Non-coding RNAs in lung cancer: molecular mechanisms and clinical applications

Repression of ZNFX1 by LncRNA ZFAS1 mediates tobacco-induced pulmonary carcinogenesis

BACKGROUND

Despite exhaustive research efforts, integrated genetic and epigenetic mechanisms contributing to tobacco-induced initiation and progression of lung cancers have yet to be fully elucidated. In particular, limited information is available regarding dysregulation of noncoding RNAs during pulmonary carcinogenesis.

METHODS

We examined correlations and interactions of long noncoding (lnc) RNAs and protein-coding genes in normal respiratory epithelial cells (NREC) and pulmonary tumor cells following exposure to cigarette smoke condensate (CSC) using gene expression arrays, qRT-PCR, western blot, growth assays, transwell assays, and murine xenograft models, as well as methylated DNA immunoprecipitation, RNA cross-link immunoprecipitation, and quantitative chromatin immunoprecipitation techniques with bioinformatics analyses.

RESULTS

Among diverse alterations of lncRNA and coding gene expression profiles in NREC exposed to CSC, we observed upregulation of lncRNA ZFAS1 and repression of an adjacent protein-coding gene, ZNFX1, and confirmed these findings in primary lung cancers. Phenotypic experiments indicated that ZFAS1 is an oncogene, whereas ZNFX1 functions as a tumor suppressor in lung cancer cells. Mechanistically, CSC induces ZFAS1 expression via SP1 and NFĸB-associated activation of an enhancer linked to ZFAS1. Subsequently, ZFAS1 interacts with DNA methyltransferases and polycomb group proteins to silence ZNFX1. Mithramycin and methysticin repress ZFAS1 and upregulate ZNFX1 in lung cancer cells in vitro and in vivo.

CONCLUSION

These studies reveal a novel feedforward lncRNA circuit contributing to pulmonary carcinogenesis and suggest that pharmacologic targeting of SP1 and/or NFĸB may be useful strategies for restoring ZNFX1 expression for lung tumor therapy.

The potential of exosomes in regenerative medicine and in the diagnosis and therapies of neurodegenerative diseases and cancer

Exosomes, nanosized extracellular vesicles released by various cell types, are intensively studied for the diagnosis and treatment of cancer and neurodegenerative diseases, and they also display high usability in regenerative medicine. Emphasizing their diagnostic potential, exosomes serve as carriers of disease-specific biomarkers, enabling non-invasive early detection and personalized medicine. The cargo loading of exosomes with therapeutic agents presents an innovative strategy for targeted drug delivery, minimizing off-target effects and optimizing therapeutic interventions. In regenerative medicine, exosomes play a crucial role in intercellular communication, facilitating tissue regeneration through the transmission of bioactive molecules. While acknowledging existing challenges in standardization and scalability, ongoing research efforts aim to refine methodologies and address regulatory considerations. In summary, this review underscores the transformative potential of exosomes in reshaping the landscape of medical interventions, with a particular emphasis on cancer, neurodegenerative diseases, and regenerative medicine.

Crosstalk between non-coding RNAs and programmed cell death in colorectal cancer: implications for targeted therapy

BACKGROUND

Colorectal cancer (CRC) remains one of the most common causes of cancer-related mortality worldwide. Its progression is influenced by complex interactions involving genetic, epigenetic, and environmental factors. Non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs), including microRNAs (miRNAs), long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs), and circular RNAs (circRNAs), have been identified as key regulators of gene expression, affecting diverse biological processes, notably programmed cell death (PCD).

OBJECTIVE

This review aims to explore the relationship between ncRNAs and PCD in CRC, focusing on how ncRNAs influence cancer cell survival, proliferation, and treatment resistance.

METHODS

A comprehensive literature analysis was conducted to examine recent findings on the role of ncRNAs in modulating various PCD mechanisms, including apoptosis, autophagy, necroptosis, and pyroptosis, and their impact on CRC development and therapeutic response.

RESULTS

ncRNAs were found to significantly regulate PCD pathways, impacting tumor growth, metastasis, and treatment sensitivity in CRC. Their influence on these pathways highlights the potential of ncRNAs as biomarkers for early CRC detection and as targets for innovative therapeutic interventions.

