LINC00861 inhibits the progression of cervical cancer cells by functioning as a ceRNA for miR‑513b‑5p and regulating the PTEN/AKT/mTOR signaling pathway

ceRNA networks in gynecological cancers progression and resistance

Gynecological cancers are the second most common types of cancer in women. Clinical diagnosis of these cancers is often delayed or misdiagnosed due to lack of insight into their tumorigenesis mechanism and specific diagnostic biomarkers. Many studies have demonstrated that competing endogenous RNAs (ceRNAs) modulate the progression and resistance of gynecological cancer through microRNA (miRNA)-mediated mechanisms, which affect gene expression in multiple cancer-related pathways. Here we review studies on the involvement of the ceRNA hypothesis in the progression and resistance of gynaecological cancers to validate some ceRNAs as therapeutic targets and predictive biomarkers.

Cyanidin-3-O-glucoside protects the brain and improves cognitive function in APPswe/PS1ΔE9 transgenic mice model

Cyanidin-3-O-glucoside (C3G) is a natural anthocyanin with antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antitumor properties. However, as the effects of C3G on the amyloidogenic pathway, autophagy, tau phosphorylation, neuronal cell death, and synaptic plasticity in Alzheimer's disease models have not been reported, we attempted to investigate the same in the brains of APPswe/PS1ΔE9 mice were analyzed. After oral administration of C3G (30 mg/kg/day) for 16 weeks, the cortical and hippocampal regions in the brains of APPswe/PS1ΔE9 mice were analyzed. C3G treatment reduced the levels of soluble and insoluble Aβ (Aβ40 and Aβ42) peptides and reduced the protein expression of the amyloid precursor protein, presenilin-1, and β-secretase in the cortical and hippocampal regions. And C3G treatment upregulated the expression of autophagy-related markers, LC3B-II, LAMP-1, TFEB, and PPAR-α and downregulated that of SQSTM1/p62, improving the autophagy of Aβ plaques and neurofibrillary tangles. In addition, C3G increased the protein expression of phosphorylated-AMPK/AMPK and Sirtuin 1 and decreased that of mitogen-activated protein kinases, such as phosphorylated-Akt/Akt and phosphorylated-ERK/ERK, thus demonstrating its neuroprotective effects. Furthermore, C3G regulated the PI3K/Akt/GSK3β signaling by upregulating phosphorylated-Akt/Akt and phosphorylated-GSK3β/GSK3β expression. C3G administration mitigated tau phosphorylation and improved synaptic function and plasticity by upregulating the expression of synapse-associated proteins synaptophysin and postsynaptic density protein-95. Although the potential of C3G in the APPswe/PS1ΔE9 mouse models has not yet been reported, oral administration of the C3G is shown to protect the brain and improve cognitive behavior.

MicroRNAs, long non-coding RNAs, and circular RNAs and gynecological cancers: focus on metastasis

Gynecologic cancer is a significant cause of death in women worldwide, with cervical cancer, ovarian cancer, and endometrial cancer being among the most well-known types. The initiation and progression of gynecologic cancers involve a variety of biological functions, including angiogenesis and metastasis-given that death mostly occurs from metastatic tumors that have invaded the surrounding tissues. Therefore, understanding the molecular pathways underlying gynecologic cancer metastasis is critical for enhancing patient survival and outcomes. Recent research has revealed the contribution of numerous non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) to metastasis and invasion of gynecologic cancer by affecting specific cellular pathways. This review focuses on three types of gynecologic cancer (ovarian, endometrial, and cervical) and three kinds of ncRNAs (long non-coding RNAs, microRNAs, and circular RNAs). We summarize the detailed role of non-coding RNAs in the different pathways and molecular interactions involved in the invasion and metastasis of these cancers.

Comprehensive analyses of fatty acid metabolism-related lncRNA for ovarian cancer patients

Ovarian cancer (OC) is a disease with difficult early diagnosis and treatment and poor prognosis. OC data profiles were downloaded from The Cancer Genome Atlas. Eight key fatty acid metabolism-related long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) were finally screened for building a risk scoring model by univariate/ multifactor and least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) Cox regression. To make this risk scoring model more applicable to clinical work, we established a nomogram containing the clinical characteristics of OC patients after confirming that the model has good reliability and validity and the ability to distinguish patient prognosis. To further explore how these key lncRNAs are involved in OC progression, we explored their relationship with LUAD immune signatures and tumor drug resistance. The structure shows that the risk scoring model established based on these 8 fatty acid metabolism-related lncRNAs has good reliability and validity and can better predict the prognosis of patients with different risks of OC, and LINC00861in these key RNAs may be a hub gene that affects the progression of OC and closely related to the sensitivity of current OC chemotherapy drugs. In addition, combined with immune signature analysis, we found that patients in the high-risk group are in a state of immunosuppression, and Tfh cells may play an important role in it. We innovatively established a prognostic prediction model with excellent reliability and validity from the perspective of OC fatty acid metabolism reprogramming and lncRNA regulation and found new molecular/cellular targets for future OC treatment.

