Long non-coding RNA MIR503HG serves as a tumor suppressor in non-small cell lung cancer mediated by wnt1

Four Prognosis-Associated lncRNAs Serve as Biomarkers in Ovarian Cancer

Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) play crucial roles in ovarian cancer (OC) development. However, prognosis-associated lncRNAs (PALs) for OC have not been completely elucidated. Our study aimed to identify the PAL signature of OC. A total of 663 differentially expressed lncRNAs were identified in the databases. According to the weighted gene coexpression analysis, the highly correlated genes were clustered into seven modules related to the clinical phenotype of OC. A total of 25 lncRNAs that were significantly related to overall survival were screened based on univariate Cox regression analysis. The prognostic risk model constructed contained seven PALs based on the parameter λ_min, which could stratify OC patients into two risk groups. The results showed that the risk groups had different overall survival rates in both The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) and two verified Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) databases. Univariate and multivariate Cox regression analyses confirmed that the risk model was an independent risk factor for OC. Gene enrichment analysis revealed that the identified genes were involved in some pathways of malignancy. The competitive endogenous RNA (ceRNA) network included five PALs, of which four were selected for cell function assays. The four PALs were downregulated in 33 collected OC tissues and 3 OC cell lines relative to the control. They were shown to regulate the proliferative, migratory, and invasive potential of OC cells via Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK-8) and transwell assays. Our study fills the gaps of the four PALs in OC, which are worthy of further study.

Identification of crucial noncoding RNAs and mRNAs in hypertrophic scars via RNA sequencing

Hypertrophic scarring (HS) is a dermal fibroproliferative disorder characterized by excessive deposition of collagen and other extracellular matrix components. The aim of this study is to explore crucial long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) and circular RNAs (circRNAs) associated with HS and provide a better understanding of the molecular mechanism of HS. To investigate the lncRNA, circRNA and mRNA expression profiles, we performed RNA sequencing of human HS and normal skin tissues. After the identification of differentially expressed mRNAs (DEmRNAs), lncRNAs (DElncRNAs) and circRNAs (DEcircRNAs), we performed functional enrichment of DEmRNAs. Further on, we constructed DElncRNA/DEcircRNA–DEmRNA coexpression networks and competing endogenous RNA regulatory networks, and performed functional analyses of the DEmRNAs in the constructed networks. In total, 487 DEmRNAs, 92 DElncRNAs and 17 DEcircRNAs were identified. DEmRNAs were significantly enriched in processes such as collagen fibril organization, extracellular matrix–receptor interaction and the phosphatidylinositol 3‐kinase (PI3K)–Akt signaling pathway. In addition, we detected 580 DElncRNA–DEmRNA and 505 DEcircRNA–DEmRNA coexpression pairs. The competing endogenous RNA network contained 18 circRNA–microRNA (miRNA) pairs, 18 lncRNA–miRNA pairs and 409 miRNA–mRNA pairs, including 10 circRNAs, 5 lncRNAs, 15 miRNAs and 160 mRNAs. We concluded that MIR503HG/hsa‐miR‐204‐3p/ACAN, MIR503HG/hsa‐miR‐431‐5p/TNFRSF9, MEG3/hsa‐miR‐6884‐5p/ADAMTS14, AC000035.1‐ADAMTS14 and hsa_circ_0069865‐COMP/ADAM12 interaction pairs may play a central role in HS.

Regulation of Wnt Signaling Pathways at the Plasma Membrane and Their Misregulation in Cancer

Wnt signaling is one of the key signaling pathways that govern numerous physiological activities such as growth, differentiation and migration during development and homeostasis. As pathway misregulation has been extensively linked to pathological processes including malignant tumors, a thorough understanding of pathway regulation is essential for development of effective therapeutic approaches. A prominent feature of cancer cells is that they significantly differ from healthy cells with respect to their plasma membrane composition and lipid organization. Here, we review the key role of membrane composition and lipid order in activation of Wnt signaling pathway by tightly regulating formation and interactions of the Wnt-receptor complex. We also discuss in detail how plasma membrane components, in particular the ligands, (co)receptors and extracellular or membrane-bound modulators, of Wnt pathways are affected in lung, colorectal, liver and breast cancers that have been associated with abnormal activation of Wnt signaling. Wnt-receptor complex components and their modulators are frequently misexpressed in these cancers and this appears to correlate with metastasis and cancer progression. Thus, composition and organization of the plasma membrane can be exploited to develop new anticancer drugs that are targeted in a highly specific manner to the Wnt-receptor complex, rendering a more effective therapeutic outcome possible.

Long noncoding RNA PSMA3‑AS1 functions as a microRNA‑409‑3p sponge to promote the progression of non‑small cell lung carcinoma by targeting spindlin 1

PSMA3 antisense RNA 1 (PSMA3‑AS1), a long noncoding RNA, promotes the progression of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma. However, no study to date has explored the expression or roles of PSMA3‑AS1 in non‑small cell lung carcinoma (NSCLC). The present study examined the expression profile and role of PSMA3‑AS1 in NSCLC. It also aimed to identify how PSMA3‑AS1 promotes the malignant phenotype of NSCLC cells. PSMA3‑AS1 expression in NSCLC tissues and cell lines was measured by reverse transcription‑quantitative polymerase chain reaction. Cell Counting Kit‑8, cell apoptosis, Transwell migration and invasion, and xenograft tumor assays were conducted to study the effects of PSMA3‑AS1 on the aggressive phenotype of NSCLC cells. Furthermore, bioinformatics analysis, RNA immunoprecipitation, luciferase reporter assay, western blotting, and rescue experiments were used to elucidate the interaction among PSMA3‑AS1, microRNA‑409‑3p (miR‑409‑3p), and spindlin 1 (SPIN1) in NSCLC cells. In the present study, high levels of PSMA3‑AS1 were confirmed in both NSCLC tissues and cell lines. An increased PSMA3‑AS1 level was correlated with advanced tumor‑node‑metastasis stage and increased lymph node metastasis. Patients with NSCLC with high PSMA3‑AS1 levels had shorter overall survival than those with low PSMA3‑AS1 levels. PSMA3‑AS1 depletion significantly decreased NSCLC cell proliferation, migration, and invasion, as well as substantially increased cell apoptosis in vitro. Furthermore, PSMA3‑AS1 deficiency decreased NSCLC tumor growth in vivo. Through molecular mechanism assays, it was revealed that PSMA3‑AS1 acted as a molecular sponge for miR‑409‑3p and consequently increased SPIN1 expression. Notably, rescue experiments revealed that the inhibition of miR‑409‑3p or restoration of SPIN1 expression abrogated the effects of PSMA3‑AS1 knockdown in NSCLC cells. Collectively, PSMA3‑AS1 functioned as an oncogenic long noncoding RNA in NSCLC. PSMA3‑AS1 sponged miR‑409‑3p and thus increased SPIN1 expression, promoting the aggressive phenotype of NSCLC cells.