude mice subcutaneous xenograft model of cholangiocarcinoma was established to examine the impacts of MALAT1 on subcutaneous tumor growth. Immunohistochemistry was adopted to examine the positive indicator of Ki67 antibodies and SMD10 antibodies in each group. MALAT1 and PSMD10 were highly expressed in cholangiocarcinoma tissues and cell lines, while miR-188-5p was lowly expressed. MALAT1 could competitively bind to miR-188-5p, and miR-188-5p could negatively regulate PSMD10. MALAT1, In-miR-188-5p, and PSMD10 could facilitate cell invasion and migration and inhibit apoptosis, while siMALAT1, miR-188-5p, and siPSMD10 produced an opposite result. MALAT1-miR-188-5p-PSMD10 axis could promote RBE cell invasion and migration and inhibit apoptosis, whereas siMALAT1-In-miR-188-5p-siPSMD10 axis showed an opposite result. On the other hand, it was verified that up-regulation/down-regulation of MALAT1 can inhibit/promote Bax and caspase-3 proteins and promote/inhibit the expression of Bcl-2 protein. MALAT1 could facilitate subcutaneous tumor growth and enhance cell proliferation and positive signal of PSMD10, while miR-188-5p worked in an opposite direction. MALAT1 competitively binds to miR-188-5p to up-regulate mRNA translation and protein expression of PSMD10, thereby facilitating cholangiocarcinoma cell invasion and migration and inhibiting its apoptosis. However, interfering MALAT1-miR-188-5p-PSMD10 axis could inhibit the occurrence and development of cholangiocarcinoma.

DARS-AS1 recruits METTL3/METTL14 to bind and enhance DARS mRNA m6A modification and translation for cytoprotective autophagy in cervical cancer

Cervical cancer (CC) is one of the most prevalent malignancies among females. Cytoprotective autophagy could confer cancer cell tolerance to hypoxic stress, promoting cell survival and adaptation. Aspartyl-tRNA synthetase 1 antisense 1 (DARS-AS1) is an oncogenic long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) in various cancers, but how DARS-AS1 regulates cytoprotective autophagy in hypoxic environment in CC remains unclear. Chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) and luciferase reporter assays were conducted to explore the interaction between hypoxia-inducible factor 1 subunit alpha (HIF1α) and DARS-AS1 promoter. Methylated RNA immunoprecipitation (MeRIP) followed by quantitative real-time polymerase-chain reaction (RT-qPCR) detected methylated RNA level. The process of autophagic maturation was monitored by immunofluorescence staining. Higher DARS-AS1 expression was found in CC tissues and cytoprotective. We also uncovered that hypoxic exposure induced cytoprotective autophagy via HIF1α/DARS-AS1/DARS axis. Moreover, DARS-AS1 was validated to facilitate DARS translation via recruiting N6-adenosine-methyltransferase methyltransferase like 3 (METTL3) and methyltransferase like 14 (METTL14), which bound with DARS mRNA DARS mRNA 5’ untranslated region (5ʹUTR) and promoting its translation. The present study demonstrated that the ‘HIF1α/DARS-AS1/DARS/ATG5/ATG3’ pathway regulated the hypoxia-induced cytoprotective autophagy of CC and might be a promising target of therapeutic strategies for patients afflicted with CC.

LncRNA DARS-AS1 aggravates the growth and metastasis of hepatocellular carcinoma via regulating the miR-3200-5p-Cytoskeleton associated protein 2 (CKAP2) axis

Accumulating signs have found that long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) contribute to hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Here, we probed the effect and mechanism of lncRNA DARS-AS1 in HCC. The profiles of DARS-AS1 and Cytoskeleton associated protein 2 (CKAP2) in 50 HCC tissues and non-tumor tissues were examined by real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR). DARS-AS1 and CKAP2 overexpression and/or knockdown cell models were established. The proliferation, apoptosis, invasion and epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) were determined. CKAP2, and focal adhesion kinase (FAK)-extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) was tested by Western blot (WB). The relationship between DARS-AS1 and CKAP2 was predicted by Bioinformatics, and the dual-luciferase reporter assay was applied to verify the targeting association between miR-3200-5p and DARS-AS1 and CKAP2. DARS-AS1 was overexpressed in HCC tissues (vs. that in non-tumor tissues) and was closely correlated with the patients’ tumor stage. DARS-AS1 facilitated HCC cell proliferation and hampered apoptosis. HCC cell migration and EMT were enhanced by DARS-AS1. DARS-AS1 up-regulated CKAP2, which aggravated HCC. Further investigation illustrated that either DARS-AS1 or CKAP2 activated FAK-ERK pathway, and miR-3200-5p was competitively restrained by DARS-AS1. miR-3200-5p exerted tumor-suppressive effects in HCC and inactivated CKAP2 and FAK-ERK pathway. All in all, this study corroborates that DARS-AS1 facilitates HCC proliferation and metastasis by regulating miR-3200-5p-mediated CKAP2, which provides a potential target for HCC diagnosis and treatment.