MicroRNAs Differentially Expressed in Actinic Keratosis and Healthy Skin Scrapings

Actinic keratosis (AK) is a carcinoma in situ precursor of cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (cSCC), the second most common cancer affecting the Caucasian population. AK is frequently present in the sun-exposed skin of the elderly population, UV radiation being the main cause of this cancer, and other risk factors contributing to AK incidence. The dysregulation of microRNAs (miRNAs) observed in different cancers leads to an improper expression of miRNA targets involved in several cellular pathways. The TaqMan Array Human MicroRNA Card assay for miRNA expression profiling was performed in pooled AK compared to healthy skin scraping samples from the same patients. Forty-three miRNAs were modulated in the AK samples. The expression of miR-19b (p < 0.05), -31, -34a (p < 0.001), -126, -146a (p < 0.01), -193b, and -222 (p < 0.05) was validated by RT-qPCR. The MirPath tool was used for MiRNA target prediction and enriched pathways. The top DIANA-mirPath pathways regulated by the targets of the 43 miRNAs are TGF-beta signaling, Proteoglycans in cancer, Pathways in cancer, and Adherens junction (7.30 × 10^-10 < p < 1.84 × 10^-8). Selected genes regulating the KEGG pathways, i.e., TP53, MDM2, CDKN1A, CDK6, and CCND1, were analyzed. MiRNAs modulated in AK regulate different pathways involved in tumorigenesis, indicating miRNA regulation as a critical step in keratinocyte cancer.

Value of non-coding RNAs to assess lymph node status in cervical cancer

Cervical cancer (CC) is the fourth cancer in women and is the leading cause of cancer death in 42 countries. Lymph node metastasis is a determinant prognostic factor, as underlined in the latest FIGO classification. However, assessment of lymph node status remains difficult, despite the progress of imaging such as PET-CT and MRI. In the specific setting of CC, all data underlined the need for new biomarkers easily available to assess lymph node status. Previous studies have underlined the potential value of ncRNA expression in gynecological cancers. In this review, we aimed to evaluate the contribution of ncRNAs in tissue and biofluid samples to determine lymph node status in CC with potential impact on both surgical and adjuvant therapies. In tissue samples, our analysis found that there are arguments to support the role of ncRNAs in physiopathology, differential diagnosis from normal tissue, preinvasive and invasive tumors. In biofluids, despite small studies especially concerning miRNAs expression, promising data opens up new avenue to establish a non-invasive signature for lymph node status as well as a tool to predict response to neo- and adjuvant therapies, thus improving management algorithm of patients with CC.

Long non-coding RNAs as critical regulators and novel targets in cervical cancer: current status and future perspectives

Cervical cancer is among the leading causes of cancer-associated mortality in women. In spite of vaccine availability, improved screening procedures, and chemoradiation therapy, cervical cancer remains the most commonly diagnosed cancer in 23 countries and the leading cause of cancer deaths in 36 countries. There is, therefore, a need to come up with novel diagnostic and therapeutic targets. Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) play a remarkable role in genome regulation and contribute significantly to several developmental and disease pathways. The deregulation of lncRNAs is often observed in cancer patients, where they are shown to affect multiple cellular processes, including cell cycle, apoptosis, angiogenesis, and invasion. Many lncRNAs are found to be involved in the pathogenesis as well as progression of cervical cancer and have shown potency to track metastatic events. This review provides an overview of lncRNA mediated regulation of cervical carcinogenesis and highlights their potential as diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers as well as therapeutic targets for cervical cancer. In addition, it also discusses the challenges associated with the clinical implication of lncRNAs in cervical cancer.

m6A-related lncRNA-based immune infiltration characteristic analysis and prognostic model for colonic adenocarcinoma

BACKGROUND

Colonic adenocarcinoma (COAD) is a common gastrointestinal tract tumor, and its occurrence and progression are typically associated with genomic instability, tumor-suppressor gene and oncogene mutations, and tumor mutational load. N6-methyladenosine (m⁶A) modification of RNAs and long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) expression are important in tumorigenesis and progression. However, the regulatory roles of m⁶A-associated lncRNAs in the tumor microenvironment, stratification of prognosis, and immunotherapy are unclear.

