Unraveling Therapeutic Opportunities and the Diagnostic Potential of microRNAs for Human Lung Cancer

Targeting microRNAs as a promising anti-cancer therapeutic strategy against traffic-related air pollution-mediated lung cancer

Air pollutants are increasingly emitted into the atmosphere because of the high dependency of humans on fossil-derived fuels. Wind speed and direction assisted high dispersibility and uncontrolled nature of air pollution across geo-/demographical borders, making it one of the major global concerns. Besides climate change, air pollution has been found to be associated with various diseases, such as cancer. Lung cancer, which is the world's most common type of cancer, has been found to be associated with traffic-related air pollution. Research and political efforts have been taken to explore green/renewable energy sources. However, these efforts at the current intensity cannot cope with the increasing need for fossil fuels. More specifically, political tensions such as the Russian-Ukraine war, economic tension (e.g., China-USA economic tensions), and other issues (e.g., pandemic, higher inflation rate, and poverty) significantly hindered phasing out fossil fuels. In this context, an increasing global population will be exposed to traffic-related air pollution, which justifies the current uptrend in the number of lung cancer patients. To combat this health burden, novel treatments with higher efficiency and specificity must be designed. One of the potential "life changer" options is microRNA (miRNA)-based therapy to target the expression of oncogenic genes. That said, this review discusses the association of traffic-related air pollution with lung cancer, the changes in indigenous miRNAs in the body during lung cancer, and the current status of miRNA therapeutics for lung cancer treatment. We believe that the article will significantly appeal to a broad readership of oncologists, environmentalists, and those who work in the field of (bio)energy. It may also gain the policymakers' attention to establish better health policies and regulations about air pollution, for example, by promoting (bio)fuel exploration, production, and consumption.

Chemical modification patterns for microRNA therapeutic mimics: a structure-activity relationship (SAR) case-study on miR-200c

microRNA (miRNA) mimics are an emerging class of oligonucleotide therapeutics, with a few compounds already in clinical stages. Synthetic miRNAs are able to restore downregulated levels of intrinsic miRNAs, allowing for parallel regulation of multiple genes involved in a particular disease. In this work, we examined the influence of chemical modifications patterns in miR-200c mimics, assessing the regulation of a selection of target messenger RNAs (mRNA) and, subsequently, of the whole transcriptome in A549 cells. We have probed 37 mimics and provided an initial set of instructions for designing miRNA mimics with potency and selectivity similar to an unmodified miRNA duplex. Additionally, we have examined the stability of selected mimics in serum. Finally, the selected two modification patterns were translated to two other miRNAs, miR-34a and miR-155. To differing degrees, these designs acted on target mRNAs in a similar manner to the unmodified mimic. Here, for the first time, we describe a structured overview of 'miRNA mimics modification templates' that are chemically stabilised and optimised for use in an in vitro set up and highlight the need of further sequence specific optimization when mimics are to be used beyond in vitro tool experiments.

MiR-21 Regulates Growth and Migration of Cervical Cancer Cells by RECK Signaling Pathway

Expression of miR-21 has been found to be altered in almost all types of cancers, and it has been classified as an oncogenic microRNA. In addition, the expression of tumor suppressor gene RECK is associated with miR-21 overexpression in high-grade cervical lesions. In the present study, we analyze the role of miR-21 in RECK gene regulation in cervical cancer cells. To identify the downstream cellular target genes of upstream miR-21, we silenced endogenous miR-21 expression using siRNAs. We analyzed the expression of miR-21 and RECK, as well as functional effects on cell proliferation and migration. We found that in cervical cancer cells, there was an inverse correlation between miR-21 expression and RECK mRNA and protein expression. SiRNAs to miR-21 increased luciferase reporter activity in construct plasmids containing the RECK-3'-UTR microRNA response elements MRE21-1, MRE21-2, and MRE21-3. The role of miR-21 in cell proliferation was also analyzed, and cancer cells transfected with siRNAs exhibited a markedly reduced cell proliferation and migration. Our findings indicate that miR-21 post-transcriptionally down-regulates the expression of RECK to promote cell proliferation and cell migration inhibition in cervical cancer cell survival. Therefore, miR-21 and RECK may be potential therapeutic targets in gene therapy for cervical cancer.

lncRNA-microRNA axis in cancer drug resistance: particular focus on signaling pathways

Cancer drug resistance remains a formidable challenge in modern oncology, necessitating innovative therapeutic strategies. The convergence of intricate regulatory networks involving long non-coding RNAs, microRNAs, and pivotal signaling pathways has emerged as a crucial determinant of drug resistance. This review underscores the multifaceted roles of lncRNAs and miRNAs in orchestrating gene expression and cellular processes, mainly focusing on their interactions with specific signaling pathways. Dysregulation of these networks leads to the acquisition of drug resistance, dampening the efficacy of conventional treatments. The review highlights the potential therapeutic avenues unlocked by targeting these non-coding RNAs. Developing specific inhibitors or mimics for lncRNAs and miRNAs, alone or in combination with conventional chemotherapy, emerges as a promising strategy. In addition, epigenetic modulators, immunotherapies, and personalized medicine present exciting prospects in tackling drug resistance. While substantial progress has been made, challenges, including target validation and safety assessment, remain. The review emphasizes the need for continued research to overcome these hurdles and underscores the transformative potential of lncRNA-miRNA interplay in revolutionizing cancer therapy.

Insight into Steroid-Induced ONFH: The Molecular Mechanism and Function of Epigenetic Modification in Mesenchymal Stem Cells

Osteonecrosis of the femoral head (ONFH) is a common refractory orthopedic disease, which is one of the common causes of hip pain and dysfunction. ONFH has a very high disability rate, which is associated with a heavy burden to patients, families, and society. The pathogenesis of ONFH is not completely clear. At present, it is believed that it mainly includes coagulation dysfunction, abnormal lipid metabolism, an imbalance of osteogenic/adipogenic differentiation, and poor vascularization repair. The prevention and treatment of ONFH has always been a great challenge for clinical orthopedic surgeons. However, recent studies have emphasized that the use of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) to treat steroid-induced ONFH (SONFH) is a promising therapy. This review focuses on the role and molecular mechanism of epigenetic regulation in the progress of MSCs in the treatment of SONFH, and discusses the significance of the latest research in the treatment of SONFH from the perspective of epigenetics.

MicroRNA-34 Family in Cancers: Role, Mechanism, and Therapeutic Potential

MicroRNA (miRNA) are small noncoding RNAs that play vital roles in post-transcriptional gene regulation by inhibiting mRNA translation or promoting mRNA degradation. The dysregulation of miRNA has been implicated in numerous human diseases, including cancers. miR-34 family members (miR-34s), including miR-34a, miR-34b, and miR-34c, have emerged as the most extensively studied tumor-suppressive miRNAs. In this comprehensive review, we aim to provide an overview of the major signaling pathways and gene networks regulated by miR-34s in various cancers and highlight the critical tumor suppressor role of miR-34s. Furthermore, we will discuss the potential of using miR-34 mimics as a novel therapeutic approach against cancer, while also addressing the challenges associated with their development and delivery. It is anticipated that gaining a deeper understanding of the functions and mechanisms of miR-34s in cancer will greatly contribute to the development of effective miR-34-based cancer therapeutics.