Comprehensive Pan-Cancer Analysis of the Prognostic and Immunological Roles of the METTL3/lncRNA-SNHG1/miRNA-140-3p/UBE2C Axis

LncRNA SNHG1: A novel biomarker and therapeutic target in hepatocellular carcinoma

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the leading causes of cancer-related mortality globally. Increasing evidence suggests that long non-coding RNAs play a critical role in cancer development, with the small nucleolar RNA host gene family being a key participant in multiple types of carcinogenesis, including HCC. Small nucleolar RNA host gene 1 (SNHG1) is a significant member of the SNHG family. SNHG1 expression consistently increases in various HCC-associated processes, such as cell proliferation, apoptosis, angiogenesis, migration, invasion, and treatment resistance. Higher SNHG1 expression levels predict worse prognosis by positively correlating with clinicopathological features, including larger tumour size, poor differentiation, and advanced stages in patients with HCC. Nevertheless, the precise role of SNHG1 in the initiation and progression of HCC remains unclear. Therefore, this review aims to summarise the current investigations on the pathogenesis of SNHG1 in HCC, highlighting its potential as a molecular marker for early prediction and prognostic assessment. As a multifunctional modulator, SNHG1 is extensively involved in molecular signalling pathways in HCC progression and is valuable for therapeutic targeting.

Pan-cancer analysis of GJB5 as a novel prognostic and immunological biomarker

Gap junction protein B5 (GJB5, also known as Connexin 31.1) has recently been reported to be downregulated in several cancer types, where it functions primarily as a tumor suppressor in cancers such as melanoma and non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). However, there no reports describing its prognostic and immunological roles in pan-cancer. This study evaluated the association of GJB5 in various cancer types by a comprehensive pan-cancer analysis. The differential GJB5 expression in tumor and adjacent tissues acquired from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) databases was compared. Furthermore, univariate Cox regression and Kaplan-Meier survival analyses were performed to assess the influence of GJB5 on the disease-specific survival (DSS), disease-free interval (DFI), clinical stage, progression-free interval (PFI), and overall survival (OS) in various cancers. Moreover, the levels of GJB5 and its activity in the tumor microenvironment were assessed via the Tumor Immune Single-cell Hub (TISCH). In addition, the biological importance of GJB5 levels in various cancers was further assessed via Gene Set Enrichment Analysis. Tumor-Immune System Interactions Database (TISIDB) and Tumor Immune Estimation Resource Database 2.0 (TIMER2.0) tools indicated that GJB5 affected the tumor's immune infiltration potential. This research also evaluated the association of GJB5 with immune features: immune modulatory genes, tumor mutational burden (TMB), and microsatellite instability (MSI). The data indicated that enhanced GJB5 level was linked to worse DFI, OS, PFI, and DSS in some cancers. Additionally, GJB5 level was positively related to immune modulatory genes, TMB, immune cell infiltration, immunological checkpoints, and MSI in malignancies. Furthermore, our study demonstrated that GJB5 was upregulated in colorectal cancer tissues compared to normal tissues. We also assessed GJB5 expression across various pancreatic cell lines. Notably, GJB5 was highly expressed in pancreatic cancer cells relative to normal pancreatic epithelial cells. Additionally, GJB5 knockdown in pancreatic cancer cells resulted in a significant reduction in cell proliferation. In summary, the findings indicated the potential of GJB5 as a prospective prognostic indicator and immunological biomarker.

LncRNA GAS5 Regulates Myometrial Cell Contractions in an m6A-Dependent Manner

LncRNAs are engaged in signaling pathways in human physiological and pathological states. However, LncRNAs mediate the onset of human labor still remains unknown. RNA sequencing of lower segment myometrium (in labor vs. not in labor) was analyzed. N6-Methyladenosine (m6A) complexes were detected by RIP and meRIP in human myometrial cells. Plasmid and siRNA transfection was performed, and contraction ability was assessed. RNA pulldown, silver staining, protein mass spectrometry, and RIP were used to identify binding proteins. FISH and immunofluorescence costaining were applied to assess the coexpression. GAS5 was upregulated in human myometrium after labor onset. METTL3 and IGF2BP1 maintained GAS5 RNA stability based on actinomycin assay, thus strengthening the contraction of myometrial cells. RIP and meRIP revealed the binding sites of GAS5 with METTL3 and IGF2BP1, respectively. Furthermore, GAS5 binds TPM4 in cytoplasm of myometrium cells and transports TPM4 to the contraction filaments. m6A RNA modifications were also noted in the mouse myometrium after labor onset. These findings highlighted the critical role of m6A modification in GAS5, providing a new method to explore RNA epigenetic regulatory patterns in human parturition.

UBE2C as an Immune-Related Biomarker for Breast Cancer: A Study Based on Multiple Databases

OBJECTIVES

To screen the target genes that are associated with survival of breast cancer (BRCA) and explore their prognostic values and immune correlations with BRCA using multiple databases..

METHODS

The microarray expression datasets of BRCA were downloaded from the Gene Expresssion Omnibus database (GEO) and analyzed to obtain differentially expressed genes (DEGs). Hub genes were obtained by constructing and visualizing the protein-protein interaction network of DEGs. The key gene was determined using R language, STRING, and Cytoscape, and the differential expression of the key gene was verified using external datasets The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) and quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) for BRCA tissues of 37 patients. The prognostic value and immunological correlation of UBE2C in BRCA were explored using R language, TIMER, and Gene Set Enrichment Analysis (GSEA).

RESULTS

Of 10 hub genes seleceed from 302 DEGS, UBE2C was identified as the gene associated with BRCA survival. The expression of UBE2C was differentially upregulated in BRCA, as verified by TCGA and qRT-PCR. Prognostic analysis revealed that UBE2C served as an independent prognostic factor. High expression of UBE2C was associated with decreased immune infiltration levels of B cells, CD4+ T cells, CD8+ T cells, macrophages, and myeloid dendritic cells in BRCA tissue. The expression of UBE2C in BRCA showed a significant correlation with immune checkpoints genes PDCD1, CD274, and CTLA4 expressions. There was a positive correlation between the expression of UBE2C and the tumor mutational burden and microsatellite instability. GSEA demonstrated that UBE2C expression significantly enriched 786 immune-related gene sets.

CONCLUSIONS

UBE2C expression in BRCA tissues is closely related to the BRCA immune microenvironment and showes predictive values on the survivals and prognosis of BRCA patients and the effecacy of immunotherapy. UBE2C may be an potential immune-related prognostic biomarker for BRCA.

RNA epigenetics in pulmonary diseases: Insights into methylation modification of lncRNAs in lung cancer

Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) are pivotal controllers of gene expression through epigenetic mechanisms, Methylation, a prominent area of study in epigenetics, significantly impacts cellular processes. Various RNA base methylations, including m6A, m5C, m1A, and 2'-O-methylation, profoundly influence lncRNA folding, interactions, and stability, thereby shaping their functionality. LncRNAs and methylation significantly contribute to tumor development, especially in lung cancer. Their roles encompass cell differentiation, proliferation, the generation of cancer stem cells, and modulation of immune responses. Recent studies have suggested that dysregulation of lncRNA methylation can contribute to lung cancer development. Furthermore, methylation modifications of lncRNAs hold potential for clinical application in lung cancer. Dysregulated lncRNA methylation can promote lung cancer progression and may offer insights into potential biomarker or therapeutic target. This review summarizes the current knowledge of lncRNA methylation in lung cancer and its implications for RNA epigenetics and pulmonary diseases.