METHODS

We screened 43 prognostic lncRNAs linked to m⁶A and performed consistent molecular typing of COAD using consensus clustering. The single-sample Gene Set Enrichment Analysis and ESTIMATE algorithms were used to assess the immune characteristics of different subgroups. Covariation between methylation-related prognostic lncRNAs was eliminated by least absolute shrinkage and selection operator Cox regression. A nomogram was created and evaluated by combining the methylation-related prognostic lncRNA model with other clinical factors. The relationship between the prognostic model grouping and microsatellite instability, immunophenotype score, and tumor mutation burden was validated using R scripts. Finally, we used a linkage map to filter sensitive medicines to suppress the expression of high-risk genes. Three m⁶A-associated lncRNA modes were identified in 446 COAD specimens with different clinical endpoints and biological statuses. Risk scores were constructed based on the m⁶A-associated lncRNA signature genes. Patients with lower risk scores showed superior immunotherapy responses and clinical benefits compared to those with higher risk scores. Lower risk scores were also correlated with higher immunophenotype scores, tumor mutation burden, and mutation rates in significantly mutated genes (e.g., FAT4 and MUC16). Piperidolate, quinostatin, and mecamylamin were screened for their abilities to suppress the expression of high-risk genes in the model.

CONCLUSIONS

Quantitative assessment of m⁶A-associated lncRNAs in single tumors can enhance the understanding of tumor microenvironment profiles. The prognostic model constructed using m⁶A-associated lncRNAs may facilitate prognosis and immunotherapy stratification of patients with COAD; finally, three drugs with potential therapeutic value were screened based on the model.

Immunopharmacological Activities of Luteolin in Chronic Diseases

Flavonoids have been shown to have anti-oxidative effects, as well as other health benefits (e.g., anti-inflammatory and anti-tumor functions). Luteolin (3', 4', 5,7-tetrahydroxyflavone) is a flavonoid found in vegetables, fruits, flowers, and herbs, including celery, broccoli, green pepper, navel oranges, dandelion, peppermint, and rosemary. Luteolin has multiple useful effects, especially in regulating inflammation-related symptoms and diseases. In this paper, we summarize the studies about the immunopharmacological activity of luteolin on anti-inflammatory, anti-cardiovascular, anti-cancerous, and anti-neurodegenerative diseases published since 2018 and available in PubMed or Google Scholar. In this review, we also introduce some additional formulations of luteolin to improve its solubility and bioavailability.

The Promising Role of Non-Coding RNAs as Biomarkers and Therapeutic Targets for Leukemia

Early-stage leukemia identification is crucial for effective disease management and leads to an improvement in the survival of leukemia patients. Approaches based on cutting-edge biomarkers with excellent accuracy in body liquids provide patients with the possibility of early diagnosis with high sensitivity and specificity. Non-coding RNAs have recently received a great deal of interest as possible biomarkers in leukemia due to their participation in crucial oncogenic processes such as proliferation, differentiation, invasion, apoptosis, and their availability in body fluids. Recent studies have revealed a strong correlation between leukemia and the deregulated non-coding RNAs. On this basis, these RNAs are also great therapeutic targets. Based on these advantages, we tried to review the role of non-coding RNAs in leukemia. Here, the significance of several non-coding RNA types in leukemia is highlighted, and their potential roles as diagnostic, prognostic, and therapeutic targets are covered.

Pre-clinical and clinical importance of miR-21 in human cancers: Tumorigenesis, therapy response, delivery approaches and targeting agents

The field of non-coding RNA (ncRNA) has made significant progress in understanding the pathogenesis of diseases and has broadened our knowledge towards their targeting, especially in cancer therapy. ncRNAs are a large family of RNAs with microRNAs (miRNAs) being one kind of endogenous RNA which lack encoded proteins. By now, miRNAs have been well-coined in pathogenesis and development of cancer. The current review focuses on the role of miR-21 in cancers and its association with tumor progression. miR-21 has both oncogenic and onco-suppressor functions and most of the experiments are in agreement with the tumor-promoting function of this miRNA. miR-21 primarily decreases PTEN expression to induce PI3K/Akt signaling in cancer progression. Overexpression of miR-21 inhibits apoptosis and is vital for inducing pro-survival autophagy. miR-21 is vital for metabolic reprogramming and can induce glycolysis to enhance tumor progression. miR-21 stimulates EMT mechanisms and increases expression of MMP-2 and MMP-9 thereby elevating tumor metastasis. miR-21 is a target of anti-cancer agents such as curcumin and curcumol and its down-regulation impairs tumor progression. Upregulation of miR-21 results in cancer resistance to chemotherapy and radiotherapy. Increasing evidence has revealed the role of miR-21 as a biomarker as it is present in both the serum and exosomes making them beneficial biomarkers for non-invasive diagnosis of cancer.

Development and validation of a ferroptosis-related lncRNAs signature to predict prognosis and microenvironment for melanoma

Ferroptosis plays an important role in cancer. However, studies about ferroptosis-related lncRNAs (FRLs) in skin cutaneous melanoma (SKCM) are scarce. Moreover, the relationship between prognostic FRLs and tumor microenvironment (TME) in melanoma remains unclear. This study investigates the potential prognostic value of FRLs and their association with TME in SKCM. The RNA-sequencing data of SKCM were downloaded from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database. Melanoma patients were randomly divided into training and testing groups in a 1:1 ratio. A signature composed of 19 FRLs was developed by the least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) regression analysis to divide patients into a low-risk group with a better prognosis and a high-risk group with a poor prognosis. Multivariate Cox regression analysis suggested that the risk score was an independent prognostic factor. The Area Under Curve (AUC) value of the risk score reached 0.768 in the training group and 0.770 in the testing group. Subsequent analysis proved that immune-related signaling pathways were significantly enriched in the low-risk group. The tumor immune cell infiltration analysis demonstrated that melanoma in the high-risk group tended to be immunologically "cold". We identified a novel FRLs signature which could accurately predict the prognosis of patients with melanoma.