CONCLUSION

Understanding the involvement of ncRNAs in PCD regulation offers new insights into CRC biology. The targeted modulation of ncRNA-PCD interactions presents promising avenues for personalized cancer treatment, which may improve patient outcomes by enhancing therapeutic effectiveness and reducing resistance.

lncRNA PVT1 silencing inhibits gastric cancer cells' progression via enhancing chemosensitivity to paclitaxel

Gastric cancer (GC) is one of the leading causes of cancer-related deaths worldwide because of its high morbidity and the absence of effective therapies. Even though paclitaxel is a powerful anticancer chemotherapy drug, recent studies have indicated its ineffectiveness against GC cells. Long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) PVT1 has a high expression in GC cells and increases the progression of tumors via inducing drug resistance. In the present study, the effects of the siRNA-mediated lncRNA PVT1 gene silencing along with paclitaxel treatment on the rate of apoptosis, growth, and migration of AGS GC cells were investigated. AGS cells were cultured and then transfected with siRNA PVT1 using electroporation. The MTT test was used to examine the effect of treatments on the viability of cultured cells. Furthermore, the flow cytometry method was used to evaluate the impact of treatments on the cell cycle process and apoptosis induction in GC cells. Finally, the mRNA expression of target genes was assessed using the qRT-PCR method. The results showed that lncRNA PVT1 gene suppression, along with paclitaxel treatment, reduces the viability of cancer cells and significantly increases the apoptosis rate of cancer cells and the number of cells arrested in the G2/M phase compared to the control group. Based on the results of qRT-PCR, combined treatment significantly decreased the expression of MMP3, MMP9, MDR1, MRP1, Bcl-2, k-Ras, and c-Myc genes and increased the expression of the Bax gene compared to the control group. The results of our study showed that lncRNA PVT1 gene targeting, together with paclitaxel treatment, induces apoptosis, inhibits growth, alleviates drug resistance, and reduces the migratory capability of GC cells. Therefore, there is a need for further investigations to evaluate the feasibility and effectiveness of this approach in vivo in animal models.

Function and Potential ceRNA Identification of Circ_009773 in Neodymium Oxide Nanoparticle-Induced Lung Epithelial Mesenchymal Transition

Nanoparticles of neodymium oxide (NPs-Nd2O3) can induce respiratory-related diseases, including lung tissue injury when entering the organism through the respiratory tract. However, it is currently unclear whether they can induce epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) in lung tissue and the related mechanisms. In this study, we investigated the function of circ_009773 in the process of EMT induced by NPs-Nd2O3 in lung tissue from in vivo as well as in vitro experiments. The findings showed that NPs-Nd2O3 induced EMT in 16HBE cells and SD rat lung tissues. This was characterised by a decrease in epithelial markers and an increase in mesenchymal markers. Additionally, circ_009773 expression was found to decrease in 16HBE cells infected with NPs-Nd2O3 and also decreased in the lung tissues of SD rats. Relevant experiments showed that circ_009773 inhibited EMT in NPs-Nd2O3-treated 16HBE cells and SD rat lung tissues. The previous experiments revealed that circ_009773 was localised in the cytoplasm and functioned at the post-transcriptional level. With the EMT-related pathway used as the basis for circ_009773-related competing endogenous (ce)RNA mechanisms, our observations indicate that circ_009773 is capable of binding to and regulating the expression of miR-135b-5p. In summary, we found that circ_009773 inhibits the EMT induced by NPs-Nd2O3 in lung tissues, and this process likely occurs through competitive binding to miR-135b-5p.

Role of apoptosis repressor with caspase recruitment domain in human health and chronic diseases

Apoptosis repressor with caspase recruitment domain (ARC) is a highly potent and multifunctional suppressor of various types of programmed cell death (PCD) (e.g. apoptosis, necroptosis, and pyroptosis) and plays a key role in determining cell fate. Under physiological conditions, ARC is predominantly expressed in terminally differentiated cells, such as cardiomyocytes and skeletal muscle cells. Its expression and activity are tightly controlled by a complicated system consisting of transcription factor (TF), non-coding RNA (ncRNA), and post-translational modification (PTM). ARC dysregulation has been shown to be closely associated with many chronic diseases, including cardiovascular disease, cancer, diabetes, and neurodegenerative disease. However, the detailed mechanisms of ARC involved in the progression of these diseases remain unclear to a large extent. In this review, we mainly focus on the regulatory mechanisms of ARC expression and activity and its role in PCD. We also discuss the underlying mechanisms of ARC in health and disease and highlight the potential implications of ARC in the clinical treatment of patients with chronic diseases. This information may assist in developing ARC-based therapeutic strategies for patients with chronic diseases and expand researchers' understanding of ARC.