Unveiling HOXB7 as a novel diagnostic and prognostic biomarker through pan-cancer computer screening

We attempted to investigate the role of HOXB7 in tumor progression and evolution by means of an extensive computer screening analysis of various cancer types. We performed univariate Cox regression and Kaplan-Meier survival analyses to assess the impact of HOXB7 on overall survival (OS), disease-specific survival (DSS), and progression-free interval (PFI) in different types of cancer. Furthermore, we examined the relationship between HOXB7 and several clinical features: tumor microenvironment, immune regulatory genes, immune checkpoints, tumor mutational burden (TMB), and microsatellite instability (MSI). We performed gene set enrichment analysis to gain deeper insights into the potential molecular mechanisms of HOXB7, and validated our findings through functional assays in cells, including methyl thiazolyl tetrazolium cytotoxicity and Transwell invasion assays. HOXB7 expression was associated with different clinical characteristics in numerous malignancies. Higher HOXB7 expression was associated with worse OS, DSS, and PFI in some cancer types. In particular, HOXB7 expression was favorably associated with immune cell infiltration, immune regulatory genes, immunological checkpoints, TMB, and MSI in malignancies. Furthermore, we identified a strong link between copper death-associated gene expression and HOXB7 expression. According to the findings of this study, HOXB7 might serve as an appealing focus for tumor diagnosis and immunotherapy and a prospective indicator of prognosis.

m6A modification of lncRNA PHKA1-AS1 enhances Actinin Alpha 4 stability and promotes non-small cell lung cancer metastasis

Cancer is a disease with molecular heterogeneity that is closely related to gene mutations and epigenetic changes. The principal histological subtype of lung cancer is non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Long noncoding RNA (lncRNA) is a kind of RNA that is without protein coding function, playing a critical role in the progression of cancer. In this research, the regulatory mechanisms of lncRNA phosphorylase kinase regulatory subunit alpha 1 antisense RNA 1 (PHKA1-AS1) in the progression of NSCLC were explored. The increased level of N6-methyladenosine (m6A) modification in NSCLC caused the high expression of PHKA1-AS1. Subsequently, high-expressed PHKA1-AS1 significantly facilitated the proliferation and metastasis of NSCLC cells, and these effects could be reversed upon the inhibition of PHKA1-AS1 expression, both in vivo and in vitro. Additionally, the target protein of PHKA1-AS1 was actinin alpha 4 (ACTN4), which is known as an oncogene. Herein, PHKA1-AS1 could enhance the protein stability of ACTN4 by inhibiting its ubiquitination degradation process, thus exerting the function of ACTN4 in promoting the progress of NSCLC. In conclusion, this research provided a theoretical basis for further exploring the potential mechanism of NSCLC metastasis and searching novel biomarkers related to the pathogenesis and progression of NSCLC.

Association between methyltransferase-like 3 and non-small cell lung cancer: pathogenesis, therapeutic resistance, and clinical applications

Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is a malignant cancer that with high incidence, recurrence, and mortality rates in human beings, posing significant threats to human health. Moreover, effective early diagnosis of NSCLC remains limited primarily by the lack of accurate biomarkers. Therefore, there is an urgent need to understand the mechanisms underlying NSCLC pathogenesis and treatment failure. Methyltransferase-like 3 (METTL3) is a prototypical member of a family of which its members transfer methyl groups. It has been implicated in modulating the pathogenesis of NSCLC, as well as conferring resistance to NSCLC therapeutics. The targeting of METTL3 for NSCLC treatment has been reported. However, the relationship between METTL3 and NSCLC remains to be demonstrated. In this review, we discuss relevant interrelationships by summarising the studies on METTL3 in NSCLC pathogenesis, therapeutic resistance, and clinical applications. Current research suggests that the upregulation of METTL3 expression propels the tumorigenesis, progression, and treatment resistance of NSCLC. Therefore, we propose that METTL3 is an excellent candidate biomarker for NSCLC diagnosis and prognosis. Therapeutic targeting of METTL3 has significant potential for NSCLC treatment. This review provides a summary of the association between METTL3 and NSCLC, which would be a valuable reference for both basic and clinical research.

WTAP-mediated m6A modification of lncRNA Snhg1 improves myocardial ischemia-reperfusion injury via miR-361-5p/OPA1-dependent mitochondrial fusion

BACKGROUND

Myocardial ischemia-reperfusion injury (MIRI) is caused by reperfusion after ischemic heart disease. LncRNA Snhg1 regulates the progression of various diseases. N6-methyladenosine (m6A) is the frequent RNA modification and plays a critical role in MIRI. However, it is unclear whether lncRNA Snhg1 regulates MIRI progression and whether the lncRNA Snhg1 was modified by m6A methylation.

METHODS

Mouse cardiomyocytes HL-1 cells were utilized to construct the hypoxia/reoxygenation (H/R) injury model. HL-1 cell viability was evaluated utilizing CCK-8 method. Cell apoptosis, mitochondrial reactive oxygen species (ROS), and mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) were quantitated utilizing flow cytometry. RNA immunoprecipitation and dual-luciferase reporter assays were applied to measure the m6A methylation and the interactions between lncRNA Snhg1 and targeted miRNA or target miRNAs and its target gene. The I/R mouse model was constructed with adenovirus expressing lncRNA Snhg1. HE and TUNEL staining were used to evaluate myocardial tissue damage and apoptosis.

RESULTS

LncRNA Snhg1 was down-regulated after H/R injury, and overexpressed lncRNA Snhg1 suppressed H/R-stimulated cell apoptosis, mitochondrial ROS level and polarization. Besides, lncRNA Snhg1 could target miR-361-5p, and miR-361-5p targeted OPA1. Overexpressed lncRNA Snhg1 suppressed H/R-stimulated cell apoptosis, mitochondrial ROS level and polarization though the miR-361-5p/OPA1 axis. Furthermore, WTAP induced lncRNA Snhg1 m6A modification in H/R-stimulated HL-1 cells. Moreover, enforced lncRNA Snhg1 repressed I/R-stimulated myocardial tissue damage and apoptosis and regulated the miR-361-5p and OPA1 levels.

CONCLUSION

WTAP-mediated m6A modification of lncRNA Snhg1 regulated MIRI progression through modulating myocardial apoptosis, mitochondrial ROS production, and mitochondrial polarization via miR-361-5p/OPA1 axis, providing the evidence for lncRNA as the prospective target for alleviating MIRI progression.