Paradoxical attenuation of neuroinflammatory response upon LPS challenge in miR-146b deficient mice

The miR-146 family consists of two microRNAs (miRNAs), miR-146a and miR-146b (miR-146a/b), both of which are known to suppress immune responses in a variety of conditions. Here, we studied how constitutive deficiency of miR-146b (Mir146b-/-) affects lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced neuroinflammation in mice. Our experiments demonstrated that miR-146b deficiency results in the attenuation of LPS-induced neuroinflammation, as it was evidenced by the reduction of sickness behavior, a decrease in the inflammatory status of microglia, and the loss of morphological signs of microglial activation in the hippocampus. Gene expression analysis revealed that LPS-induced upregulation of hippocampal pro-inflammatory cytokines is attenuated in Mir146b-/- mice, compared to wild-type (WT) mice. In addition, reduced expression of the NF-κB nuclear protein p65, reduced miR-146 family target TLR4 expression and relatively stronger upregulation of miR-146a was found in Mir146b-/- mice as compared to WT mice upon LPS challenge. Compensatory upregulation of miR-146a can explain the attenuation of the LPS-induced neuroinflammation. This was supported by experiments conducted with miR-146a/b deficient mice (Mir146a/b-/-), which demonstrated that additional deletion of the miR-146a led to the restoration of LPS-induced sickness behavior and proinflammatory cytokines. Our experiments also showed that the observed upregulation of miR-146a in Mir146b-/- mice is due to the overexpression of a miR-146a transcription inducer, interferon regulatory factor 7 (Irf7). Altogether, our results show the existence of crosstalk between miR-146a and mir-146b in the regulation of LPS-induced neuroinflammation.

Identification and validation of ferroptosis-related lncRNA signature as a prognostic model for skin cutaneous melanoma

Background

Melanoma is a type of skin cancer, which originates from the malignant transformation of epidermal melanocytes, with extremely high lethality. Ferroptosis has been documented to be highly related to cancer pathogenesis and the effect of immunotherapy. In addition, the dysregulation of lncRNAs is greatly implicated in melanoma progression and ferroptosis regulation. However, the significance of ferroptosis-related lncRNA in melanoma treatment and the prognosis of melanoma patients remains elusive.

Methods

Via Least Absolute Shrinkage Selection Operator (LASSO) regression analysis in the TCGA SKCM database, a cutaneous melanoma risk model was established based on differentially-expressed ferroptosis-related lncRNAs (DEfrlncRNAs). The nomogram, receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves, and calibration plots were conducted to examine the predictive performance of this model. Sequentially, we continued to analyze the differences between the high- and low-risk groups, in terms of clinical characteristics, immune cell infiltration, immune-related functions, and chemotherapy drug sensitivity. Moreover, the expressions of DEfrlncRNAs, PD-L1, and CD8 were also examined by qRT-PCR and immunohistochemical staining in melanoma tissues to further confirm the potential clinical implication of DEfrlncRNAs in melanoma immunotherapy.

Results

16 DEfrlncRNAs were identified, and a representative risk score for patient survival was constructed based on these 16 genes. The risk score was found to be an independent prognostic factor for the survival of melanoma patients. In addition, the low-risk group of patients had higher immune cell infiltration in the melanoma lesions, higher sensitivity to chemotherapeutic agents, and a better survival prognosis. Besides, the high expression of the identified 5 DEfrlncRNA in the low-risk group might suggest a higher possibility to benefit from immune checkpoint blockade therapy in the treatment of melanoma.

Conclusion

The DEfrlncRNA risk prediction model related to ferroptosis genes can independently predict the prognosis of patients with melanoma and provide a basis for evaluating the response of clinical treatment in melanoma.