m6A-modified circCacna1c regulates necroptosis and ischemic myocardial injury by inhibiting Hnrnpf entry into the nucleus

BACKGROUND

Circular RNAs (circRNAs) are differentially expressed in various cardiovascular diseases, including myocardial infarction (MI) injury. However, their functional role in necroptosis-induced loss of cardiomyocytes remains unclear. We identified a cardiac necroptosis-associated circRNA transcribed from the Cacna1c gene (circCacna1c) to investigate the involvement of circRNAs in cardiomyocyte necroptosis.

METHODS

To investigate the role of circCacna1c during oxidative stress, H9c2 cells and neonatal rat cardiomyocytes were treated with hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) to induce reactive oxygen species (ROS)-induced cardiomyocyte death. The N6-methyladenosine (m6A) modification level of circCacna1c was determined by methylated RNA immunoprecipitation quantitative polymerase chain reaction (MeRIP-qPCR) analysis. Additionally, an RNA pull-down assay was performed to identify interacting proteins of circCacna1c in cardiomyocytes, and the regulatory role of circCacna1c in target protein expression was tested using a western blotting assay. Furthermore, the MI mouse model was constructed to analyze the effect of circCacna1c on heart function and cardiomyocyte necroptosis.

RESULTS

The expression of circCacna1c was found to be reduced in cardiomyocytes exposed to oxidative stress and in mouse hearts injured by MI. Overexpression of circCacna1c inhibited necroptosis of cardiomyocytes induced by hydrogen peroxide and MI injury, resulting in a significant reduction in myocardial infarction size and improved cardiac function. Mechanistically, circCacna1c directly interacts with heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoprotein F (Hnrnpf) in the cytoplasm, preventing its nuclear translocation and leading to reduced Hnrnpf levels within the nucleus. This subsequently suppresses Hnrnpf-dependent receptor-interacting protein kinase 1 (RIPK1) expression. Furthermore, fat mass and obesity-associated protein (FTO) mediates demethylation of m6A modification on circCacna1c during necrosis and facilitates degradation of circCacna1c.

CONCLUSION

Our study demonstrates that circCacna1c can improve cardiac function following MI-induced heart injury by inhibiting the Hnrnpf/RIPK1-mediated cardiomyocyte necroptosis. Therefore, the FTO/circCacna1c/Hnrnpf/RIPK1 axis holds great potential as an effective target for attenuating cardiac injury caused by necroptosis in ischemic heart disease.

Superenhancer-driven circRNA Myst4 involves in pulmonary artery smooth muscle cell ferroptosis in pulmonary hypertension

The abnormal expression of circular RNAs (circRNAs) is emerging as a critical cause in regulation of pathological changes of hypoxic pulmonary hypertension (PH), in which ferroptosis is a new pathological change reported recently. However, how circRNAs regulate ferroptosis remains unclear. Here, we proved a significant decrease in circMyst4 expression in hypoxia. In vitro assays revealed that circMyst4 alleviated hypoxic pulmonary artery smooth muscle cell (PASMC) ferroptosis through directly combing with DDX5 in the nucleus to promote GPX4 mRNA processing and inhibiting the formation of the Eef1a1/ACSL4 complex in the cytoplasm. Additionally, superenhancer (SE) was verified to drive the generation of circMyst4. In vivo assays revealed that circMyst4 inhibited the progression of hypoxic PH. Overall, SE-driven circMyst4 may be a new potential therapeutic target for mediating PASMC ferroptosis through promoting DDX5-regulated GPX4 mRNA processing and inhibiting the binding between Eef1a1 and ACSL4.

