mRNA and P-element-induced wimpy testis-interacting RNA profile in chemical-induced oral squamous cell carcinoma mice model

Competing endogenous RNAs network dysregulation in oral cancer: a multifaceted perspective on crosstalk and competition

Oral cancer progresses from asymptomatic to advanced stages, often involving cervical lymph node metastasis, resistance to chemotherapy, and an unfavorable prognosis. Clarifying its potential mechanisms is vital for developing effective theraputic strategies. Recent research suggests a substantial involvement of non-coding RNA (ncRNA) in the initiation and advancement of oral cancer. However, the underlying roles and functions of various ncRNA types in the growth of this malignant tumor remain unclear. Competing endogenous RNAs (ceRNAs) refer to transcripts that can mutually regulate each other at the post-transcriptional level by vying for shared miRNAs. Networks of ceRNAs establish connections between the functions of protein-coding mRNAs and non-coding RNAs, including microRNA, long non-coding RNA, pseudogenic RNA, and circular RNA, piwi-RNA, snoRNA. A growing body of research has indicated that imbalances in ceRNAs networks play a crucial role in various facets of oral cancer, including development, metastasis, migration, invasion, and inflammatory responses. Hence, delving into the regulatory pathways of ceRNAs in oral cancer holds the potential to advance our understanding of the pathological mechanisms, facilitate early diagnosis, and foster targeted drug development for this malignancy. The present review summarized the fundamental role of ceRNA network, discussed the limitations of current ceRNA applications, which have been improved through chemical modification and carrier delivery as new biomarkers for diagnosis and prognosis is expected to offer a groundbreaking therapeutic approach for individuals with oral cancer.

Non-coding RNAs in oral cancer: Emerging biomarkers and therapeutic frontier

Around the world, oral cancer (OC) is a major public health problem, resulting in a significant number of deaths each year. Early detection and treatment are crucial for improving patient outcomes. Recent progress in DNA sequencing and transcriptome profiling has revealed extensive non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) transcription, underscoring their regulatory importance. NcRNAs influence genomic transcription and translation and molecular signaling pathways, making them valuable for various clinical applications. Combining spatial transcriptomics (ST) and spatial metabolomics (SM) with single-cell RNA sequencing provides deeper insights into tumor microenvironments, enhancing diagnostic and therapeutic precision for OC. Additionally, the exploration of salivary biomarkers offers a non-invasive diagnostic avenue. This article explores the potential of ncRNAs as diagnostic and therapeutic tools for OC.

Ablation of the carboxy-terminal end of MAMDC2 causes a distinct muscular dystrophy

The extracellular matrix (ECM) has an important role in the development and maintenance of skeletal muscle, and several muscle diseases are associated with the dysfunction of ECM elements. MAMDC2 is a putative ECM protein and its role in cell proliferation has been investigated in certain cancer types. However, its participation in skeletal muscle physiology has not been previously studied. We describe 17 individuals with an autosomal dominant muscular dystrophy belonging to two unrelated families in which different heterozygous truncating variants in the last exon of MAMDC2 co-segregate correctly with the disease. The radiological aspect of muscle involvement resembles that of COL6 myopathies with fat replacement at the peripheral rim of vastii muscles. In this cohort, a subfascial and peri-tendinous pattern is observed in upper and lower limb muscles. Here we show that MAMDC2 is expressed in adult skeletal muscle and differentiating muscle cells, where it appears to localize to the sarcoplasm and myonuclei. In addition, we show it is secreted by myoblasts and differentiating myotubes into to the extracellular compartment. The last exon encodes a disordered region with a polar residue compositional bias loss of which likely induces a toxic effect of the mutant protein. The precise mechanisms by which the altered MAMDC2 proteins cause disease remains to be determined. MAMDC2 is a skeletal muscle disease-associated protein. Its role in muscle development and ECM-muscle communication remains to be fully elucidated. Screening of the last exon of MAMDC2 should be considered in patients presenting with autosomal dominant muscular dystrophy, particularly in those with a subfascial radiological pattern of muscle involvement.

Non-Coding RNAs in Oral Cancer: Emerging Roles and Clinical Applications

Oral cancer (OC) is among the most prevalent cancers in the world. Certain geographical areas are disproportionately affected by OC cases due to the regional differences in dietary habits, tobacco and alcohol consumption. However, conventional therapeutic methods do not yield satisfying treatment outcomes. Thus, there is an urgent need to understand the disease process and to develop diagnostic and therapeutic strategies for OC. In this review, we discuss the role of various types of ncRNAs in OC, and their promising clinical implications as prognostic or diagnostic markers and therapeutic targets. MicroRNA (miRNA), long ncRNA (lncRNA), circular RNA (circRNA), PIWI-interacting RNA (piRNA), and small nucleolar RNA (snoRNA) are the major ncRNA types whose involvement in OC are emerging. Dysregulated expression of ncRNAs, particularly miRNAs, lncRNAs, and circRNAs, are linked with the initiation, progression, as well as therapy resistance of OC via modulation in a series of cellular pathways through epigenetic, transcriptional, post-transcriptional, and translational modifications. Differential expressions of miRNAs and lncRNAs in blood, saliva or extracellular vesicles have indicated potential diagnostic and prognostic importance. In this review, we have summarized all the promising aspects of ncRNAs in the management of OC.