Comprehensive Characterization of Immune Landscape Based on Tumor Microenvironment for Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma Prognosis

Objective: This study aims to identify an immune-related signature to predict clinical outcomes of oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) patients. Methods: Gene transcriptome data of both tumor and normal tissues from OSCC and the corresponding clinical information were downloaded from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA). Tumor Immune Estimation Resource algorithm (ESTIMATE) was used to calculate the immune/stromal-related scores. The immune/stromal scores and associated clinical characteristics of OSCC patients were evaluated. Univariate Cox proportional hazards regression analyses, least absolute shrinkage, and selection operator (LASSO) and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analyses were performed to assess the prognostic prediction capacity. Gene Set Enrichment Analysis (GSEA) and Gene Ontology (GO) function annotation were used to analysis the functions of TME-related genes. Results: Eleven predictor genes were identified in the immune-related signature and overall survival (OS) in the high-risk group was significantly shorter than in the low-risk group. An ROC analysis showed the TME-related signature could predict the total OS of OSCC patients. Moreover, GSEA and GO function annotation proved that immunity and immune-related pathways were mainly enriched in the high-risk group. Conclusions: We identified an immune-related signature that was closely correlated with the prognosis and immune response of OSCC patients. This signature may have important implications for improving the clinical survival rate of OSCC patients and provide a potential strategy for cancer immunotherapy.

Characterization of tumor immune microenvironment and cancer therapy for head and neck squamous cell carcinoma through identification of a genomic instability-related lncRNA prognostic signature

Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) represents one of the most prevalent and malignant tumors of epithelial origins with unfavorable outcomes. Increasing evidence has shown that dysregulated long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) correlate with tumorigenesis and genomic instability (GI), while the roles of GI-related lncRNAs in the tumor immune microenvironment (TIME) and predicting cancer therapy are still yet to be clarified. In this study, transcriptome and somatic mutation profiles with clinical parameters were obtained from the TCGA database. Patients were classified into GI-like and genomic stable (GS)-like groups according to the top 25% and bottom 25% cumulative counts of somatic mutations. Differentially expressed lncRNAs (DElncRNAs) between GI- and GS-like groups were identified as GI-related lncRNAs. These lncRNA-related coding genes were enriched in cancer-related KEGG pathways. Patients totaling 499 with clinical information were randomly divided into the training and validation sets. A total of 18 DElncRNAs screened by univariate Cox regression analysis were associated with overall survival (OS) in the training set. A GI-related lncRNA signature that comprised 10 DElncRNAs was generated through least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (Lasso)-Cox regression analysis. Patients in the high-risk group have significantly decreased OS vs. patients in the low-risk group, which was verified in internal validation and entire HNSCC sets. Integrated HNSCC sets from GEO confirmed the notable survival stratification of the signature. The time-dependent receiver operating characteristic curve demonstrated that the signature was reliable. In addition, the signature retained a strong performance of OS prediction for patients with various clinicopathological features. Cell composition analysis showed high anti-tumor immunity in the low-risk group which was evidenced by increased infiltrating CD8+ T cells and natural killer cells and reduced cancer-associated fibroblasts, which was convinced by immune signatures analysis via ssGSEA algorithm. T helper/IFNγ signaling, co-stimulatory, and co-inhibitory signatures showed increased expression in the low-risk group. Low-risk patients were predicted to be beneficial to immunotherapy, which was confirmed by patients with progressive disease who had high risk scores vs. complete remission patients. Furthermore, the drugs that might be sensitive to HNSCC were identified. In summary, the novel prognostic GILncRNA signature provided a promising approach for characterizing the TIME and predicting therapeutic strategies for HNSCC patients.

The Role of PTEN in Epithelial–Mesenchymal Transition

Simple Summary

The PTEN phosphatase is a ubiquitously expressed tumor suppressor, which inhibits the PI3K/AKT pathway in the cell. The PI3K/AKT pathway is considered to be one of the main signaling pathways that drives the proliferation of cancer cells. Furthermore, the same pathway controls the epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT). EMT is an evolutionarily conserved developmental program, which, upon aberrant reactivation, is also involved in the formation of cancer metastases. Importantly, metastasis is the leading cause of cancer-associated deaths. In this review, we discuss the literature data that highlight the role of PTEN in EMT. Based on this knowledge, we speculate about new possible strategies for cancer treatment.

Abstract

Phosphatase and Tensin Homolog deleted on Chromosome 10 (PTEN) is one of the critical tumor suppressor genes and the main negative regulator of the PI3K pathway. PTEN is frequently found to be inactivated, either partially or fully, in various malignancies. The PI3K/AKT pathway is considered to be one of the main signaling cues that drives the proliferation of cells. Perhaps it is not surprising, then, that this pathway is hyperactivated in highly proliferative tumors. Importantly, the PI3K/AKT pathway also coordinates the epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT), which is pivotal for the initiation of metastases and hence is regarded as an attractive target for the treatment of metastatic cancer. It was shown that PTEN suppresses EMT, although the exact mechanism of this effect is still not fully understood. This review is an attempt to systematize the published information on the role of PTEN in the development of malignant tumors, with a main focus on the regulation of the PI3K/AKT pathway in EMT.