Modified EBP-bFGF targeting endogenous renal extracellular matrix protects against renal ischemia-reperfusion injury in rats

Acute kidney injury (AKI) is a life-threatening disease primarily caused by renal ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) injury, which can result in renal failure. Currently, growth factor therapy is considered a promising and effective approach for AKI treatment. Basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF), an angiogenic factor with potent activity, efficiently stimulates angiogenesis and facilitates regeneration of renal tissue. However, the unrestricted diffusion of bFGF restricts its clinical application in AKI treatment. Therefore, developing a novel sustained released system for bFGF could enhance its potential in treating AKI. In this study, we genetically engineered a multifunctional recombinant protein by fusing bFGF with a specific peptide (EBP). EBP-bFGF effectively binds to the extracellular matrix in the injured kidney, enabling slow release of bFGF in AKI. Furthermore, following orthotopic injection into I/R rats' ischemic kidneys, EBP-bFGF exhibited stable retention within the tissue. Additionally, EBP-bFGF suppressed apoptosis of renal cells, reduced renal fibrosis, and facilitated recovery of renal function. These findings suggest that EBP-bFGF delivery system represents a promising strategy for treating AKI.

Non-Coding RNA as a Biomarker in Lung Cancer

INTRODUCTION

Lung cancer remains one of the most prevalent and deadly cancers globally, with high mortality rates largely due to late-stage diagnosis, aggressive progression, and frequent recurrence. Despite advancements in diagnostic techniques and therapeutic interventions, the overall prognosis for lung cancer patients continues to be dismal.

METHOD

Emerging research has identified non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs), including microRNAs, long non-coding RNAs, and circular RNAs, as critical regulators of gene expression, significantly influencing cancer biology. These ncRNAs play pivotal roles in various aspects of lung cancer pathogenesis, including tumor initiation, progression, metastasis, and resistance to therapy.

RESULTS

We provide a comprehensive analysis of the current understanding of ncRNAs in lung cancer, emphasizing their potential as biomarkers for early diagnosis, prognostication, and the prediction of the therapeutic response. We explore the biological functions of ncRNAs, their involvement in key oncogenic pathways, and the molecular mechanisms by which they modulate gene expression and cellular processes in lung cancer. Furthermore, this review highlights recent advances in ncRNA-based diagnostic tools and therapeutic strategies, such as miRNA mimics and inhibitors, lncRNA-targeted therapies, and circRNA-modulating approaches, offering promising avenues for personalized medicine.

CONCLUSION

Finally, we discuss the challenges and future directions in ncRNA research, including the need for large-scale validation studies and the development of efficient delivery systems for ncRNA-based therapies. This review underscores the potential of ncRNAs to revolutionize lung cancer management by providing novel diagnostic and therapeutic options that could improve patient outcomes.

lncRNA HOTAIR and Cardiovascular diseases

Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) a major contributor to global mortality rates, with a steadily rising prevalence observed across the world. Understanding the molecular mechanisms that underlie the signaling pathways implicated in the pathogenesis of CVDs represents a salient and advantageous avenue toward the development of precision and targeted therapeutics. A recent development in CVDs research is the discovery of long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs), which are now understood to have crucial roles in the onset and development of several pathophysiological processes. The distinct expression patterns exhibited by lncRNAs in various CVDs contexts, present a significant opportunity for their utilization as both biomarkers and targets for therapeutic intervention. Among the various identified lncRNAs, HOX antisense intergenic RNA (HOTAIR) functions as signaling molecules that are significantly implicated in the pathogenesis of cardiovascular disorders in response to risk factors. HOTAIR has been observed to circulate within the bloodstream and possesses an integral epigenetic regulatory function in the transcriptional pathways of many diseases. Recent studies have suggested that HOTAIR offers promise as a biomarker for the detection and treatment of CVDs. The investigation on HOTAIR's role in CVDs, however, is still in its early phases. The goal of the current study is to give a thorough overview of recent developments in the field of analyzing the molecular mechanism of HOTAIR in controlling the pathophysiological processes of CVDs as well as its possible therapeutic uses.

ATF family members as therapeutic targets in cancer: From mechanisms to pharmacological interventions

The activating transcription factor (ATF)/ cAMP-response element binding protein (CREB) family represents a large group of basic zone leucine zip (bZIP) transcription factors (TFs) with a variety of physiological functions, such as endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress, amino acid stress, heat stress, oxidative stress, integrated stress response (ISR) and thus inducing cell survival or apoptosis. Interestingly, ATF family has been increasingly implicated in autophagy and ferroptosis in recent years. Thus, the ATF family is important for homeostasis and its dysregulation may promote disease progression including cancer. Current therapeutic approaches to modulate the ATF family include direct modulators, upstream modulators, post-translational modifications (PTMs) modulators. This review summarizes the structural domain and the PTMs feature of the ATF/CREB family and comprehensively explores the molecular regulatory mechanisms. On this basis, their pathways affecting proliferation, metastasis, and drug resistance in various types of cancer cells are sorted out and discussed. We then systematically summarize the status of the therapeutic applications of existing ATF family modulators and finally look forward to the future prospect of clinical applications in the treatment of tumors by modulating the ATF family.