Abbreviations: CCK-8: cell counting kit-8; CKAP2: Cytoskeleton associated protein 2; cDNA:complementary DNA; DAPI: 4ʹ,6-diamidino-2-phenylindole; DARS-AS1: DARS1 antisense RNA 1; DEPC: diethyl pyrocarbonate; DMEM-F12: Dulbecco’s minimal essential medium/Ham’s-F12; EMT: epithelial-mesenchymal transition; ERK: extracellular signal-regulated kinase; FAK: focal adhesion kinase; FBS: fetal bovine serum; GAPDH: glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase; HCC: hepatocellular carcinoma; HE: hematoxylin-eosin; IHC: Immunohistochemistry; LIHC: Liver hepatocellular carcinoma; lncRNAs: long noncoding RNAs; MIAT: lncRNA myocardial infarction-related transcripts; MT: Mutant; NC: negative control; PBS: phosphate-buffered saline; PMSF: Phenylmethylsulfonyl fluoride; PVDF: polyvinylidene difluoride; RT: room temperature; RT-qPCR: real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction; SDS-PAGE: sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis; SPF: specific pathogen-free; TMAP: tumor-associated microtubule-associated protein; TUNEL: TdT-mediated dUTP nick end labeling; V: volume; WT: wild type.

Downregulation of LncRNA DARS-AS1 Inhibits the Tumorigenesis of Cervical Cancer via Inhibition of IGF2BP3

Background

Evidence has been shown that long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) play an important role in the development of cervical cancer. Recently, lncRNA DARS-AS1 was reported to be dysregulated in several cancer types; however, the role of DARS-AS1 in cervical cancer remains unclear.

Methods

Flow cytometry and transwell invasion assays were performed to determine the apoptosis and invasion in cervical cancer cells. In addition, RNA pull-down and fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) assays were conducted to assess the interaction between DARS-AS1 and IGF2BP3 in cervical cancer cells.

Results

Downregulation of DARS-AS1 significantly induced apoptosis and cell cycle arrest in cervical cancer cells. Meanwhile, the invasion ability of cervical cancer cells was inhibited by DARS-AS1 knockdown as well. RNA pull-down and FISH results showed that DARS-AS1 interacted with IGF2BP3. Mechanistically, DARS-AS1 positively regulated IGF2BP3 expression via stabilization of IGF2BP3 mRNA. Rescue assays confirmed that DARS-AS1 regulated the progression of cervical cancer through interacting with IGF2BP3 in vitro. In addition, in vivo experiments revealed that downregulation of DARS-AS1 inhibited tumor growth in SiHa xenograft model.

Conclusion

In this study, we found that downregulation of DARS-AS1 could inhibit the growth of cervical cancer cells via inhibition of IGF2BP3, suggesting DARS-AS1 might serve as a potential target for the treatment of cervical cancer.

Hypoxic conditioned promotes the proliferation of human olfactory mucosa mesenchymal stem cells and relevant lncRNA and mRNA analysis

AIMS

LncRNAs are involved in many biological processes, and hypoxia contributed to the alterations of lncRNAs. Hypoxic preconditioned olfactory mucosa mesenchymal stem cells (OM-MSCs) exerted stronger anti-apoptotic ability in models of disease, but the molecules that controlled different biological characteristics of human OM-MSCs between hypoxic and normoxic conditions were unclear. The present study was aimed to explore the molecules that controlled different biological characteristics of human OM-MSCs between hypoxic and normoxic conditions.

MAIN METHODS

LncRNAs and mRNAs expression profiles of human OM-MSCs between hypoxic (3%) and normoxic conditions were analyzed by Next-Generation Sequencing (NGS) analysis, bioinformatics analysis on these data were further performed. Moreover, loss-of function assay was conducted to investigate the impact of hypoxic condition on the proliferation and apoptosis of OM-MSCs.

KEY FINDINGS

Through the comparative analysis and bioinformatics analysis, a total of 1741 lncRNAs and 1603 mRNAs were significant differentially expressed in the hypoxia group compared with normoxia group. Enrichment analysis revealed that differentially expressed genes of human OM-MSCs mainly participated in cell cycle regulation, secretin of cytokines and so on. Meanwhile, hypoxic condition significantly promoted proliferation and inhibited apoptosis of human OM-MSCs, following loss-of-function assays confirmed that lncRNA DARS-AS1 were involved in this regulatory process by hypoxic condition. Further prediction of targeted genes and the construction of lncRNA-miRNA-mRNA interaction network enriched the significance regarding the mechanism of DARS-AS1.

SIGNIFICANCE

Altogether, these findings provided a new perspective for understanding the molecules expression patterns in hypoxia that contributed to corresponding phenotype alterations of OM-MSCs.