Interrelated grid of non-coding RNA: An important aspect in Rheumatoid Arthritis pathogenesis

Inflammation and autoimmunity are the root cause of rheumatoid arthritis, a destructive disease of joints. Multiple biomolecules are involved in the pathogenesis of RA and are related to various events of molecular biology. RNA is a versatile biomolecule, playing numerous roles at structural, functional, and regulatory stages to maintain cellular homeostasis. The involvement of RNA (coding/non-coding) in disease development and progression has left a wide whole to fill with newer approaches. Non-coding RNAs belong to the housekeeping and regulatory categories and both have their specific roles, and their alteration causes specific implications in disease pathogenesis. Housekeeping RNAs, rRNA, tRNA and regulatory RNA, micro-RNA, circular RNA, piRNA and long non-coding RNA were found to be important regulators of inflammation. They work at the pre-and post-transcriptional levels and were found to be more intriguing to study their regulatory impact on disease pathogenesis. The review addresses a question on how the non-coding RNA gets involved in early RA pathogenesis and can be utilized to know their targets to understand the disease better and make way towards the unresolved mystery of RA development.

Exosomics in oral cancer diagnosis, prognosis, and therapeutics - An emergent and imperative non-invasive natural nanoparticle-based approach

Exosomes- the natural nanoparticles belonging to heterogeneous vesicles are released via nearly all sorts of cells, including tumour cells, to oprate intercellular communication. Selective packaging of exosomes amid nucleic acids, phospholipids, and proteins makes them ideal for intercellular communications occurring among different cells. The existence of exosomes has been validated in various biofluids, including saliva. Being non-invasive and in direct contact with oral malignant cells, saliva establishes itself as a preeminent source of early cancer biomarkers. In context, the role and providence of both recipient and donor secreting cells are persuaded through exosomal cargo.Several studies have emphasized the influence of exosomal contents in different stages of cancer development, reconciling interactions between tumour cells and their surrounding niche. More explicitly, a transformation of exosomal contents such as nucleic acids, lipids, and proteins can endorse tumour progression and help ascertain a secluded pre-metastatic niche crammed with substances that errand cancer cell proliferation,angiogenesis, metastasis, and drug resistance. The blooming field of exosomes has directed the evolution of high-end isolation and characterization techniques along with the development of an entirely new field- exosomics that comprises complete analysis of exosomal cargo in various physiological conditions, including oral cancer. Researchers have discovered multiple pathways involved in exosome biogenesis to understand numerous events associated with cancer progression. Tissue-specific packaging of exosomes makes them a novel source of prognostic and diagnostic biomarkers and potential therapeutic targets. The extent of the current review confers the contemporary perception of the versatile task of exosomes, especially salivary exosomes, as potential biomarkers in the progression and diagnosis as well as therapeutics of oral cancers and their potential employment in clinical applications.

Emerging roles of PIWI-interacting RNAs (piRNAs) and PIWI proteins in head and neck cancer and their potential clinical implications

Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) are among the well-known neoplasms originating in the oral cavity, pharynx, and larynx. Despite advancements in chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and surgery, the survival rates of the patients are low, which has posed a major therapeutic challenge. A growing number of non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs), for instance, microRNAs, have been identified whose abnormal expression patterns have been implicated in HNSCC. However, more recently, several seminal research has shown that piwi-interacting RNAs (piRNAs), a promising and young class of small ncRNA, are linked to the emergence and progression of cancer. They can regulate transposable elements (TE) and gene expression through multiple mechanisms, making them potentially more powerful regulators than miRNAs. Hence, they can be more promising ncRNAs candidates for cancer therapeutic intervention. Here, we surveyed the roles and clinical implications of piRNAs and their PIWI proteins partners in tumorigenesis and associated molecular processes of cancer, with a particular focus on HNSCC, to offer a new avenue for diagnosis, prognosis, and therapeutic interventions for the malignancy, improving patient's outcomes.