Dysregulation of Transposon Transcription Profiles in Cancer Cells Resembles That of Embryonic Stem Cells

Transposable elements (TEs) comprise a substantial portion of the mammalian genome, with potential implications for both embryonic development and cancer. This study aimed to characterize the expression profiles of TEs in embryonic stem cells (ESCs), cancer cell lines, tumor tissues, and the tumor microenvironment (TME). We observed similarities in TE expression profiles between cancer cells and ESCs, suggesting potential parallels in regulatory mechanisms. Notably, four TE RNAs (HERVH, LTR7, HERV-Fc1, HERV-Fc2) exhibited significant downregulation across cancer cell lines and tumor tissues compared to ESCs, highlighting potential roles in pluripotency regulation. The strong up-regulation of the latter two TEs (HERV-Fc1, HERV-Fc2) in ESCs has not been previously demonstrated and may be a first indication of their role in the regulation of pluripotency. Conversely, tandemly repeated sequences (MSR1, CER, ALR) showed up-regulation in cancer contexts. Moreover, a difference in TE expression was observed between the TME and the tumor bulk transcriptome, with distinct dysregulated TE profiles. Some TME-specific TEs were absent in normal tissues, predominantly belonging to LTR and L1 retrotransposon families. These findings not only shed light on the regulatory roles of TEs in both embryonic development and cancer but also suggest novel targets for anti-cancer therapy. Understanding the interplay between cancer cells and the TME at the TE level may pave the way for further research into therapeutic interventions.

Advances in Circular RNA in the Pathogenesis of Epilepsy

Recent studies evidenced the involvement of circular RNA (circRNA) in neuroinflammation, apoptosis, and synaptic remodeling suggesting an important role for circRNA in the occurrence and development of epilepsy. This review provides an overview of circRNAs considered to be playing regulatory roles in the process of epilepsy and to be involved in multiple biological epilepsy-related processes, such as hippocampal sclerosis, inflammatory response, cell apoptosis, synaptic remodeling, and cell proliferation and differentiation. This review covers the current research status of differential expression of circRNA-mediated seizures, m6A methylation, demethylation-mediated seizures in post transcriptional circRNA modification, as well as the mechanisms of m5C- and m7G-modified circRNA. In summary, this article reviews the research progress on the relationship between circRNA in non-coding RNA and epilepsy.

AQP5 promotes epithelial-mesenchymal transition and tumor growth through activating the Wnt/β-catenin pathway in triple-negative breast cancer

BACKGROUND

Emerging data identifies aquaporin 5 (AQP5) as a vital player in many kinds of cancers. Over expression of AQP5 was associated with increased metastasis and poor prognosis, suggesting that AQP5 may facilitate cancer cell proliferation and migration. Our previous studies also showed that AQP3 and AQP5 were highly expressed in triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) and the expression of AQP3 and AQP5 in TNBC tissue was positive correlated with advanced clinical stage.

OBJECTIVE

We aim to investigate the role of AQP5 in TNBC oncogenesis and development.

METHODS

MDA-MB-231 cells were transfected with siRNA-AQP5 and AQP5 overexpression vector to establish a differential expression system for AQP5. Cell proliferation and apoptosis of MDA-MB-231 cells were detected by CCK-8 (Cell Counting Kit-8) and FCM (flow cytometry), respectively. Cell migration and invasion abilities were evaluated by wound healing assay and transwell assay. The qRT-PCR and western blot assays were used to study the effect of AQP5 expression level on the expression of epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) related molecules. The effects of ICG-001, a Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway inhibitor, on the invasive and migratory capabilities of overexpressed AQP5 cells and downstream molecules were measured.

RESULTS

1. The expression of AQP5 in the MDA-MB-231 cells was significantly higher than that in the MCF-10A cells. 2. Up-regulation of AQP5 significantly promoted the proliferation, migration and invasion of TNBC cells, while inhibited the cell apoptosis; in addition, up-regulation of AQP5 increased the expression of Bcl-2 and decreased the expression of Caspase-3. However, knockdown of AQP5 presented the adverse effects of AQP5 overexpression. 3. Overexpressed AQP5 induced the overexpression of EMT-related factors, which further promoted the migration and invasion of cells. 4. Overexpression of AQP5 could up-regulate the expression of β-catenin in the nucleus followed by increasing the expression levels of downstream genes in Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway. Moreover, ICG-001, the inhibitor of Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway, could significantly attenuate the effect of overexpression of AQP5 on cells, further confirming that AQP5 may promote the proliferation, migration and invasion of TNBC cells by activating Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway.

