circ_0030018 promotes glioma proliferation and metastasis

HCG18 Promotes Cell Proliferation and Stemness in Cholangiocarcinoma via the miR-194-5p/KRT18/MAPK Signaling

Accumulating evidence has demonstrated that Keratin18 (KRT18) functions as a pivotal gene in the progression of various cancers. However, its role in cholangiocarcinoma (CCA) remains unexplored. Our study elucidated the biological functions and underlying mechanisms of KRT18 in CCA. Bioinformatic databases were used to identify potential miRNAs and lncRNAs. The cellular localization of KRT18 and lncRNA HCG18 was examined through subcellular fractionation. Expression levels of genes were assessed by qRT-PCR, while protein levels were measured via western blot. Cell viability was analyzed using CCK-8 assays. Colony formation and EdU assays assessed cell proliferation, and sphere formation assays evaluated stem cell properties. The interactions between HCG18, miR-194-5p, and KRT18 were explored through RNA immunoprecipitation, RNA pulldown, and luciferase reporter assays. A xenograft tumor model was conducted to evaluate the in vivo function. In CCA tissues and cell lines, KRT18 expression was elevated. Functionally, silencing KRT18 reduced cell proliferation and stemness and inhibited cell cycle. Mechanistically, miR-194-5p directly targeted KRT18. HCG18, which was upregulated in CCA, interacted with miR-194-5p. Overexpression of KRT18 negated the effects of HCG18 suppression on CCA cell proliferation and stemness. Activation of MAPK signaling reversed the antitumor effects of KRT18 downregulation on CCA in vitro. Moreover, HCG18 was found to activate MAPK signaling through the miR-194-5p/KRT18 pathway. The in vivo assay demonstrated that HCG18 knockdown inhibited tumor growth by the miR-194-5p/KRT18/MAPK axis. HCG18 can promote cell proliferation and stem cell characteristics in CCA through the miR-194-5p/KRT18/MAPK signaling.

Biomarker potential of competing endogenous RNA networks in Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS)

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is the most common condition affecting women of reproductive age globally. PCOS continues to be the largest contributing factor to female infertility despite significant progress in our knowledge of the molecular underpinnings and treatment of the condition. The fact that PCOS is a very diverse condition makes it one of the key reasons why we haven't been able to overcome it. Non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) are implicated in the development of PCOS, according to growing evidence. However, it is unclear how the complex regulatory relationships between the many ncRNA types contribute to the growth of this malignancy. Competing endogenous RNA (ceRNA), a recently identified mechanism in the RNA world, suggests regulatory interactions between various RNAs, including long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs), microRNAs (miRNAs), transcribed pseudogenes, and circular RNAs (circRNAs). Recent studies on PCOS have shown that dysregulation of multiple ceRNA networks (ceRNETs) between these ncRNAs plays crucial roles in developing the defining characteristics of PCOS development. And it is believed that such a finding may open a new door for a deeper comprehension of PCOS's unexplored facets. In addition, it may be able to provide fresh biomarkers and effective therapy targets for PCOS. This review will go over the body of information that exists about the primary roles of ceRNETs before highlighting the developing involvement of several newly found ceRNETs in a number of PCOS characteristics.

Circular RNAs: Emerging Modulators in the Pathophysiology of Polycystic Ovary Syndrome and their Clinical Implications

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a prevalent endocrine/metabolic disorder in women of reproductive age. PCOS is characterized by hyperandrogenism, polycystic ovary morphology, and ovulatory dysfunction/anovulation. It involves multiple effects in patients, including granulosa/theca cell hyperplasia, menstrual disturbances, infertility, acne, obesity, insulin resistance, and cardiovascular disorders. Biochemical analyses and the results of RNA sequencing studies in recent years have shown a type of non-coding RNAs as a splicing product known as circular RNAs (circRNAs). Several biological functions have been identified in relation to circRNAs, including a role in miRNA sponge, protein sequestration, increased parental gene expression, and translation leading to polypeptides. These circular molecules are more plentiful and specialized than other types of RNAs. For this reason, they are referred to as potential biomarkers in different diseases. Evidence suggests that circRNAs may have regulatory potentials through different signaling pathways, such as the miRNA network. Probably most experts in the field of obstetricians are not aware of circRNAs as a useful biomarker. Therefore, this review focused on the researches that have been done on the involvement of circRNAs in PCOS and summarized recent supportive evidence, and evaluated the circRNA association and mechanisms involved in PCOS.

