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Li Y, Wu Y, Qin X, Gu J, Liu A, Cao J. Constructing a competitive endogenous RNA network of EndMT-related atherosclerosis through weighted gene co-expression network analysis. Front Cardiovasc Med 2024; 10:1322252. [PMID: 38268851 PMCID: PMC10806165 DOI: 10.3389/fcvm.2023.1322252] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2023] [Accepted: 12/27/2023] [Indexed: 01/26/2024] Open
Abstract
Atherosclerosis is a chronic inflammatory disease characterized by endothelial dysfunction and plaque formation. Under pro-inflammatory conditions, endothelial cells can undergo endothelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EndMT), contributing to atherosclerosis development. However, the specific regulatory mechanisms by which EndMT contributes to atherosclerosis remain unclear and require further investigation. Dan-Shen-Yin (DSY), a traditional Chinese herbal formula, is commonly used for cardiovascular diseases, but its molecular mechanisms remain elusive. Emerging evidence indicates that competing endogenous RNA (ceRNA) networks play critical roles in atherosclerosis pathogenesis. In this study, we constructed an EndMT-associated ceRNA network during atherosclerosis progression by integrating gene expression profiles from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database and weighted gene co-expression network analysis. Functional enrichment analysis revealed this EndMT-related ceRNA network is predominantly involved in inflammatory responses. ROC curve analysis showed the identified hub genes can effectively distinguish between normal vasculature and atherosclerotic lesions. Furthermore, Kaplan-Meier analysis demonstrated that high expression of IL1B significantly predicts ischemic events in atherosclerosis. Molecular docking revealed most DSY bioactive components can bind key EndMT-related lncRNAs, including AC003092.1, MIR181A1HG, MIR155HG, WEE2-AS1, and MIR137HG, suggesting DSY may mitigate EndMT in atherosclerosis by modulating the ceRNA network.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yawei Li
- Research Center of Basic Integrative Medicine, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, China
| | - Yubiao Wu
- Research Center of Basic Integrative Medicine, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, China
| | - Xiude Qin
- Encephalopathy Department, Shenzhen Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital, The Fourth Clinical Medical College of Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Shenzhen, China
| | - Jinchao Gu
- Research Center of Basic Integrative Medicine, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, China
| | - Aijun Liu
- Research Center of Basic Integrative Medicine, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, China
| | - Jiahui Cao
- Research Center of Basic Integrative Medicine, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, China
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Zhu X, Chen D, Sun Y, Yang S, Wang W, Liu B, Gao P, Li X, Wu L, Ma S, Lin W, Ma J, Yan D. LncRNA WEE2-AS1 is a diagnostic biomarker that predicts poor prognoses in patients with glioma. BMC Cancer 2023; 23:120. [PMID: 36747161 PMCID: PMC9901081 DOI: 10.1186/s12885-023-10594-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/18/2022] [Revised: 12/14/2022] [Accepted: 01/31/2023] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Glioma is characterized by high morbidity, high mortality, and poor prognosis. Despite tremendous advances in the treatment of glioma, the prognosis of patients with glioma is still unsatisfactory. There is an urgent need to discover novel molecular markers that effectively predict prognosis in patients with glioma. The investigation of the role of WEE2-AS1 in various tumors is an emerging research field, but the biological function and prognostic value of WEE2-AS1 in glioma have rarely been reported. This study aimed to assess the value of WEE2-AS1 as a potential prognostic marker of glioma. METHODS Gene expression (RNA-Seq) data of patients with glioma were extracted from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) and the Genotype-Tissue Expression (GTEx) databases. The Wilcoxon rank sum test was used to analyze the expression of WEE2-AS1 in the cells and tissues of glioma. The Kruskal-Wallis rank sum test, Wilcoxon rank sum test, and logistic regression were used to evaluate the relationship between clinical variables and expression of WEE2-AS1. Cox regression analysis and the Kaplan-Meier method were used to evaluate the prognostic factors in glioma. A nomogram based on Cox multivariate analysis was used to predict the impact of WEE2-AS1 on glioma prognosis. Gene Set Enrichment Analysis (GSEA) was used to identify key WEE2-AS1-associated signaling pathways. Spearman's rank correlation was used to elucidate the association between WEE2-AS1 expression and immune cell