CONCLUSIONS

In the TNBC cells, AQP5 modulates the expression levels of EMT-related proteins through activation of Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway, thus enhancing the cell proliferation, migration and invasion while inhibiting the cell apoptosis.

Targeting the Wnt/β-catenin cascade in osteosarcoma: The potential of ncRNAs as biomarkers and therapeutics

Osteosarcoma (OS) is a bone cancer which stems from several sources and presents with diverse clinical features, making evaluation and treatment difficult. Chemotherapy tolerance and restricted treatment regimens hinder progress in survival rates, requiring new and creative therapeutic strategies. The Wnt/β-catenin system has been recognised as an essential driver of OS development, providing potential avenues for therapy. Non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs), such as circular RNAs (circRNAs), long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs), and microRNAs (miRNAs), are essential in modulating the Wnt/β-catenin cascade in OS. MiRNAs control the system by targeting vital elements, while lncRNAs and circRNAs interact with system genes, impacting OS growth and advancement. This paper thoroughly analyses the intricate interplay between ncRNAs and the Wnt/β-catenin cascade in OS. We examine how uncontrolled levels of miRNAs, lncRNAs, and circRNAs lead to an abnormal Wnt/β-catenin network, which elevates the development, spread, and susceptibility to the treatment of OS. We emphasise the potential of ncRNAs as diagnostic indicators and avenues for treatment in OS care. The review offers valuable insights for academics and clinicians studying OS aetiology and creating new treatment techniques for the ncRNA-Wnt/β-catenin cascade. Utilising the oversight roles of ncRNAs in the Wnt/β-catenin system shows potential for enhancing the outcomes of patients and progressing precision medicine in OS therapy.

Epigenetic regulation of autophagy by non-coding RNAs and exosomal non-coding RNAs in colorectal cancer: A narrative review

One of the major diseases affecting people globally is colorectal cancer (CRC), which is primarily caused by a lack of effective medical treatment and a limited understanding of its underlying mechanisms. Cellular autophagy functions to break down and eliminate superfluous proteins and substances, thereby facilitating the continual replacement of cellular elements and generating vital energy for cell processes. Non-coding RNAs and exosomal ncRNAs have a crucial impact on regulating gene expression and essential cellular functions such as autophagy, metastasis, and treatment resistance. The latest research has indicated that specific ncRNAs and exosomal ncRNA to influence the process of autophagy in CRC cells, which could have significant consequences for the advancement and treatment of this disease. It has been determined that a variety of ncRNAs have a vital function in regulating the genes essential for the formation and maturation of autophagosomes. Furthermore, it has been confirmed that ncRNAs have a considerable influence on the signaling pathways associated with autophagy, such as those involving AMPK, AKT, and mTOR. Additionally, numerous ncRNAs have the potential to affect specific genes involved in autophagy. This study delves into the control mechanisms of ncRNAs and exosomal ncRNAs and examines how they simultaneously influence autophagy in CRC.

Non-coding RNAs involved in the molecular pathology of Alzheimer's disease: a systematic review

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the leading cause of dementia globally, having a pathophysiology that is complex and multifactorial. Recent findings highlight the significant role of non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs), specifically microRNAs (miRNAs), long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs), circular RNAs (circRNAs), and piwi-interacting RNAs (piRNAs) in the molecular mechanisms underlying AD. These ncRNAs are involved in critical biological processes such as cell proliferation, apoptosis, oxidative stress, amyloid-beta aggregation, tau phosphorylation, neuroinflammation, and autophagy, which are pivotal in AD development and progression. This systematic review aims to consolidate current scientific knowledge on the role of ncRNAs in AD, making it the first to encompass the four types of ncRNAs associated with the disease. Our comprehensive search and analysis reveal that ncRNAs not only play crucial roles in the pathogenesis of AD but also hold potential as biomarkers for its early detection and as novel therapeutic targets. Specifically, the findings underscore the significance of miRNAs in regulating genes involved in key AD pathways such as activin receptor signaling pathway, actomyosin contractile ring organization, and advanced glycation endproducts-receptor advanced glycation endproducts (AGE-RAGE) signaling pathway. This review also highlights the potential of ncRNAs in unveiling novel diagnostic and therapeutic strategies, emphasizing the need for further research to validate their clinical utility. Our systematic exploration provides a foundation for future bioinformatic analyses and the development of ncRNA-based precision medicine approaches for AD, offering new insights into the disease's molecular pathology and paving the way for innovative treatment strategies.