Non-coding RNA-Mediated N6-Methyladenosine (m6A) deposition: A pivotal regulator of cancer, impacting key signaling pathways in carcinogenesis and therapy response

The emergence of RNA modifications has recently been considered as critical post-transcriptional regulations which governed gene expression. N6-methyladenosine (m6A) modification is the most abundant type of RNA modification which is mediated by three distinct classes of proteins called m6A writers, readers, and erasers. Accumulating evidence has been made in understanding the role of m6A modification of non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) in cancer. Importantly, aberrant expression of ncRNAs and m6A regulators has been elucidated in various cancers. As the key role of ncRNAs in regulation of cancer hallmarks is well accepted now, it could be accepted that m6A modification of ncRNAs could affect cancer progression. The present review intended to discuss the latest knowledge and importance of m6A epigenetic regulation of ncRNAs including mircoRNAs, long non-coding RNAs, and circular RNAs, and their interaction in the context of cancer. Moreover, the current insight into the underlying mechanisms of therapy resistance and also immune response and escape mediated by m6A regulators and ncRNAs are discussed.

SNHG1, interacting with SND1, contributes to sorafenib resistance of liver cancer cells by increasing m6A-mediated SLC7A11 expression and promoting aerobic glycolysis

Aerobic glycolysis plays an important role in multidrug resistance of cancer cells. Here, we screened different expressed lncRNAs associated with sorafenib resistance of liver cancer cells, by intersecting the bioinformatics analyses of TCGA and GEO (the GSE62813 dataset) databases. Our results revealed that the 18 upregulated lncRNAs in the intersection are associated with and enriched in metabolism of small molecule organic acids, suggesting their potential in glycolysis. The lncRNA small nucleolar RNA host gene 1 (Snhg1) was chosen as a potential regulator of aerobic glycolysis in liver cancer cells, for its significant promotion on lactate production. Gain- and loss-of-function experiments mediated by Crispr-Cas9 technique in HepG2 cells indicated that Snhg1 promoted cell proliferation, invasion, sorafenib resistance, and aerobic glycolysis. In the mechanism exploration, we found that Snhg1 can interact with SND1 protein, a famous RNA binding protein and recently identified "Reader" of N6-methyladenosine (m6A). SND1 was demonstrated to be positively regulated by Snhg1 and had similar promoting effects on proliferation, invasion, sorafenib resistance, and aerobic glycolysis of HepG2 cells. SND1 bound with and promoted the expression of SLC7A11, an aerobic glycolysis regulator. Furthermore, either silencing SLC7A11 or blocking aerobic glycolysis with 2-deoxy-d-glucose (2-DG) was able to reverse the promotion of Snhg1 overexpression on malignancy, sorafenib resistance, and aerobic glycolysis of HepG2 cells. Finally, in a liver cancer xenograft mouse model, we found that formed tumors with Snhg1-knocked-down HepG2 cells were more sensitive to sorafenib administration. Altogether, SNHG1 contributes to sorafenib resistance of liver cancer cells by promoting SND1-m6A-SLC7A11-mediated aerobic glycolysis.

MicroRNA-140-3p inhibits proliferation and promotes apoptosis in non-small cell lung cancer by targeting MDIG

BACKGROUND

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are associated with cancer progression. MiR-140-3p is a tumor suppressor. Nevertheless, its function in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is unclear.

METHODS

MiR-140-3p expression in NSCLC clinical specimens was examined using the TCGA database and real-time PCR. NSCLC cell proliferation and apoptosis were investigated after the miRNA overexpression. Then, mineral dust-induced gene (MDIG) levels in NSCLC clinical specimens were monitored by real-time PCR and western blotting. Bioinformatics predicated the binding of miR-140-3p to MDIG, and their relationship was validated by luciferase reporter assay. The miR-140-3p/MDIG axis was further validated through rescue experiments. The involvement of STAT3 signaling in the actions of miR-140-3p/MDIG axis was investigated.

RESULTS

MiR-140-3p was decreased in NSCLC tissues and negatively correlated with MDIG expression. Additionally, it was also lower in high-grade specimens than in low-grade ones. MiR-140-3p restrained cell proliferation, facilitated apoptosis, and inhibited STAT3 signaling in NSCLC. Interestingly, MDIG was a target of this miRNA. Furthermore, MDIG upregulation abolished miR-140-3p's effect on cell proliferation, apoptosis, and STAT3 pathway in NSCLC cells.

CONCLUSION

MiR-140-3p restrained NSCLC development through the regulation of the STAT3 pathway by targeting MDIG. This axis may be a promising target for NSCLC treatment.

Curcumin inhibits prostate cancer by upregulating miR-483-3p and inhibiting UBE2C

Prostate cancer (PCa) is an extremely common genitourinary malignancy among elderly men. Many evidence have shown the efficacy of curcumin (CUR) in inhibiting the progression of PCa. However, the pharmacological function of CUR in PCa is still not quite clear. In this research, CUR was found to suppress the proliferation and enhance the apoptotic rate in in vitro PCa cell models in a dose- and time-dependent manner. In a xenograft animal model, the administration of CUR contributed to a significant decrease in the growth of the xenograft tumor induced by the transplanted PC-3 cells. Ubiquitin-conjugating enzyme E2 C is implicated in the modulation of multiple types of cancers. In humans, the expression levels of UBE2C are significantly higher in PCa versus benign prostatic hyperplasia. Treatment with CUR decreased the expression of UBE2C, whereas it increased miR-483-3p expression. In contrast with the control mice, the CUR-treated mice showed a significant reduction in UBE2C and Ki-67 in PCa cells. The capability of proliferation, migration, and invasion of PCa cells was inhibited by the knockdown of UBE2C mediated by siRNA. Furthermore, dual luciferase reporter gene assay indicated the binding of miR-483-3p to UBE2C. In summary, CUR exerts its antitumor effects through regulation of the miR-483-3p/UBE2C axis by decreasing UBE2C and increasing miR-483-3p. The findings may also provide new molecular markers for PCa diagnosis and treatment.

LncRNA SNHG1 Accelerates Cell Proliferation, Migration, and Invasion of Hepatoblastoma Through Mediating miR-6838-5p/PIM3/RhoA Axis

Hepatoblastoma (HB) is a common primary liver malignant tumor in children. Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) are closely engaged in HB progression. The role and regulatory molecule mechanism of lncRNA small nucleolar RNA host gene 1 (SNHG1) in HB remain unclear. Through qRT-PCR or western blot, we found that SNHG1 and proviral integration site for moloney murine leukemia virus 3 (PIM3) were elevated but miR-6838-5p was decreased in HB cells. Cell biology experiments revealed that SNHG1 depletion or miR-6838-5p upregulation suppressed cell proliferation, migration, and invasion of HB cells. Mechanistically, luciferase activity assay validated that miR-6838-5p could interact with SNHG1 or PIM3. SNHG1 up-regulated PIM3 expression via sponging miR-6838-5p. Moreover, miR-6838-5p inhibitor abolished SNHG1 depletion-mediated suppression of malignant behaviors in HB cells. PIM3 overexpression neutralized miR-6838-5p mimics-mediated repression of malignant phenotypes in HB cells. Furthermore, miR-6838-5p overexpression suppressed RhoA activation, which was restored by PIM3 upregulation. What's more, the results at the cellular level were further verified by nude mice tumor formation experiment. In conclusion, SNHG1 regulated miR-6838-5p/PIM3/RhoA axis to promote malignant phenotypes of HB, which might provide novel therapeutic target for HB treatment.