Intricate confrontation: Research progress and application potential of TRIM family proteins in tumor immune escape

BACKGROUND

Tripartite motif (TRIM) family proteins have more than 80 members and are widely found in various eukaryotic cells. Most TRIM family proteins participate in the ubiquitin-proteasome degradation system as E3-ubiquitin ligases; therefore, they play pivotal regulatory roles in the occurrence and development of tumors, including tumor immune escape. Due to the diversity of functional domains of TRIM family proteins, they can extensively participate in multiple signaling pathways of tumor immune escape through different substrates. In current research and clinical contexts, immune escape has become an urgent problem. The extensive participation of TRIM family proteins in curing tumors or preventing postoperative recurrence and metastasis makes them promising targets.

AIM OF REVIEW

The aim of the review is to make up for the gap in the current research on TRIM family proteins and tumor immune escape and propose future development directions according to the current progress and problems.

KEY SCIENTIFIC CONCEPTS OF REVIEW

This up-to-date review summarizes the characteristics and biological functions of TRIM family proteins, discusses the mechanisms of TRIM family proteins involved in tumor immune escape, and highlights the specific mechanism from the level of structure-function-molecule-pathway-phenotype, including mechanisms at the level of protein domains and functions, at the level of molecules and signaling pathways, and at the level of cells and microenvironments. We also discuss the application potential of TRIM family proteins in tumor immunotherapy, such as possible treatment strategies for combination targeting TRIM family protein drugs and checkpoint inhibitors for improving cancer treatment.

Isoliquiritigenin inhibits circ0030018 to suppress glioma tumorigenesis via the miR-1236/HER2 signaling pathway

In the central nervous system diseases, glioma is one of the most common malignancies around the world. Despite the recent improvements in therapies for glioma, the prognosis of some high-risk glioma remains poor. In glioma, isoliquiritigenin (ISL) is reported to have antioxidative and antitumor activities. However, the potential mechanisms between ISL and circle RNAs (circRNAs) in the glioma tumorigenesis process have not yet been reported. Here, we treated glioma cells with ISL, and circRNA expression levels were detected. Circ0030018 was found significantly downregulated by ISL. Therefore, we explored circ0030018 expression profiles and functions in glioma, finding that circ0030018 was evidently overexpressed in glioma cell lines. Colony formation, CCK-8, and transwell assay made clear that circ0030018 silencing dramatically cut down glioma growth and invasion. Moreover, ROS level was detected to find that circ0030018 silence remarkably enhanced cell oxidative stress in glioma. Mechanism studies were conducted to investigate the underlying basis of circ0030018 function in glioma, unveiling that circ0030018 realized its functions partially through the miR-1236/HER2 signaling in glioma. In conclusion, our study investigated the roles and mechanisms of the ISL on the circ0030018/miR-1236/HER2 pathway in glioma tumorigenesis and progression. Circ0030018 could act as the prospective biologic signature or therapeutic target for glioma.

The Circular RNA Circ-ANAPC7 as a Biomarker for the Risk Stratification of Myelodysplastic Syndrome

To assess the diagnostic value of circ-ANAPC7 expression levels in MDS and its risk stratification. This is a retrospective observational study. This study enrolled 125 patients diagnosed with MDS and divided them into five groups according to IPSS-R (very high group, 25; high group, 25; intermediate group, 25; low group, 25; and very low group, 25), and 25 patients with IDA were studied as control group from our bone marrow cell bank. Bone marrow cell were used as material in this study to measure the expression level of circ-ANAPC7 by qRT-PCR. An evaluation of diagnostic value was conducted using ROC curves. Circ-ANAPC7 expression levels were 5.623 ± 4.483, 28.396 ± 12.938, 91.867 ± 37.010, 202.525 ± 54.911, 337.633 ± 86.013, and 502.269 ± 98.410 from the control group to the very high group, respectively (p < 0.05). Circ-ANAPC7 expression was gradually upregulated with the risk stratification of MDS. The AUCs of circ-ANAPC7 were 0.973, 0.996, 0.951, 0.920, and 0.907 in the control group/very low group, very low group/low group, low group/intermediate group, intermediate group/high group, and high group/very high group, respectively. In this study, the expression level of circ-ANAPC7 was found to be a promising biomarker for MDS. It may be added to the scoring system to better identify risk groups.