Emerging Roles and Potential Applications of Non-Coding RNAs in Cervical Cancer

Cervical cancer (CC) is a preventable disease using proven interventions, specifically prophylactic vaccination, pervasive disease screening, and treatment, but it is still the most frequently diagnosed cancer in women worldwide. Patients with advanced or metastatic CC have a very dismal prognosis and current therapeutic options are very limited. Therefore, understanding the mechanism of metastasis and discovering new therapeutic targets are crucial. New sequencing tools have given a full visualization of the human transcriptome's composition. Non-coding RNAs (NcRNAs) perform various functions in transcriptional, translational, and post-translational processes through their interactions with proteins, RNA, and even DNA. It has been suggested that ncRNAs act as key regulators of a variety of biological processes, with their expression being tightly controlled under physiological settings. In recent years, and notably in the past decade, significant effort has been made to examine the role of ncRNAs in a variety of human diseases, including cancer. Therefore, shedding light on the functions of ncRNA will aid in our better understanding of CC. In this review, we summarize the emerging roles of ncRNAs in progression, metastasis, therapeutics, chemo-resistance, human papillomavirus (HPV) regulation, metabolic reprogramming, diagnosis, and as a prognostic biomarker of CC. We also discussed the role of ncRNA in the tumor microenvironment and tumor immunology, including cancer stem cells (CSCs) in CC. We also address contemporary technologies such as antisense oligonucleotides, CRISPR-Cas9, and exosomes, as well as their potential applications in targeting ncRNAs to manage CC.

Long Non-Coding RNAs in Cardiac and Pulmonary Fibroblasts and Fibrosis

The cardiopulmonary system delivers oxygen throughout the body via blood circulation. It is an essential part of the body to sustain the lives of organisms. The integral parts of the cardiopulmonary system—the heart and lungs—are constantly exposed to damaging agents (e.g., dust, viruses), and can be greatly affected by injuries caused by dysfunction in tissues (e.g., myocardial infarction). When damaged, mesenchymal cells, such as fibroblasts, are activated to become myofibroblasts to initiate fibrosis as part of a regenerative mechanism. In diseased states, the excess accumulation of extracellular matrices secreted by myofibroblasts results in further dysfunction in the damaged organs. These fibrotic tissues cannot easily be removed. Thus, there is a growing interest in understanding the fibrotic process, as well as finding biomolecules that can be targets for slowing down or potentially stopping fibrosis. Among these biomolecules, the interest in studying long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs; any non-protein-coding RNAs longer than 200 nucleotides) has intensified in recent years. In this commentary, we summarize the current status of lncRNA research in the cardiopulmonary system by focusing on cardiac and pulmonary fibrosis.

LncRNA FLVCR1-AS1 mediates miR-23a-5p/SLC7A11 axis to promote malignant behavior of cervical cancer cells

Cervical cancer (CC) is the most common gynecological malignant tumor in the world. Long non-coding RNA (lncRNAs) plays an important role in cell activities of various cancers including CC. This study aims to reveal the biological function of FLVCR1-AS1 in CC and clarify its possible mechanism of action. The findings suggest that the expression of FLVCR1-AS1 was elevated in CC tissues and cell lines, and that high expression of FLVCR1-AS1 was associated with poor prognosis of CC patients. In addition, knockdown of FLVCR1-AS1 could inhibit the proliferation and migration, invasion and epithelial–mesenchymal transformation (EMT) of CC cells, as well as accelerating apoptosis, to inhibit the development of CC. In addition, via the dual-luciferase reporting assay and RIP assay were confirmed that FLVCR1-AS1 acted as a competitive endogenous RNA to inhibit the expression of microRNA (miR)-23a-5p, and miR-23a-5p targeted the 3’-untranslated region site of Solute carrier family 7 member 11 (SLC7A11) and negatively regulated the expression of SLC7A11. Functional rescue experiments showed that miR-23a-5p inhibitors reversed the inhibitory effect of FLVCR1-AS1-silencing on proliferation, EMT, migration and invasion, and the promoting impact of apoptosis of CC cells. In addition, SLC7A11 rescued the effect of miR-23a-5p overexpression on progression of CC cells. In conclusion, FLVCR1-AS1 is involved in the malignant phenotype of CC cells through miR-23a-5p/SLC7A11 axis, which may provide a beneficial direction for the treatment of CC.

Long non-coding RNA ANRIL serves as a potential marker of disease risk, inflammation, and disease activity of pediatric inflammatory bowel disease

BACKGROUND

Long non-coding antisense RNAs in the INK4 locus (lnc-ANRIL) have been reported to be involved in inflammation and immunity. However, few studies have reported its clinical application in pediatric inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Therefore, we conducted this study to investigate the correlation between lnc-ANRIL expression and disease risk, inflammation, and activity in pediatric IBD patients.

METHODS

Pediatric patients with Crohn's disease (CD; n = 40), ulcerative colitis (UC; n = 40), and controls (n = 20) were recruited. For all pediatric IBD patients, lnc-ANRIL expression in peripheral blood mononuclear cells and serum inflammatory cytokine levels were measured by RT-qPCR and ELISA, respectively. For the controls, lnc-ANRIL expression was also measured.