Exploring the interplay between methylation patterns and non-coding RNAs in non-small cell lung cancer: Implications for pathogenesis and therapeutic targets

Lung cancer is a global public health issue, with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) accounting for 80-85 % of cases. With over two million new diagnoses annually, understanding the complex evolution of this disease is crucial. The development of lung cancer involves a complex interplay of genetic, epigenetic, and environmental factors, leading the key oncogenes and tumor suppressor genes to disorder, and activating the cancer related signaling pathway. Non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs), including microRNAs (miRNAs), long non-coding RNA (lncRNAs), and circular RNA (circRNAs) are unique RNA transcripts with diverse biological functions. These ncRNAs are generated through genome transcription and play essential roles in cellular processes. Epigenetic modifications such as DNA methylation, N6-methyladenosine (m6A) modification, and histone methylation have gained significant attention in NSCLC research. The complexity of the interactions among these methylation modifications and ncRNAs contribute to the precise regulation of NSCLC development. This review comprehensively summarizes the associations between ncRNAs and different methylation modifications and discusses their effects on NSCLC. By elucidating these relationships, we aim to advance our understanding of NSCLC pathogenesis and identify potential therapeutic targets for this devastating disease.

The METTL3/miR-196a Axis Predicts Poor Prognosis in Non-small Cell Lung Cancer

Background: METTL3 accelerates m6A modification to influence cancer progression including non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). To illustrate the role and underlying mechanism of METTL3 mediated miR-196a upregulation in NSCLC. Method: The global level of m6A modification was detected by qPCR, western blot and immumohistochemical staining. The TCGA, GEPIA, CPTAC and TIMER databases were used to explore the expression change of METTL3, miR-196a and GAS7 in NSCLC patients. Kaplan-Meier analysis was performed to analyze the prognostic value of miR-196a. NSCLC cells overexpressed or knockdown miR-196a were constructed and used for CCK8, colony formation assay, western blot and immunofluorescence in vitro. The effect of miR-196a on tumor growth was investigated in vivo. Result: We found that METTL3 mediated miR-196a were notably enhancive in NSCLC tissues and in NSCLC cells, which is markedly positively related with the serious TNM stage, the large tumor size, the distant metastasis, and the poor prognosis in patients of NSCLC. Further investigation showed that up-regulated miR-196a promoted cell viability and cell autophagy, while down-regulation of miR-196a revealed opposite results in H1299 and A549 cells. In terms of mechanism, we found that miR-196a interacted with GAS7. In addition, GAS7 expression in NSCLC patients may be positively related with the infiltration of immune cell subsets in tumor microenvironment (TME). Conclusion: The axis of METTL3-miR-196a-GAS7 might be a target for molecular targeted therapy, a potential and novel diagnostic marker for NSCLC patients.

The role of the methyltransferase METTL3 in prostate cancer: a potential therapeutic target

The incidence of prostate cancer (PCa), the most prevalent malignancy, is currently at the forefront. RNA modification is a subfield of the booming field of epigenetics. To date, more than 170 types of RNA modifications have been described, and N6-methyladenosine (m6A) is the most abundant and well-characterized internal modification of mRNAs involved in various aspects of cancer progression. METTL3, the first identified key methyltransferase, regulates human mRNA and non-coding RNA expression in an m6A-dependent manner. This review elucidates the biological function and role of METTL3 in PCa and discusses the implications of METTL3 as a potential therapeutic target for future research directions and clinical applications.

The Long Non-Coding RNA SNHG1 Predicts Severity of Acute Pancreatitis and Stimulates Pancreatic Cell Apoptosis and Inflammatory Response

Acute pancreatitis (AP) is a common digestive emergency, needs early prediction and recognition. The study examined the clinical value of long non-coding RNA SNHG1 in AP, and explored its related mechanism for AP. A total of 288 AP cases and 150 healthy persons were recruited, the AP patients were grouped based on AP severity. AR42J cells were treated with 100nM caerulein to stimulate AP in vitro. qRT-PCR was performed for mRNA detection. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was drawn for diagnostic significance evaluation. The relationship of SNHG1 and miR-140-3p was verified via luciferase reporter and RNA immunoprecipitation (RIP) assay. AP cases had high expression of SNHG1, and it can differentiate AP cases from healthy people with the area under the curve (AUC) of 0.899. Severe AP cases had high values of SNHG1, which was independently related to AP severity. SNHG1 knockdown relieved caerulein-induced AR42J cell apoptosis and inflammatory response. miR-140-3p interacted with SNHG1, and reversed the role of SNHG1 in caerulein-induced AR42J cell injury. RAB21 was a candidate target of miR-140-3p, and was at high expression in AP cell models. SNHG1 may be a promising biomarker for the detection of AP, and serves as a potential biological marker for further risk stratification in the management of AP. SNHG1 knockdown can relieve inflammatory responses and pancreatic cell apoptosis by absorbing miR-140-3p.

Role of UBE2C in Brain Cancer Invasion and Dissemination

Glioblastoma (GB) and brain metastases (BM) are the most common brain tumors in adults and are invariably associated with a dismal outcome. These highly malignant tumors share common features including increased invasion and migration of the primary or metastatic brain cancer cells, whose triggering mechanisms are largely unknown. Emerging evidence has suggested that the ubiquitin-conjugating enzyme E2C (UBE2C), essential for controlling cell cycle progression, is overexpressed in diverse malignancies, including brain cancer. This review highlights the crucial role of UBE2C in brain tumorigenesis and its association with higher proliferative phenotype and histopathological grade, with autophagy and apoptosis suppression, epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT), invasion, migration, and dissemination. High expression of UBE2C has been associated with patients' poor prognosis and drug resistance. UBE2C has also been proven as a promising therapeutic target, despite the lack of specific inhibitors. Thus, there is a need to further explore the role of UBE2C in malignant brain cancer and to develop effective targeted therapies for patients with this deadly disease.

Doxorubicin resistance in breast cancer xenografts and cell lines can be counterweighted by microRNA-140-3p, through PD-L1 suppression

BACKGROUND

Doxorubicin, a first-line chemotherapeutic drug for breast cancer, kills cancer cells by inducing DNA-crosslinking damage. Dysregulated micro-RNA (miRNA) is associated with the drug resistance of tumors. However, little is known about the effect of miRNA-140-3p on DOX resistance of breast cancer.