The Impact of Activin A on Fetal Gonocytes: Chronic Versus Acute Exposure Outcomes

Activin A, a TGFβ superfamily member, is important for normal testis development through its actions on Sertoli cell development. Our analyses of altered activin A mouse models indicated gonocyte abnormalities, implicating activin A as a key determinant of early germline formation. Whether it acts directly or indirectly on germ cells is not understood. In humans, the fetal testis may be exposed to abnormally elevated activin A levels during preeclampsia, maternal infections, or following ingestion of certain medications. We hypothesized that this may impact fetal testis development and ultimately affect adult fertility. Germ cells from two mouse models of altered activin bioactivity were analysed. RNA-Seq of gonocytes purified from E13.5 and E15.5 Inhba KO mice (activin A subunit knockout) identified 46 and 44 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) respectively, and 45 in the E13.5 Inha KO (inhibin alpha subunit knockout; increased activin A) gonocytes. To discern direct effects of altered activin bioactivity on germline transcripts, isolated E13.5 gonocytes were cultured for 24h with activin A or with the activin/Nodal/TGFβ inhibitor, SB431542. Gonocytes responded directly to altered signalling, with activin A promoting a more differentiated transcript profile (increased differentiation markers Dnmt3l, Nanos2 and Piwil4; decreased early germ cell markers Kit and Tdgf1), while SB431542 had a reciprocal effect (decreased Nanos2 and Piwil4; increased Kit). To delineate direct and indirect effects of activin A exposure on gonocytes, whole testes were cultured 48h with activin A or SB431542 and collected for histological and transcript analyses, or EdU added at the end of culture to measure germ and Sertoli cell proliferation using flow cytometry. Activin increased, and SB431542 decreased, Sertoli cell proliferation. SB431542-exposure resulted in germ cells escaping mitotic arrest. Analysis of FACS-isolated gonocytes following whole testis culture showed SB431542 increased the early germ cell marker Kit, however there was a general reduction in the impact of altered activin A bioavailability in the normal somatic cell environment. This multifaceted approach identifies a capacity for activin A to directly influence fetal germ cell development, highlighting the potential for altered activin A levels in utero to increase the risk of testicular pathologies that arise from impaired germline maturation.

4NQO induced carcinogenesis: A mouse model for oral squamous cell carcinoma

Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) is the most common subsite of head and neck cancer, with a 5-year survival rate of only 50%. There is a pressing need for animal models that recapitulate the human disease to understand the factors driving OSCC carcinogenesis. Many laboratories have used the chemical carcinogen 4-nitroquinoline-1-oxide (4NQO) to investigate OSCC formation. The importance of the 4NQO mouse model is that it mimics the stepwise progression observed in OSCC patients. The 4NQO carcinogen model has the advantage that it can be used with transgenic mice with genetic modification in specific tissue types to investigate their role in driving cancer progression. Herein, we describe the basic approach for administering 4NQO to mice to induce OSCC and methods for assessing the tissue and disease progression.

miR-146a Overexpression in Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma Potentiates Cancer Cell Migration and Invasion Possibly via Targeting HTT

Huntingtin (HTT) is one of the target genes of miR-146-a and regulates various cancer cell activities. This study aims to explore the miR-146a expression pattern in oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) and its role and mechanism in OSCC progression and metastasis via targeting the HTT gene. OSCC tissue and non-cancerous matched tissue (NCMT) were obtained from 14 patients. OSCC cell lines and normal HOK cells were used to analyze migration and invasion assay. OSCC-induced miR-146a knockout mice (B6.Cg-Mir146tm1.1Bal) model was developed. Transwell cell migration/invasion and scratch wound assays were used to investigate the OSCC cell migration and invasion in vitro. Kaplan-Meier survival analysis was used to investigate the association of HTT expression patterns in cancer tissue with patient survival percentage and duration. Pearson's correlation analysis tested the association between miR-146a and HTT expression in OSCC tissues. miR-146a mimic and inhibitor transfection were performed to overexpress and knockdown the miR-146a in OSCC cells, respectively. miR-146a expression was highly upregulated in OSCC tissues and OSCC cell lines. Cancer cell migration/invasion was enhanced in miR-146a overexpressed cells and reduced in mi-R146a knockdowned cells. HTT expression was reduced in OSCC tissues and cell lines compared to NCMT and HOK cells, respectively. HTT expression was downregulated in miR-146a overexpressed OSCC cells and upregulated in miR-146a knockdowned OSCC cells. The expression pattern of miR-146a in OSCC cell lines and tissues was inversely correlated with HTT expression. Prediction of miRNA target analysis showed that HTT possesses the binding sites for miR-146a. HTT overexpression in OSCC tissues was associated with patients' higher survival percentage and duration. HTT knockdown in OSCC cells enhanced miR-146a expression and cell migration/invasion. Inducing OSCC in miR-146a knockout mice increased the HTT expression in tongue tissue and alleviated the cancer aggressiveness and epithelial damage. Overexpressed miR-146a in OSCC targets the HTT gene and enhances cancer cell migration/invasion unraveling the possible role of HTT in miR146a-mediated OSCC cell migration and invasion.