Systematic review registration

PROSPERO, https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/, CRD42022355307.

Non-coding RNA mediated regulation of PI3K/Akt pathway in hepatocellular carcinoma: Therapeutic perspectives

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is among the primary reasons for fatalities caused by cancer globally, highlighting the need for comprehensive knowledge of its molecular aetiology to develop successful treatment approaches. The PI3K/Akt system is essential in the course of HCC, rendering it an intriguing candidate for treatment. Non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs), such as long ncRNAs (lncRNAs), microRNAs (miRNAs), and circular RNAs (circRNAs), are important mediators of the PI3K/Akt network in HCC. The article delves into the complex regulatory functions of ncRNAs in influencing the PI3K/Akt system in HCC. The study explores how lncRNAs, miRNAs, and circRNAs impact the expression as well as the function of the PI3K/Akt network, either supporting or preventing HCC growth. Additionally, treatment strategies focusing on ncRNAs in HCC are examined, such as antisense oligonucleotide-based methods, RNA interference, and small molecule inhibitor technologies. Emphasizing the necessity of ensuring safety and effectiveness in clinical settings, limitations, and future approaches in using ncRNAs as therapies for HCC are underlined. The present study offers useful insights into the complex regulation system of ncRNAs and the PI3K/Akt cascade in HCC, suggesting possible opportunities for developing innovative treatment approaches to address this lethal tumor.

Comprehensive review for non-coding RNAs: From mechanisms to therapeutic applications

Non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) are an assorted collection of transcripts that are not translated into proteins. Since their discovery, ncRNAs have gained prominence as crucial regulators of various biological functions across diverse cell types and tissues, and their abnormal functioning has been implicated in disease. Notably, extensive research has focused on the relationship between microRNAs (miRNAs) and human cancers, although other types of ncRNAs, such as long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) and circular RNAs (circRNAs), are also emerging as significant contributors to human disease. In this review, we provide a comprehensive summary of our current knowledge regarding the roles of miRNAs, lncRNAs, and circRNAs in cancer and other major human diseases, particularly cancer, cardiovascular, neurological, and infectious diseases. Moreover, we discuss the potential utilization of ncRNAs as disease biomarkers and as targets for therapeutic interventions.

HAMP predicts a pivotal role in modulating the malignant behaviors of non-small cell lung cancer cells

BACKGROUND

Hepcidin antimicrobial peptide (HAMP) is a small peptide hormone recognized for its role in iron metabolism and cancer treatment. The purpose of this study was to examine the influence of HAMP in NSCLC.

METHODS

The profile of NSCLC cells and tissues was characterized via HAMP. Gain- or loss-of-function cell models of HAMP were constructed, and CCK8, colony formation, and Transwell analyses were used to confirm the influence of HAMP on NSCLC cells. Upstream and downstream HAMP mechanisms in NSCLC were also analysed. Dual-luciferase reporter and pull-down assays confirmed the associations of miR-873-5p with HAMP, miR-873-5p, and the lncRNA KCNQ1OT1/SNHG14/XIST. Moreover, a xenograft model was established in nude mice for confirming the role of HAMP in NSCLC cell growth.

RESULTS

In addition, HAMP expression increased in NSCLC cells and tissues. In terms of cellular functions, the HAMP-overexpressing group exhibited elevated NSCLC cell proliferation, invasion, and migration. HAMP knockdown reversed these changes. Bioinformatics analysis indicated that miR-873-5p targeted HAMP, which affected the nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) pathway in NSCLC. HAMP activated the NF-κB pathway, which was negatively modulated by miR-873-5p. NF-κB inhibitor JSH-23 can partly suppress the proliferation, invasion, and migration in HAMP-overexpressed cells. Moreover, miR-873-5p was the target miRNA of long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs), which included KCNQ1OT1, SNHG14, and XIST, and these three lncRNAs promoted HAMP.