infiltration levels. RESULTS We found that WEE2-AS1 was overexpressed in a variety of cancers, including glioma. High expression of WEE2-AS1 was associated with glioma progression. We determined that the expression of WEE2-AS1 might be an independent risk factor for the survival and prognosis of patients with glioma. We further observed that the mechanism of WEE2-AS1-mediated tumorigenesis involved neuroactive ligand-receptor interaction, cell cycle, and the infiltration of immune cells into the glioma microenvironment. CONCLUSION These findings demonstrate that WEE2-AS1 is a promising biomarker for the diagnosis and prognosis of patients with glioma. An increased understanding of its effects on the regulation of cell growth may lead to the development of clinical applications that improve the prognostic status of patients with glioma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xuqiang Zhu
- grid.412633.10000 0004 1799 0733Department of Neurosurgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, 450052 Zhengzhou, Henan China
| | - Di Chen
- grid.412633.10000 0004 1799 0733Department of Neurosurgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, 450052 Zhengzhou, Henan China
| | - Yiyu Sun
- grid.16821.3c0000 0004 0368 8293Department of Neurosurgery, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University Affiliated Sixth People’s Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, 200030 Shanghai, China
| | - Shuo Yang
- grid.16821.3c0000 0004 0368 8293Department of Anatomy and Physiology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, 200025 Shanghai, China
| | - Weiguang Wang
- grid.412633.10000 0004 1799 0733Department of Neurosurgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, 450052 Zhengzhou, Henan China
| | - Bing Liu
- grid.16821.3c0000 0004 0368 8293Department of Anatomy and Physiology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, 200025 Shanghai, China
| | - Peng Gao
- grid.412633.10000 0004 1799 0733Department of Neurosurgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, 450052 Zhengzhou, Henan China
| | - Xueyuan Li
- grid.412633.10000 0004 1799 0733Department of Neurosurgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, 450052 Zhengzhou, Henan China
| | - Lixin Wu
- grid.412633.10000 0004 1799 0733Department of Neurosurgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, 450052 Zhengzhou, Henan China
| | - Siqi Ma
- grid.412633.10000 0004 1799 0733Department of Neurosurgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, 450052 Zhengzhou, Henan China
| | - Wenyang Lin
- grid.412633.10000 0004 1799 0733Department of Neurosurgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, 450052 Zhengzhou, Henan China
| | - Jiwei Ma
- grid.493088.e0000 0004 1757 7279Department of Neurosurgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xinxiang Medical University, Xinxiang, 453100 Henan Shanghai, China
| | - Dongming Yan
- Department of Neurosurgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, 450052, Zhengzhou, Henan, China.
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CAF-derived exosomal WEE2-AS1 facilitates colorectal cancer progression via promoting degradation of MOB1A to inhibit the Hippo pathway. Cell Death Dis 2022; 13:796. [PMID: 36123327 PMCID: PMC9485119 DOI: 10.1038/s41419-022-05240-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/13/2022] [Revised: 09/02/2022] [Accepted: 09/05/2022] [Indexed: 01/22/2023]
Abstract
Cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) are the most abundant stromal components in the tumor microenvironment (TME) and closely involved in tumor progression. However, the precise biological functions and molecular mechanisms of CAFs in the TME have yet to be understood. Here, we demonstrate that WEE2-AS1 is highly expressed in the CAF-derived small extracellular vesicles (sEVs). Moreover, WEE2-AS1 is markedly higher in plasma sEVs of CRC patients than in healthy subjects and its high level predicts advanced pathological staging and poor survival. Then, we conducted a series of in vitro and in vivo experiments. Elevated expression of WEE2-AS1 in sEVs increases CRC cell proliferation in vitro. Importantly, aberrant CAF-sEVsWEE2-AS1 leads to tumor formation and progression in BALB/c nude mice and promotes AOM/DSS-induced tumorigenesis. Mechanistically, WEE2-AS1 functions as a modular scaffold for the MOB1A and E3 ubiquitin-protein ligase praja2 complexes, leading to MOB1A degradation via the ubiquitin-proteasome pathway. The Hippo pathway is then inhibited and more YAP are transported into the nucleus, where they activate downstream gene transcription. Together, our data reveal that CAF-sEVsWEE2-AS1 interacts with MOB1A, promotes degradation of MOB1A, inhibits the Hippo pathway, and facilitates the growth of CRC cells. Hence, exosomal WEE2-AS1 may be a promising therapeutic target and circulating biomarker for CRC diagnosis and prognosis.