METHODS

The miRNA microarray was used to sequence the transcripts of DOX-chemoresistant breast cancer tissues and DOX-chemosensitive tissues. Then, the breast cancer tissue chip in the GEO database was also analyzed to screen the target gene. Flow cytometry, in situ hybridisation (ISH), immunohistochemistry (IHC), Western blot, cell proliferation assay, real-time PCR analyses (qRT-PCR), and pull-down assay were used to explore the effects of miRNA-140-3p and programmed death ligand-1 (PD-L1) on the chemoresistance of DOX-resistant breast cancer cells treated with DOX. In vivo, the DOX-resistant breast cancer cell lines treated with miRNA-140-3p overexpression were injected subcutaneously into mice to construct breast cancer subcutaneous xenograft tumor models.

RESULTS

Based on miRNA microarray, GEO database, and bioinformatics analysis, it was found that miRNA-140-3p and PD-L1 are the core molecules in the DOX resistance regulatory network in breast cancer, and lower miRNA-140-3p and higher PD-L1 expression levels were observed in DOX-resistant breast cancer tissues and cells. IHC results showed that compared with breast cancer tissues with high miRNA-140-3p expression, PD-L1 protein expression levels in breast cancer tissues with low miRNA-140-3p were significantly higher (P<0.01). Moreover, compared with DOX-sensitive tissues, the levels of PD-L1 protein expression in DOX-resistant tissues were significantly higher (P<0.01). In in vitro and in vivo experiments, the introduction of miRNA-140-3p decreased PD-L1 expression. Mechanically, we found that the MCF-7/DOX and HS598T/DOX cells pretreated with miRNA-140-3p inhibitor or exosomes containing PD-L1 have higher stemness and lower apoptosis rate, which can be abrogated by co-treating cells with anti-PD-L1 antibody or miRNA-140-3p mimic.

CONCLUSIONS

MiRNA-140-3p can suppress PD-L1 expression in breast cancer cell-derived exosomes, thereby attenuating the chemoresistance induced by DOX in breast cancer.

Immune-related biomarkers predict the prognosis and immune response of breast cancer based on bioinformatic analysis and machine learning

Breast cancer (BC) is the malignancy with the highest mortality rate among women, identification of immune-related biomarkers facilitates precise diagnosis and improvement of the survival rate in early-stage BC patients. 38 hub genes significantly positively correlated with tumor grade were identified based on weighted gene coexpression network analysis (WGCNA) by integrating the clinical traits and transcriptome analysis. Six candidate genes were screened from 38 hub genes basing on least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO)-Cox and random forest. Four upregulated genes (CDC20, CDCA5, TTK and UBE2C) were identified as biomarkers with the log-rank p < 0.05, in which high expression levels of them showed a poor overall survival (OS) and recurrence-free survival (RFS). A risk model was finally constructed using LASSO-Cox regression coefficients and it possessed superior capability to identify high risk patients and predict OS (p < 0.0001, AUC at 1-, 3- and 5-years are 0.81, 0.73 and 0.79, respectively). Decision curve analysis demonstrated risk score was the best prognostic predictor, and low risk represented a longer survival time and lower tumor grade. Importantly, multiple immune cell types and immunotherapy targets were observed increase in expression levels in high-risk group, most of which were significantly correlated with four genes. In summary, the immune-related biomarkers could accurately predict the prognosis and character the immune responses in BC patients. In addition, the risk model is conducive to the tiered diagnosis and treatment of BC patients.

SNHG1, a KLF4-upregulated gene, promotes glioma cell survival and tumorigenesis under endoplasmic reticulum stress by upregulating BIRC3 expression

Increasing evidence indicates that long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) play crucial roles in the resistance to endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress in many cancers. However, ER stress-regulated lncRNAs are still unknown in glioma. In the present study, we investigated the altered lncRNAs upon ER stress in glioma and found that small nucleolar RNA host gene 1 (SNHG1) was markedly increased in response to ER stress. Increased SNHG1 suppressed ER stress-induced apoptosis and promoted tumorigenesis in vitro and in vivo. Further mechanistic studies indicated that SNHG1 elevated BIRC3 mRNA stability and enhanced BIRC3 expression. We also found that KLF4 transcriptionally upregulated SNHG1 expression and contributed to the ER stress-induced SNHG1 increase. Collectively, the present findings indicated that SNHG1 is a KLF4-regulated lncRNA that suppresses ER stress-induced apoptosis and facilitates gliomagenesis by elevating BIRC3 expression.

The roles and mechanism of m6A RNA methylation regulators in cancer immunity

N⁶-methyladenosine (m⁶A), the most common internal modification in RNA, can be regulated by three types of regulators, including methyltransferases (writers), demethylases (erasers), and m⁶A binding proteins (readers). Recently, immunotherapy represented by immune checkpoint blocking has increasingly become an effective cancer treatment, and increasing shreds of evidence show that m⁶A RNA methylation affects cancer immunity in various cancers. Until now, there have been few reviews about the role and mechanism of m⁶A modification in cancer immunity. Here, we first summarized the regulation of m⁶A regulators on the expression of target messenger RNAs (mRNA) and their corresponding roles in inflammation, immunity response, immune process and immunotherapy in various cancer cells. Meanwhile, we described the roles and mechanisms of m⁶A RNA modification in tumor microenvironment and immune response by affecting the stability of non-coding RNA (ncRNA). Moreover, we also discussed the m⁶A regulators or its target RNAs which might be used as predictor of cancer diagnosis and prognosis, and shed light on the potentiality of m⁶A methylation regulators as therapeutic targets in cancer immunity.

The role of LncRNAs in tumor immunotherapy

Cancer immunotherapy is a major breakthrough in the history of tumor therapy in the last decade. Immune checkpoint inhibitors blocking CTLA-4/B7 or PD-1/PD-L1 pathways have greatly prolonged the survival of patients with different cancers. Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) are abnormally expressed in tumors and play an important role in tumor immunotherapy through immune regulation and immunotherapy resistance. In this review, we summarized the mechanisms of lncRNAs in regulating gene expression and well-studied immune checkpoint pathways. The crucial regulatory function of immune-related lncRNAs in cancer immunotherapy was also described. Further understanding of the underlying mechanisms of these lncRNAs is of great importance to the development of taking lncRNAs as novel biomarkers and therapeutic targets for immunotherapy.

MCM4 is a novel prognostic biomarker and promotes cancer cell growth in glioma

BACKGROUND

Gliomas account for 75% of all primary malignant brain tumors in adults and result in high mortality. Accumulated evidence has declared the minichromosome maintenance protein complex (MCM) gene family plays a critical role in modulating the cell cycle and DNA replication stress. However, the biological function and clinic characterization of nine MCM members in low-grade glioma are not yet clarified.

METHODS

In this study, we utilized diverse public databases, including The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA), Chinese Glioma Genome Atlas (CGGA), Rembrandt, Human Protein Atlas (HPA), Linkedomics, cbioportal, Tumor and Immune System Interaction Database (TISIDB), single-sample GSEA (ssGSEA), Tumor Immune Estimation Resource (TIMER), Genomics of Drug Sensitivity in Cancer (GDSC) and Cancer Therapeutics Response Portal databases to explore the mRNA and protein expression profiles, gene mutation, clinical features, diagnosis, prognosis, signaling pathway, tumor mutational burden (TMB), immune subtype, immune cell infiltration, immune modulator and drug sensitivity of nine MCMs. Afterward, qRT-PCR was utilized to detect the expression of the MCM family in glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) cell lines. The one-, three-, or five-year survival rate was predicted by utilizing a nomogram established by cox proportional hazard regression.