CONCLUSION

Noncoding RNA-mediated HAMP promotes NSCLC cell proliferation, migration, and invasion by initiating the NF-κB pathway.

A Review of Recent Advances in the Molecular Mechanisms Underlying Brain Metastasis in Lung Cancer

Brain metastasis from lung cancer is a prevalent mode of treatment failure associated with a poor prognosis. The incidence of brain metastasis has recently shown a dramatic increase. The early detection and risk stratification of lung cancer-related brain metastasis would be highly advantageous for patients. However, our current knowledge and comprehension of the underlying mechanisms driving brain metastasis in lung cancer pose significant challenges. This review summarizes the mechanisms underlying brain metastasis, focusing on the intricate interplay between lung cancer-derived tumor cells and the unique characteristics of the brain, recent advancements in the identification of driver genes, concomitant genes, epigenetic features, including miRNAs and long noncoding RNAs, as well as the molecular characterization of brain metastasis originating from other organs, which may further enhance risk stratification and facilitate precise treatment strategies.

Decoding the role of long non-coding RNAs in gallbladder cancer pathogenesis: A review focus on signaling pathways interplay

Gallbladder cancer (GBC) is one of the most aggressive types of biliary tree cancers and the commonest despite its rarity. It is infrequently diagnosed at an early stage, further contributing to its poor prognosis and low survival rate. The lethal nature of the disease has underlined a crucial need to discern the underlying mechanisms of GBC carcinogenesis which are still largely unknown. However, with the continual evolution in the research of cancer biology and molecular genetics, studies have found that non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) play an active role in the molecular pathophysiology of GBC development. Dysregulated long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) and their interaction with intracellular signaling pathways contribute to malignancy and disease development. LncRNAs, a subclass of ncRNAs with over 200 nucleotides, regulate gene expression at transcriptional, translational, and post-translational levels and especially as epigenetic modulators. Thus, their expression abnormalities have been linked to malignancy and therapeutic resistance. lnsRNAs have also been found in GBC patients' serum and tumor tissue biopsies, highlighting their potential as novel biomarkers and for targeted therapy. This review will examine the growing involvement of lncRNAs in GBC pathophysiology, including related signaling pathways and their wider clinical use.

The Role of Circular RNA Variants Generated from the NFIX Gene in Different Diseases

Circular RNAs (circRNAs) have been identified as important regulators in different developmental processes and disease pathogenesis. The loop structure of circRNAs makes them very stable in different conditions and microenvironments. circRNAs can affect microRNA (miRNA) and RNA binding protein (RBP) activity, encode functional proteins and regulate gene transcription. Recently, two circNFIX variants derived from the same gene, the Nuclear Factor I X (NFIX) gene, were determined as participants in the pathological processes of various diseases such as heart diseases and cancers. Both circNFIX variants are exonic circular RNAs and mainly function by sponging miRNAs. In this review, we summarize the current knowledge on circRNAs, elucidate the origins and properties of two circNFIX variants, explore the roles of two circNFIX variants in different diseases, and present clinical perspectives.

Evaluating Oral Probiotic Supplements as Complementary Treatment in Advanced Lung Cancer Patients Receiving ICIs: A Prospective Real-World Study

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the effectiveness of oral probiotic supplements in patients undergoing immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) for the treatment of advanced lung cancer.

METHODS

This prospective real-world study enrolled patients with advanced lung cancer who were receiving ICIs as part of their treatment. The patients were divided into 2 groups: Group OPS received oral probiotic supplements along with ICIs, while Group C did not. The primary endpoint was progression-free survival (PFS). The secondary outcome measure was the objective response rate (ORR).

RESULTS

A total of 253 patients were included in the study, with 71 patients in Group OPS and 182 patients in the control group (Group C). No significant differences were observed in the median PFS between the 2 groups for all patients. However, for small cell lung cancer (SCLC) patients, the median PFS was significantly better in the Group OPS compared to the Group C (11.1 months vs 7.0 months, P = .049). No significant differences were observed in median PFS for the non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) cohort between the 2 groups, but a trend towards better median PFS in Group OPS was noticed (16.5 months vs 12.3 months, P = .56). The ORR for the entire cohort was 58.0%.

CONCLUSION

Oral probiotics supplements in combination with ICIs included regimen may improve the outcome in patients with advanced SCLC. The above points should be proved by further study.