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Cui XY, Zhan JK, Liu YS. Roles and functions of antisense lncRNA in vascular aging. Ageing Res Rev 2021; 72:101480. [PMID: 34601136 DOI: 10.1016/j.arr.2021.101480] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/17/2021] [Revised: 09/08/2021] [Accepted: 09/27/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Vascular aging is a major cause of morbidity and mortality in the elderly population. Endothelial cells (ECs) and vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs), forming the intima and media layers of the vessel wall respectively, are closely associated with the process of vascular aging and vascular aging-related diseases. Numerous studies have revealed the pathophysiologic mechanism through which lncRNA contributes to vascular aging, hence more attention is now paid to the role played by antisense long non-coding RNA (AS-lncRNA) in the pathogenesis of vascular aging. Nonetheless, only a small number of studies focus on the specific mechanism through which AS-lncRNA mediates vascular aging. In this review, we summarize the roles and functions of AS-lncRNA with regards to the development of vascular aging and vascular aging-related disease. We also aim to deepen our understanding of this process and provide alternative therapeutic modalities for vascular aging-related diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xing-Yu Cui
- Department of Geriatrics, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan 410011, China; Institute of Aging and Age-related Disease Research, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan 410011, China
| | - Jun-Kun Zhan
- Department of Geriatrics, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan 410011, China; Institute of Aging and Age-related Disease Research, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan 410011, China.
| | - You-Shuo Liu
- Department of Geriatrics, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan 410011, China; Institute of Aging and Age-related Disease Research, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan 410011, China.
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Zeng ZL, Zhu Q, Zhao Z, Zu X, Liu J. Magic and mystery of microRNA-32. J Cell Mol Med 2021; 25:8588-8601. [PMID: 34405957 PMCID: PMC8435424 DOI: 10.1111/jcmm.16861] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/17/2021] [Revised: 06/25/2021] [Accepted: 08/02/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are a group of endogenous, small (∼22 nts in length) noncoding RNA molecules that function specifically by base pairing with the mRNA of genes and regulate gene expression at the post-transcriptional level. Alterations in miR-32 expression have been found in numerous diseases and shown to play a vital role in cell proliferation, apoptosis, oncogenesis, invasion, metastasis and drug resistance. MiR-32 has been documented as an oncomiR in the majority of related studies but has been also verified as a tumour suppressor miRNA in conflicting reports. Moreover, it has a crucial role in metabolic and cardiovascular disorders. This review provides an in-depth look into the most recent finding regarding miR-32, which is involved in the expression, regulation and functions in different diseases, especially tumours. Additionally, this review outlines novel findings suggesting that miR-32 may be useful as a noninvasive biomarker and as a targeted therapeutic in several diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Z L Zeng
- The First Affiliated Hospital, Department of Metabolism and Endocrinology, Hengyang Medical School, University of South China, Hengyang, China.,The First Affiliated Hospital, Department of Clinical Medicine, Hengyang Medical School, University of South China, Hengyang, China.,Key Laboratory for Arteriosclerology of Hunan Province, Department of Cardiovascular Disease, Hengyang Medical School, University of South China, Hengyang, China
| | - Qingyun Zhu
- The First Affiliated Hospital, Department of Metabolism and Endocrinology, Hengyang Medical School, University of South China, Hengyang, China.,The First Affiliated Hospital, Department of Clinical Medicine, Hengyang Medical School, University of South China, Hengyang, China
| | - Zhibo Zhao
- The First Affiliated Hospital, Department of Metabolism and Endocrinology, Hengyang Medical School, University of South China, Hengyang, China.,The First Affiliated Hospital, Department of Clinical Medicine, Hengyang Medical School, University of South China, Hengyang, China
| | - Xuyu Zu
- The First Affiliated Hospital, Department of Metabolism and Endocrinology, Hengyang Medical School, University of South China, Hengyang, China.,The First Affiliated Hospital, Department of Clinical Medicine, Hengyang Medical School, University of South China, Hengyang, China
| | - Jianghua Liu
- The First Affiliated Hospital, Department of Metabolism and Endocrinology, Hengyang Medical School, University of South China, Hengyang, China.,The First Affiliated Hospital, Department of Clinical Medicine, Hengyang Medical School, University of South China, Hengyang, China
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