RESULTS

Lnc-ANRIL levels were lower in CD (P = 0.002) and UC (P = 0.001) patients compared with the controls; negatively correlated with C-reactive protein levels (P<0.01), erythrocyte sedimentation rate (P<0.01), disease activity (P<0.05), and severity (P<0.05) in CD and UC patients; and inversely associated with tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, interleukin (IL)-6, IL-17, and IL-23 levels in both CD and UC patients (all P<0.01). Further subgroup analyses revealed that the association between lnc-ANRIL and inflammatory cytokines and disease activity was more remarkable in pediatric patients with moderate or severe IBD.

CONCLUSION

Lnc-ANRIL may serve as a potential marker for evaluating disease risk and monitoring disease activity in pediatric IBD patients.

The Regulatory Functions and the Mechanisms of Long Non-Coding RNAs in Cervical Cancer

Cervical cancer is one of the leading causes of death in gynecology cancer worldwide. High-risk human papillomaviruses (HPVs) are the major etiological agents for cervical cancer. Still, other factors also contribute to cervical cancer development because these cancers commonly arise decades after initial exposure to HPV. So far, the molecular mechanisms underlying the pathogenesis of cervical cancer are still quite limited, and a knowledge gap needs to be filled to help develop novel strategies that will ultimately facilitate the development of therapies and improve cervical cancer patient outcomes. Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) have been increasingly shown to be involved in gene regulation, and the relevant role of lncRNAs in cervical cancer has recently been investigated. In this review, we summarize the recent progress in ascertaining the biological functions of lncRNAs in cervical cancer from the perspective of cervical cancer proliferation, invasion, and metastasis. In addition, we provide the current state of knowledge by discussing the molecular mechanisms underlying the regulation and emerging role of lncRNAs in the pathogenesis of cervical cancer. Comprehensive and deeper insights into lncRNA-mediated alterations and interactions in cellular events will help develop novel strategies to treat patients with cervical cancer.

Predicting 3D Structure, Cross Talks, and Prognostic Significance of KLF9 in Cervical Cancer

Our study aimed to identify the new blood-based biomarkers for the diagnosis and prognosis of cervical cancer. Moreover, the three-dimensional (3D) structure of Kruppel-like factor 9 (KLF9) was also determined in order to better understand its function, and a signaling pathway was constructed to identity its upstream and downstream targets. In the current study, the co-expressions of tumor protein D52 (TPD52), KLF9, microRNA 223 (miR-223), and protein kinase C epsilon (PKCϵ) were evaluated in cervical cancer patients and a possible relation with disease outcome was revealed. The expressions of TPD52, KLF9, miR-223, and PKCϵ were studied in the blood of 100 cervical cancer patients and 100 healthy controls using real-time PCR. The 3D structure of KLF9 was determined through homology modeling via the SWISS-MODEL and assessed using the Ramachandran plot. The predicted 3D structure of KLF9 had a similarity index of 62% with its template (KLF4) with no bad bonds in it. In order to construct a genetic pathway, depicting the crosstalk between understudied genes, STRING analysis, Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG), and DAVID software were used. The constructed genetic pathway showed that all the understudied genes are linked to each other and involved in the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway. There was a 23-fold increase in TPD52 expression, a 2-fold increase in miR-223 expression, a 0.14-fold decrease in KLF9 expression, and a 0.05-fold decrease of PKCϵ expression in cervical cancer. In the present study, we observed an association of the expressions of TPD52, KLF9, miR-223, and PKCϵ with tumor stage, metastasis, and treatment status of cervical cancer patients. Elevated expressions of TPD52 and miR-223 and reduced expressions of KLF9 and PKCϵ in peripheral blood of cervical cancer patients may serve as predictors of disease diagnosis and prognosis. Nevertheless, further in vitro and tissue-level studies are required to strengthen their role as potential diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers.

New Insights into Pulmonary Hypertension: A Role for Connexin-Mediated Signalling

Pulmonary hypertension is a serious clinical condition characterised by increased pulmonary arterial pressure. This can lead to right ventricular failure which can be fatal. Connexins are gap junction-forming membrane proteins which serve to exchange small molecules of less than 1 kD between cells. Connexins can also form hemi-channels connecting the intracellular and extracellular environments. Hemi-channels can mediate adenosine triphosphate release and are involved in autocrine and paracrine signalling. Recently, our group and others have identified evidence that connexin-mediated signalling may be involved in the pathogenesis of pulmonary hypertension. In this review, we discuss the evidence that dysregulated connexin-mediated signalling is associated with pulmonary hypertension.