RESULTS

In this study, we found that nine MCMs were consistently up-regulated in glioma tissues and glioma cell lines. Elevated nine MCMs expressions were significantly correlated with a higher tumor stage, isocitrate dehydrogenase (IDH) mutates, 1p/19q codeletion, histological type, and primary therapy outcome. Survival analyses showed that higher expression of MCM2-MCM8 (minichromosome maintenance protein2-8) and MCM10 (minichromosome maintenance protein 10) were linked with poor overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS) in glioma patients. On the other hand, up-regulated MCM2-MCM8 and MCM10 were significantly associated with shorter disease-specific survival (DSS) in glioma patients. Univariate and multivariate analyses revealed that MCM2 (minichromosome maintenance protein2), MCM4 (minichromosome maintenance protein 4), MCM6 (minichromosome maintenance protein 6), MCM7 (minichromosome maintenance protein 7) expression and tumor grade, 1p/19q codeletion, age, and primary therapy outcome were independent factors correlated with the clinical outcome of glioma patients. More importantly, a prognostic MCMs model constructed using the above five prognostic genes could predict the overall survival of glioma patients with medium-to-high accuracy. Furthermore, functional enrichment analysis indicated that MCMs principal participated in regulating cell cycle and DNA replication. DNA copy number variation (CNV) and DNA methylation significantly affect the expression of MCMs. Finally, we uncover that MCMs expression is highly correlated with immune cell infiltration, immune modulator, TMB, and drug sensitivity.

CONCLUSIONS

In summary, this finding confirmed that MCM4 is a potential target of precision therapy for patients with glioma.

m6A regulator-mediated RNA methylation modification patterns are involved in immune microenvironment regulation of coronary heart disease

Background

Although the roles of m6A modification in the immune responses to human diseases have been increasingly revealed, their roles in immune microenvironment regulation in coronary heart disease (CHD) are poorly understood.

Methods

The GSE20680 and GSE20681 datasets related to CHD were acquired from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database. A total of 30 m6A regulators were used to perform LASSO regression to identify the significant genes involved in CHD. Unsupervised clustering analysis was conducted using the m6A regulators to distinguish the m6A RNA methylation patterns in patients with CHD. The differentially expressed genes (DEGs) and biological characteristics, including GO and KEGG enrichment results, were assessed for the different m6A patterns to analyse the impacts of m6A regulators on CHD. Hub genes were identified, and subsequent microRNAs-mRNAs (miRNAs–mRNAs) and mRNAs-transcriptional factors (mRNA-TFs) interaction networks were constructed by the protein and protein interaction (PPI) network method using Cytoscape software. The infiltrating proportion of immune cells was assessed by ssGSEA and the CIBERSORT algorithm. Quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) was performed to detect the expression of the significant m6A regulators and hub genes.

Results

Four of 30 m6A regulators (HNRNPC, YTHDC2, YTHDF3, and ZC3H13) were identified to be significant in the development of CHD. Two m6A RNA methylation clusters were distinguished by unsupervised clustering analysis based on the expression of the 30 m6A regulators. A total of 491 genes were identified as DEGs between the two clusters. A PPI network including 308 mRNAs corresponding to proteins was constructed, and 30 genes were identified as hub genes that were enriched in the bioprocesses of peptide cross-linking, keratinocyte differentiation. Twenty-seven hub genes were found to be related to miRNAs, and seven hub genes were found to be related to TFs. Moreover, among the 30 hub genes, eight genes were found to be upregulated in CHD, and three were found to be downregulated in CHD compared to the normal people. The high m6A modification pattern was associated with a higher infiltrated abundance of immune cells.

Conclusion

Our findings demonstrated that m6A modification plays crucial roles in the diversity and complexity of the immune microenvironment in CHD.

Identification and Validation of lncRNA-SNHG17 in Lung Adenocarcinoma: A Novel Prognostic and Diagnostic Indicator

Background

Lung cancer has the highest death rate among cancers globally. Accumulating evidence has indicated that cancer-related inflammation plays an important role in the initiation and progression of lung cancer. However, the prognosis, immunological role, and associated regulation axis of inflammatory response-related gene (IRRGs) in non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) remains unclear.

Methods

In this study, we perform comprehensive bioinformatics analysis and constructed a prognostic inflammatory response-related gene (IRRGs) and related competing endogenous RNA (ceRNA) network. We also utilized the Pearson’s correlation analysis to determine the correlation between IRRGs expression and tumor mutational burden (TMB), microsatellite instability (MSI), tumor-immune infiltration, and the drug sensitivity in NSCLC. Growth curve and Transwell assay used to verify the function of SNHG17 on NSCLC progression.

Results

First, we found that IRRGs were significantly upregulated in lung cancer, and its high expression was correlated with poor prognosis; high expression of IRRGs was significantly correlated with the tumor stage and poor prognosis in lung cancer patients. Moreover, Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) enrichment indicated that these IRRGs are mainly involved in the inflammatory and immune response-related signaling pathway in the progression of NSCLC. We utilized 10 prognostic-related genes to construct a prognostic IRRGs model that could predict the overall survival of lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) patients possessing high specificity and accuracy. Our evidence demonstrated that IRRGs expression was significantly correlated with the TMB, MSI, immune-cell infiltration, and diverse cancer-related drug sensitivity. Finally, we identified the upstream regulatory axis of IRRGs in NSCLC, namely, lncRNA MIR503HG/SNHG17/miR-330-3p/regulatory axis. Finally, knockdown of SNHG17 expression inhibited lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) cell proliferation and migration. Our findings confirmed that SNHG17 is a novel oncogenic lncRNA and may be a biomarker for the prognosis and diagnosis of LUAD.

Conclusion

DNA hypomethylation/lncRNA MIR503HG/SNHG17/microRNA-330-3p/regulatory axis may be a valuable biomarker for prognosis and is significantly correlated with immune cell infiltration in lung cancer.

Long Non-Coding RNA-TMPO-AS1 as ceRNA Binding to let-7c-5p Upregulates STRIP2 Expression and Predicts Poor Prognosis in Lung Adenocarcinoma

Background

Striatin-interacting protein 2 (STRIP2), also called Fam40b, has been reported to regulate tumor cell growth. But the role of STRIP2 in lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) has not been discovered clearly. Thus, the aim of our study is to explore the function and underlying mechanism of STRIP2 in LUAD.

Methods

Expression of STRIP2 was determined using the Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA), GTEx, Ualcan, and the Human Protein Altas databases. The Correlation of STRIP2 and survival was detected by PrognoScan and Kaplan-Meier plotter databases. Besides, the correlation between STRIP2 expression and tumor immune infiltration as well as immune checkpoints were analyzed by the ssGSEA method. The biological function of STRIP2 and its co-expression genes was determined by gene ontology (GO) and Genes and Genomes (KEGG), respectively. Finally, the expression level and biological function of STRIP2 in LUAD were determined by qPCR, CCK8, transwell, and wound healing assays.

