Prospective pathway signaling and prognostic values of MicroRNA-9 in ovarian cancer based on gene expression omnibus (GEO): a bioinformatics analysis

LncRNA KIFAP3-5:1 inhibits epithelial-mesenchymal transition of renal tubular cell through PRRX1 in diabetic nephropathy

Long noncoding RNAs play an important role in several pathogenic processes in diabetic nephropathy, but the relationship with epithelial-mesenchymal transition in DN is unclear. Herein, we found that KIFAP3-5:1 expression was significantly down-regulated in DN plasma samples, db/db mouse kidney tissues and high glucose treated renal tubular epithelial cells compared to normal healthy samples and untreated cells. Overexpression of KIFAP3-5:1 improved renal fibrosis in db/db mice and rescued epithelial-mesenchymal transition of high glucose cultured renal tubular epithelial cells. The silence of KIFAP3-5:1 will exacerbate the progression of EMT. Mechanistically, KIFAP3-5:1 was confirmed to directly target to the -488 to -609 element of the PRRX1 promoter and negatively modulate PRRX1 mRNA and protein expressions. Furthermore, rescue assays demonstrated that the knockdown of PRRX1 counteracted the KIFAP3-5:1 low expression-mediated effects on EMT in hRPTECs cultured under high glucose. The plasma KIFAP3-5:1 of DN patients is highly correlated with the severity of renal dysfunction and plays an important role in the prediction model of DN diseases. These findings suggested that KIFAP3-5:1 plays a critical role in regulation of renal EMT and fibrosis through suppress PRRX1, and highlight the clinical potential of KIFAP3-5:1 to assist in the diagnosis of diabetic nephropathy.

Smart carbon-based sensors for the detection of non-coding RNAs associated with exposure to micro(nano)plastics: an artificial intelligence perspective

Micro(nano)plastics (MNPs) are pervasive environmental pollutants that individuals eventually consume. Despite this, little is known about MNP's impact on public health. In this article, we assess the evidence for potentially harmful consequences of MNPs in the human body, concentrating on molecular toxicity and exposure routes. Since MNPs are present in various consumer products, foodstuffs, and the air we breathe, exposure can occur through ingestion, inhalation, and skin contact. MNPs exposure can cause mitochondrial oxidative stress, inflammatory lesions, and epigenetic modifications, releasing specific non-coding RNAs in circulation, which can be detected to diagnose non-communicable diseases. This article examines the most fascinating smart carbon-based nanobiosensors for detecting circulating non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs and microRNAs). Carbon-based smart nanomaterials offer many advantages over traditional methods, such as ease of use, sensitivity, specificity, and efficiency, for capturing non-coding RNAs. In particular, the synthetic methods, conjugation chemistries, doping, and in silico approach for the characterization of synthesized carbon nanodots and their adaptability to identify and measure non-coding RNAs associated with MNPs exposure is discussed. Furthermore, the article provides insights into the use of artificial intelligence tools for designing smart carbon nanomaterials.

The extracellular matrix glycoprotein fibrillin-1 in health and disease

Fibrillin-1 (FBN1) is a large, cysteine-rich, calcium binding extracellular matrix glycoprotein encoded by FBN1 gene. It serves as a structural component of microfibrils and provides force-bearing mechanical support in elastic and nonelastic connective tissue. As such, mutations in the FBN1 gene can cause a wide variety of genetic diseases such as Marfan syndrome, an autosomal dominant disorder characterized by ocular, skeletal and cardiovascular abnormalities. FBN1 also interacts with numerous microfibril-associated proteins, growth factors and cell membrane receptors, thereby mediating a wide range of biological processes such as cell survival, proliferation, migration and differentiation. Dysregulation of FBN1 is involved in the pathogenesis of many human diseases, such as cancers, cardiovascular disorders and kidney diseases. Paradoxically, both depletion and overexpression of FBN1 upregulate the bioavailability and signal transduction of TGF-β via distinct mechanisms in different settings. In this review, we summarize the structure and expression of FBN1 and present our current understanding of the functional role of FBN1 in various human diseases. This knowledge will allow to develop better strategies for therapeutic intervention of FBN1 related diseases.

Inhibition of Caspase-1-mediated pyroptosis promotes osteogenic differentiation, offering a therapeutic target for osteoporosis

BACKGROUND

Pyroptosis, an emerging inflammatory form of cell death, has been previously demonstrated to stimulate a massive inflammatory response, thus hindering the osteogenic differentiation of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs). Nevertheless, the impact of pyroptosis in thwarting osteogenic differentiation and exacerbating the advancement of osteoporosis (OP) remains enigmatic.

METHODS

We evaluated the expression levels of pyroptosis-associated indicators, including NOD-like receptor family pyrin domain-containing protein 3 (NLRP3), CASPASE-1, IL-1β, and IL-18, in specimens obtained from femoral heads of OP patients, as well as in an ovariectomy-induced mouse model of OP. Subsequently, the precise roles of pyroptosis in osteogenic differentiation were investigated using bioinformatics analysis, alongside morphological and biochemical assessments.

RESULTS

The pivotal pyroptotic proteins, including NLRP3, Caspase-1, IL-1β, and IL-18, exhibited significant upregulation within the bone tissue samples of clinical OP cases, as well as in the femoral tissues of ovariectomy (OVX)-induced mouse OP model, displaying a negatively associated with compromised osteogenic capacity, as represented by lessened bone mass, suppressed expression of osteogenic proteins such as Runt-related transcription factor 2 (RUNX2), Alkaline phosphatase (ALP), Osterix (OSX), and Osteopontin (OPN), and increased lipid droplets. Moreover, bioinformatics analysis substantiated shared gene expression patterns between pyroptosis and OP pathology, encompassing NLRP3, Caspase-1, IL-1β, IL-18, etc. Furthermore, our in vitro investigation using ST2 cells revealed that dexamethasone treatment prominently induced pyroptosis while impeding osteogenic differentiation. Notably, gene silencing of Caspase-1 effectively counteracted the inhibitory effects of dexamethasone on osteogenic differentiation, as manifested by increased ALP activity and enhanced expression of RUNX2, ALP, OSX, and OPN.

CONCLUSION

Our findings unequivocally underscore that inhibition of Caspase-1-mediated pyroptosis promotes osteogenic differentiation, providing a promising therapeutic target for managing OP.

miR-9-5p expression is associated with vascular invasion and prognosis in hepatocellular carcinoma, and in vitro verification

PURPOSE

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a common liver malignancy. Early vascular invasion (VI) has been associated with poor prognosis in HCC patients. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) play a significant role in the emergence and development of many tumor types.

METHODS

Differential expression analysis of miRNAs related to VI was performed based on data from the TCGA database, and survival-associated miRNAs identified. We identified miR-9-5p as a survival-related miRNA and verified its expression in 61 clinical samples using quantitative real-time PCR. We further performed functional enrichment analysis, protein-protein interaction analysis, univariate and multivariate analysis of the survival-related miRNAs, and cell function assays.

RESULTS

In this study, we identified miR-9-5p that could predict VI and prognosis in HCC patients. Cellular experiments demonstrated that downregulation of miR‑9‑5p inhibits migration, invasion, and angiogenesis of HCC cells. Further, we explored and verified the possible mechanism through which miR-9-5p is involved in HCC progression. Univariate and multivariate analysis revealed that miR-9-5p was an independent risk factor for HCC. Finally, the nomogram based on miR-9-5p showed a good predictive value of HCC survival.

CONCLUSIONS

MiR-9-5p is associated with VI in HCC, and higher expression of miR-9-5p indicates poor prognosis in HCC.