LncRNA DGCR5 Silencing Enhances the Radio-Sensitivity of Human Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma via Negatively Regulating the Warburg Effect

LncRNA SSTR5-AS1 promotes esophageal carcinoma through regulating ITGB6/JAK1/STAT3 signaling

Aim: To investigate function of somatostatin receptor 5 antisense RNA 1 (SSTR5-AS1) in esophageal carcinoma (ESCA).Materials & methods: The cellular function was assessed using EdU staining and Transwell assay. The localization of SSTR5-AS1 was measured using fluorescence in situ hybridization staining.Results: SSTR5-AS1 shRNA repressed invasion and migration and induced apoptosis in ESCA cells. SSTR5-AS1 was distributed in cytoplasm, and it regulated its subunit integrin beta 6 (ITGB6) via eukaryotic translation initiation factor 4A3 (EIF4A3). SSTR5-AS1 shRNA inactivated ITGB6 and JAK1/STAT3 signaling. SSTR5-AS1 silencing attenuated the malignant behavior of ESCA cells through the ITGB6-mediated JAK1/STAT3 axis.Conclusion: SSTR5-AS1 promotes tumorigenesis of ESCA by interacting with EIF4A3 to regulate ITGB6/JAK1/STAT3 axis, which serves a basis for discovering strategies against ESCA.

MiR-125a-5p regulates the radiosensitivity of laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma via HK2 targeting through the DDR pathway

Objective

To determine the function of miR-125a-5p in laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma (LSCC), its correlation with radiation sensitivity, and the underlying regulatory mechanism.

Materials and methods

We conducted the analysis on the correlation between miR-125a-5p and head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) using data obtained from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA). The putative gene targeted by miR-125a-5p has been identified as HK2, while the expression levels of miR-125a-5p and HK2 were measured in laryngeal cancer tissues and cells using RT-PCR. MiR-125a-5p and HK2 were introduced into the lentiviral vector and the vector was used to transfect AMC-HN-8 cells. The roles of miR-125a-5p and HK2 in LSCC and on radiosensitivity were determined by evaluating cell growth, examining colony formation, analyzing flow cytometry, and utilizing the single hit multi-target model. Western blotting was used to measure H2AX and rH2AX levels in the DNA damage response (DDR) pathway. The validation of the interaction between miR-125a-5p and HK2 was conducted through the dual-luciferase assay. To further confirm the association between miR-125a-5p and HK2, as well as its influence on radiosensitivity, rescue experiments were performed.

Results

The expression of miR-125a-5p is downregulated in LSCC, while upregulating its expression could suppress cell growth, induce apoptosis, and enhance radiosensitivity. Additionally, HK2 exhibited high expression in LSCC and the biological function was opposite to miR-125a-5p. Western blotting analysis revealed that miR-125a-5p increased rH2AX levels and decreased H2AX levels, conversely, HK2 had the opposite effect on miR-125a-5p. These findings suggested that HK2 may serve as the target gene of miR-125a-5p. The double luciferase assay confirmed the binding of HK2 to miR-125a-5p, and rescue trials confirmed the role of miR-125a-5p in regulating the effects and radiation sensitivity of LSCC by targeting HK2 via the DDR pathway.

Conclusion

By targeting HK2 and impacting the DDR pathway, miR-125a-5p has been found to inhibit cellular proliferation, enhance apoptosis, and heighten radiosensitivity in LSCC.

Non‑coding RNA: A promising diagnostic biomarker and therapeutic target for esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (Review)

Esophageal cancer (EC) is a common form of malignant tumor in the digestive system that is classified into two types: Esophageal squamous cell carcinomas (ESCC) and esophageal adenocarcinoma. ESCC is known for its early onset of symptoms, which can be difficult to identify, as well as its rapid progression and tendency to develop drug resistance to chemotherapy and radiotherapy. These factors contribute to the high incidence of disease and low cure rate. Therefore, a diagnostic biomarker and therapeutic target need to be identified for ESCC. Non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) are a class of molecules that are transcribed from DNA but do not encode proteins. Initially, ncRNAs were considered to be non-functional segments generated during transcription. However, with advancements in high-throughput sequencing technologies in recent years, ncRNAs have been associated with poor prognosis, drug resistance and progression of ESCC. The present study provides a comprehensive overview of the biogenesis, characteristics and functions of ncRNAs, particularly focusing on microRNA, long ncRNAs and circular RNAs. Furthermore, the ncRNAs that could potentially be used as diagnostic biomarkers and therapeutic targets for ESCC are summarized to highlight their application value and prospects in ESCC.