Results

This manuscript revealed a significantly increased expression of mRNA and protein of STRIP2 in lung adenocarcinoma compared with the adjacent normal tissues. GEO and Kaplan-Meier plotter databases showed higher STRIP2 expression levels were correlated with poor prognosis survival of LUAD. Moreover, Cox regression analysis suggested that a higher STRIP2 level served as an independent risk factor in predicting deteriorative overall survival (OS) for LUAD patients. SsGSEA results showed STRIP2 expression level was positively correlated with infiltrating levels of Th2 cells in LUAD. Lastly, GO analysis indicated the biological processes were enriched in nuclear division and positive regulation of the cell cycle. KEGG signaling pathway analysis showed STRIP2 was correlated with the MAPK signaling pathway and the TNF signaling pathway. The GSEA database showed that STRIP2 was positively associated with the epithelial-mesenchymal transition, cell cycle, and TNF signaling pathway. The QRT-PCR assay showed that STRIP2 was upregulated in LUAD cell lines. Cell proliferation and migration were inhibited in LUAD by knockdown of STRIP2. Moreover, we confirmed that the TMPO-AS1/let-7c-5p/STRIP2 network regulates STRIP2 overexpression in LUAD and is associated with poor prognosis.

Conclusion

Our findings indicated that STRIP2 acted as a crucial oncogene in LUAD and was correlated with unfavorable survival and tumor infiltration inflation.

Identification of Potential Biomarkers for Pan-Cancer Diagnosis and Prognosis Through the Integration of Large-Scale Transcriptomic Data

Cancer is one of the leading causes of death worldwide, bringing a significant burden to human health and society. Accurate cancer diagnosis and biomarkers that can be used as robust therapeutic targets are of great importance as they facilitate early and effective therapies. Shared etiology among cancers suggests the existence of pan-cancer biomarkers, performance of which could benefit from the large sample size and the heterogeneity of the studied patients. In this study, we conducted a systematic RNA-seq study of 9,213 tumors and 723 para-cancerous tissue samples of 28 solid tumors from the Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database, and 7,008 normal tissue samples from the Genotype-Tissue Expression (GTEx) database. By differential gene expression analysis, we identified 214 up-regulated and 186 downregulated differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in more than 80% of the studied tumors, respectively, and obtained 20 highly linked up- and downregulated hub genes from them. These markers have rarely been reported in multiple tumors simultaneously. We further constructed pan-cancer diagnostic models to classify tumors and para-cancerous tissues using 10 up-regulated hub genes with an AUC of 0.894. Survival analysis revealed that these hub genes were significantly associated with the overall survival of cancer patients. In addition, drug sensitivity predictions for these hub genes in a variety of tumors obtained several broad-spectrum anti-cancer drugs targeting pan-cancer. Furthermore, we predicted immunotherapy sensitivity for cancers based on tumor mutational burden (TMB) and the expression of immune checkpoint genes (ICGs), providing a theoretical basis for the treatment of tumors. In summary, we identified a set of biomarkers that were differentially expressed in multiple types of cancers, and these biomarkers can be potentially used for diagnosis and used as therapeutic targets.

LncRNA-AL035458.2/hsa-miR-181a-5p Axis-Mediated High Expression of NCAPG2 Correlates With Tumor Immune Infiltration and Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer Progression

Lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) is the most common histological lung cancer, and it is the leading cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide. NCAPG2 (non-SMC condensin II complex subunit G2) has been shown to be upregulated in various human cancers. Nevertheless, the underlying biological function and potential mechanisms of NCAPG2 driving the progression of LUAD remain unclear. In this study, we investigated the role of NCAPG2 in LUAD and found that the expression of NCAPG2 in LUAD tissues was significantly higher than that of NCAPG2 expression in adjacent normal tissues. Kaplan–Meier survival analysis showed that patients with higher NCAPG2 expression correlated with unfavorable clinical outcomes. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis showed that the AUC value of NCAPG2 was 0.914. Correlation analysis showed that NCAPG2 expression was associated with immune infiltration in LUAD. Finally, we found that AL139385.1 was upregulated in LUAD cancer tissues and cell lines. Knockdown of NCAPG2 inhibited cell proliferation, cell migration, and cell invasion of LUAD in vitro. More importantly, we established the AL035458.2/hsa-miR-181a-5p axis as the most likely upstream ncRNA-related pathway of NCAPG2 in LUAD. In conclusion, our data demonstrated that ncRNA-mediated high expression of NCAPG2 was correlated with progression and immune infiltration, and could serve as a prognostic biomarker for LUAD.

Over-Expression of Long Non-Coding RNA-AC099850.3 Correlates With Tumor Progression and Poor Prognosis in Lung Adenocarcinoma

Lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) is the most common histological lung cancer, and it is the leading cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide. Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) have been implicated in the initiation and progression of various cancers. LncRNA-AC099850.3 is a novel lncRNA that is abnormally expressed in diverse cancer types including LUAD. However, the clinical significance, prognostic value, diagnostic value, immune role, and potential biological function of AC099850.3 LUAD remain elusive. In this study, we found that AC099850.3 was highly expressed in LUAD and associated with an advanced tumor stage, poor prognosis, and immune infiltration. Receiver operating curve analysis revealed the significant diagnostic ability of AC099850.3 (AUC=0.888). Functionally, the knockdown of AC099850.3 restrained LUAD cell proliferation and migration in vitro. Finally, we constructed a competitive endogenous RNAs (ceRNA) network that included hsa-miR-101-3p and 4 mRNAs (ESPL1, AURKB, BUB3, and FAM83D) specific to AC099850.3 in LUAD. Kaplan-Meier survival analysis showed that a lower expression of miR-101-3p and a higher expression of ESPL1, AURKB, BUB3, and FAM83D, were associated with adverse clinical outcomes in patients with LUAD. This finding provided a comprehensive view of the AC099850.3-mediated ceRNA network in LUAD, thereby highlighting its potential role in the diagnosis and prognosis of LUAD.

Long Non-Coding RNA AP000695.2 Acts as a Novel Prognostic Biomarker and Regulates the Cell Growth and Migration of Lung Adenocarcinoma

Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) are tumor-associated biological molecules and have been found to be implicated in the progression of lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD). LncRNA-AP000695.2 (ENSG00000248538) is a long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) that is widely increased in many tumor types including lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD). However, the aberrant expression profile, clinical significance, and biological function of AP000695.2 in human lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) need to be further investigated. This study mines key prognostic AP000695.2 and elucidates its potential role and molecular mechanism in regulating the proliferation and metastasis of LUAD. Here, we discovered that AP000695.2 was significantly upregulated in lung adenocarcinoma tissues compared with healthy adjacent lung tissue and higher in LUAD cell lines than in normal human bronchial epithelial cell lines. A higher expression of AP000695.2 was positively correlated with aggressive clinicopathological characteristics, and AP000695.2 served as an independent prognostic indicator for the overall survival, disease-free survival, and progression-free survival in patients with LUAD. Receiver operating curve (ROC) analysis revealed the significant diagnostic ability of AP000695.2 (AUC = 0.838). Our in vivo data confirmed that AP000695.2 promotes the proliferation, migration, and invasion of LUAD cells. GSEA results suggested that AP000695.2 co-expressed genes were mainly enriched in immune-related biological processes such as JAK-STAT signaling pathway and toll-like receptor signaling pathway. Single-sample GSEA analysis showed that AP000695.2 is correlated with tumor-infiltrating immune cells in lung adenocarcinoma. Our findings confirmed that AP000695.2 was involved in the progression of lung adenocarcinoma, providing a novel prognostic indicator and promising diagnostic biomarker in the future.

