LncRNA DSCAM-AS1 promoted cell proliferation and invasion in osteosarcoma by sponging miR-101

Deciphering the mechanisms of action of progesterone in breast cancer

A practice-changing, randomized, controlled clinical study established that preoperative hydroxyprogesterone administration improves disease-free and overall survival in patients with node-positive breast cancer. This research perspective summarizes evidences from our studies that preoperative hydroxyprogesterone administration may improve disease-free and overall survival in patients with node-positive breast cancer by modulating cellular stress response and negative regulation of inflammation. Non-coding RNAs, particularly DSCAM-AS1, play a regulatory role in this process, along with the upregulation of the kinase gene SGK1 and activation of the SGK1/AP-1/NDRG1 axis. Progesterone-induced modification of the progesterone receptor and estrogen receptor genomic binding pattern is also involved in orchestrating estrogen signaling in breast cancer, preventing cell migration and invasion, and improving patient outcomes. We also highlight the role of progesterone in endocrine therapy resistance, which could lead to novel treatment options for patients with hormone receptor-positive breast cancer and for those who develop resistance to traditional endocrine therapies.

DSCAM-AS1 Long Non-Coding RNA Exerts Oncogenic Functions in Endometrial Adenocarcinoma via Activation of a Tumor-Promoting Transcriptome Profile

Accumulating evidence suggests that lncRNA DSCAM-AS1 acts tumor-promoting in various cancer entities. In breast cancer, DSCAM-AS1 was shown to be the lncRNA being most responsive to induction by estrogen receptor α (ERα). In this study, we examined the function of DSCAM-AS1 in endometrial adenocarcinoma using in silico and different in vitro approaches. Initial analysis of open-source data revealed DSCAM-AS1 overexpression in endometrial cancer (EC) (p < 0.01) and a significant association with shorter overall survival of EC patients (HR = 1.78, p < 0.01). In EC, DSCAM-AS1 was associated with endometrial tumor promotor gene PRL and with expression of ERα and its target genes TFF1 and PGR. Silencing of this lncRNA by RNAi in two EC cell lines was more efficient in ERα-negative HEC-1B cells and reduced their growth and the expression of proliferation activators like NOTCH1, PTK2 and EGR1. DSCAM-AS1 knockdown triggered an anti-tumoral transcriptome response as revealed by Affymetrix microarray analysis, emerging from down-regulation of tumor-promoting genes and induction of tumor-suppressive networks. Finally, several genes regulated upon DSCAM-AS1 silencing in vitro were found to be inversely correlated with this lncRNA in EC tissues. This study clearly suggests an oncogenic function of DSCAM-AS1 in endometrial adenocarcinoma via activation of a tumor-promoting transcriptome profile.

A Review on the Carcinogenic Roles of DSCAM-AS1

Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) are a group of transcripts with fundamental roles in the carcinogenesis. DSCAM Antisense RNA 1 (DSCAM−AS1) is an example of this group of transcripts which has been firstly identified in an attempt to find differentially expressed transcripts between breast tumor cells and benign breast samples. The pathogenic roles of DSCAM-AS1 have been vastly assessed in breast cancer, yet its roles are not restricted to this type of cancer. Independent studies in non-small cell lung cancer, colorectal cancer, osteosarcoma, hepatocellular carcinoma, melanoma and cervical cancer have validated participation of DSCAM-AS1 in the carcinogenic processes. miR-577, miR-122-5p, miR-204-5p, miR-136, miR−137, miR−382, miR−183, miR−99, miR-3173-5p, miR-874-3p, miR-874-3p, miR-150-5p, miR-2467-3p, miR-216b, miR-384, miR-186-5p, miR-338-3p, miR-877-5p and miR-101 are among miRNAs which interact with DSCAM-AS1. Moreover, this lncRNA has interactions with Wnt/β-catenin pathway. The current study aims at summarization of the results of studies which focused on the assessment of oncogenic role of DSCAM-AS1.

The Regulatory Effect of MicroRNA-101-3p on Disc Degeneration by the STC1/VEGF/MAPK Pathway

Aims. Accumulating evidence reported that the microRNA (miRNA) took an important role in intervertebral disc degeneration (IDD). In this study, we revealed a novel miRNA regulatory mechanism in IDD. Main Methods. The miRNA microarray analyses of human degenerated and normal disc samples were employed to screen out the target miRNA. In vitro and in vivo experiments were conducted to verify the regulatory effect of miR-101-3p. Key Findings. The expression level of miR-101-3p was significantly decreased in the degenerated disc samples which were confirmed by qRT-PCR. Moreover, the miR-101-3p expression level was changed dynamically according to the disc degeneration grade. Upregulation of miR-101-3p expression level inhibited cell apoptosis. Furthermore, stanniocalcin-1 (STC1) was selected to be the target gene of miR-101-3p according to the bioinformatic algorithms. Mechanically, upregulation of miR-101-3p significantly decreased the expression of STC1, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), and MAPK pathway expression levels. Therapeutically, in vivo experiment on IDD rat model illustrated that agomir-101-3p could effectively suspend IDD. Significance. Our findings demonstrated that miR-101-3p alleviated IDD process through the STC1/VEGF/MAPK pathway.