Deciphering the Role of Shugoshin-Like Protein 1 in Lung Adenocarcinoma: A Comprehensive Analysis and In Vitro Study

Shugoshin-like protein 1 (SGO1) has been characterized in its function in correct cell division and its role in centrosome cohesion in the nucleus. However, the underlying biological function and potential mechanisms of SGO1 driving the progression of lung adenocarcinoma remain unclear. In this study, we found that SGO1 was increased in LUAD tissues and cell lines. Upregulation of SGO1 expression was correlated with poor overall survival (OS), disease-free survival (DSS), and progression-free survival (PFS) in patients with LUAD. ROC curve analysis suggested that the AUC value of SGO1 was 0.983. Correlation analysis showed that SGO1 expression was related to immune infiltration in LUAD. Meanwhile, a potential ceRNA network was constructed to identify the lncRNA-MIR4435-2HG/miR-125a-5p/SGO1 regulatory axis in LUAD. Finally, we determine that SGO1 regulated the cell proliferation and cell apoptosis of lung adenocarcinoma in vitro. In conclusion, our data suggested that SGO1 could be a novel prognostic biomarker for lung adenocarcinoma.

Long Non-Coding RNA AL139385.1 as a Novel Prognostic Biomarker in Lung Adenocarcinoma

Lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) is the most common histological lung cancer, and it is the leading cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide. LncRNA-AL139385.1 (ENSG00000275880) is a novel lncRNA that is abnormally expressed in various cancer types including LUAD. However, the underlying biological function and potential mechanisms of AL139385.1 driving the progression of LUAD remain unclear. In this study, we investigated the role of AL139385.1 in LUAD and found that DNA hypomethylation was positively correlated with AL139385.1 expression in LUAD. Moreover, we uncover that the expression of AL139385.1 in LUAD tissues was significantly higher than that of AL139385.1 expression in adjacent normal tissues. Kaplan-Meier survival analysis showed that patients with higher AL139385.1 expression correlated with adverse overall survival and progression-free survival. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis showed that the area under the curve (AUC) value of AL139385.1 was 0.808. Correlation analysis showed that AL139385.1 expression was associated with immune infiltration in LUAD. We also found that AL139385.1 was upregulated in LUAD cancer tissues and cell lines. Knockdown of AL139385.1 significantly inhibited cell proliferation and migration abilities of LUAD. Finally, we constructed a ceRNA network that includes hsa-miR-532-5p and four mRNAs (GALNT3, CYCS, EIF5A, and ITGB4) specific to AL139385.1 in LUAD. Subsequent Kaplan-Meier survival analysis suggested that polypeptide N-acetylgalactosaminyltransferase 3 (GALNT3), cytochrome c, somatic (CYCS), eukaryotic translation initiation factor 5A (EIF5A), and integrin subunit beta 4 (ITGB4), were potential prognostic biomarkers for patients with LUAD. In conclusion, this finding provides possible mechanisms underlying the abnormal upregulation of AL139385.1 as well as a comprehensive view of the AL139385.1-mediated competing endogenous RNAs (ceRNA) network in LUAD, thereby highlighting its potential role in diagnosis and therapy.

Long non-coding RNAs and microRNAs as crucial regulators in cardio-oncology

Cancer is one of the leading causes of morbidity and mortality worldwide. Significant improvements in the modern era of anticancer therapeutic strategies have increased the survival rate of cancer patients. Unfortunately, cancer survivors have an increased risk of cardiovascular diseases, which is believed to result from anticancer therapies. The emergence of cardiovascular diseases among cancer survivors has served as the basis for establishing a novel field termed cardio-oncology. Cardio-oncology primarily focuses on investigating the underlying molecular mechanisms by which anticancer treatments lead to cardiovascular dysfunction and the development of novel cardioprotective strategies to counteract cardiotoxic effects of cancer therapies. Advances in genome biology have revealed that most of the genome is transcribed into non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs), which are recognized as being instrumental in cancer, cardiovascular health, and disease. Emerging studies have demonstrated that alterations of these ncRNAs have pathophysiological roles in multiple diseases in humans. As it relates to cardio-oncology, though, there is limited knowledge of the role of ncRNAs. In the present review, we summarize the up-to-date knowledge regarding the roles of long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) and microRNAs (miRNAs) in cancer therapy-induced cardiotoxicities. Moreover, we also discuss prospective therapeutic strategies and the translational relevance of these ncRNAs.

METTL3-Mediated m6A Modification of lncRNA MALAT1 Facilitates Prostate Cancer Growth by Activation of PI3K/AKT Signaling

Accumulating data show that N6-methyladenosine (m6A) methyltransferase METTL3 and long noncoding RNA MALAT1 act pivotal roles in multiple malignancies including prostate cancer (PCa). However, the role and molecular mechanism underlying METTL3-mediated m6A modification of MALAT1 in PCa remain undocumented. The association of METTL3 and MALAT1 expression with clinicopathological characteristics and prognosis in patients with PCa was analyzed by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR), Western blot, and public The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) dataset. The in vitro and in vivo experiments were executed to investigate the role of METTL3 in PCa. m6A dot blot, methylated RNA immunoprecipitation (MeRIP), RIP, and qRT-PCR assays were employed to observe METTL3-mediated m6A modification of MALAT1. The effects of METTL3 on MALAT1-mediated PI3K/AKT pathway were assessed by Western blot analysis. As a result, we found that METTL3 was significantly upregulated in PCa tissues and high expression of METTL3 was associated with Gleason score and tumor recurrence in patients with PCa. Knockdown of METTL3 markedly repressed growth and invasion of PCa cells in vitro and in vivo, whereas ectopic expression of METTL3 showed the opposite effects. Moreover, knockdown of METTL3 decreased the total m6A levels of PCa cells as well as the MALAT1 m6A levels, leading to reduced MALAT1 expression. Overexpression of MALAT1 reversed METTL3 knockdown-induced antitumor effects and PI3K/AKT signaling inactivation. MALAT1 harbored a positive correlation with METTL3 expression and tumor recurrence in PCa. In conclusion, our findings demonstrate that METTL3-mediated m6A modification of lncRNA MALAT1 promotes growth and invasion of PCa cells by activating PI3K/AKT signaling.