Identification of an Autophagy-Related lncRNA Prognostic Signature and Related Tumor Immunity Research in Lung Adenocarcinoma

Autophagy is closely associated with the tumor immune microenvironment (TIME) and prognosis of patients with lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD). In the present study, we established a signature on the basis of long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) related to autophagy (ARlncRNAs) to investigate the TIME and survival of patients with LUAD. We selected ARlncRNAs associated with prognosis to construct a model and divided each sample into different groups on the basis of risk score. The ARlncRNA signature could be recognized as an independent prognostic factor for patients with LUAD, and patients in the low-risk group had a greater survival advantage. Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes and Gene Ontology enrichment analysis suggested that several immune functions and pathways were enriched in different groups. A high-risk score correlated significantly negatively with high abundance of immune cells and stromal cells around the tumor and high tumor mutational burden. Low-risk patients had a higher PD-1, CTLA-4, and HAVCR2 expression and had a better efficacy of immune checkpoint inhibitors, including PD-1/CTLA-4 inhibitor. A reliable signature on the basis of ARlncRNAs was constructed to explore the TIME and prognosis of patients with LUAD, which could provide valuable information for individualized LUAD treatment.

miR-140-5p Attenuates Hypoxia-Induced Breast Cancer Progression by Targeting Nrf2/HO-1 Axis in a Keap1-Independent Mechanism

Hypoxia and oxidative stress significantly contribute to breast cancer (BC) progression. Although hypoxia-inducible factor 1α (Hif-1α) is considered a key effector of the cellular response to hypoxia, nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2), a master antioxidant transcription factor, is a crucial factor essential for Hif-1α-mediated hypoxic responses. Hence, targeting Nrf2 could provide new treatment strategies for cancer therapy. miRNAs are potential regulators of hypoxia-responsive genes. In a quest to identify novel hypoxia-regulated miRNAs involved in the regulation of Nrf2, we found that miR-140-5p significantly affects the expression of Nrf2 under hypoxia. In our study, miR-140-5p expression is downregulated in BC cells under hypoxic conditions. We have identified Nrf2 as a direct target of miR-140-5p, as confirmed by the luciferase assay. Knockdown of miR-140-5p under normoxic conditions significantly enhanced Nrf2/HO-1 signaling and tumor growth, angiogenesis, migration, and invasion in BC. In contrast, overexpression of miR-140-5p under hypoxic conditions revealed opposite results. Further silencing Nrf2 expression mimicked the miR-140-5p-induced anti-tumor effects. Consistent with the knockdown of miR-140-5p in vitro, mice injected with miR-140-5p-KD cells exhibited dramatically reduced miR-140-5p levels, increased Nrf2 levels, and increased tumor growth. In contrast, tumor growth is potently suppressed in mice injected with miR-140-5p-OE cells. Collectively, the above results demonstrate the importance of the Nrf2/HO-1 axis in cancer progression and, thus, targeting Nrf2 by miR-140-5p could be a better strategy for the treatment of Nrf2-driven breast cancer progression.

Immune Milieu and Genomic Alterations Set the Triple-Negative Breast Cancer Immunomodulatory Subtype Tumor Behavior

Simple Summary

Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is an aggressive and highly heterogeneous breast cancer subtype, both molecular and transcriptomic. Gene expression patterns identified seven TNBC subtypes; basal-like 1 (BL1), basal-like 2 (BL2), immunomodulatory (IM), mesenchymal (M), mesenchymal stem-like (MSL), luminal androgen receptor (LAR), and unstable (UNS). Herein, we contrasted the IM subtype with non-IM TNBC, including clinical, histopathological, and molecular variables. Our results showed that the IM subtype featured an increased FOXP3+ TILs infiltration and a higher CTLA-4 and PD-L1 expression compared with non-IM tumors. Long intergenic non-coding RNAs associated with the immune response through transcriptomic and enrichment analyses characterized the IM-subtype enriched by the β-catenin signaling pathway. Additionally, DNA sequencing identified differences in mutation rates as well as some specific mutations. These results should motivate the design of future clinical trials in which the benefit of immune-based therapy in this subgroup of patients could be evaluated.

Abstract

Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is an aggressive and heterogeneous disease. Seven subtypes have been described based on gene expression patterns. Herein, we characterized the tumor biology and clinical behavior of the immunomodulatory (IM) subtype. Methods: Formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded tumor samples from 68 high-risk (stage III-IV) TNBC patients were analyzed through microarrays, immunohistochemistry, and DNA sequencing. Results: The IM subtype was identified in 24% of TNBC tumor samples and characterized by a higher intratumoral (intT) and stromal (strml) infiltration of FOXP3+ TILs (Treg) compared with non-IM subtypes. Further, PD-L1+ (>1%) expression was significantly higher, as well as CTLA-4+ intT and strml expression in the IM subtype. Differential expression and gene set enrichment analysis identified biological processes associated with the immune system. Pathway analysis revealed enrichment of the β-catenin signaling pathway. The non-coding analysis led to seven Long Intergenic Non-Protein Coding RNAs (lincRNAs) (6 up-regulated and 1 down-regulated) that were associated with a favorable prognosis in the TNBC-IM subtype. The DNA sequencing highlighted two genes relevant to immune system responses: CTNNB1 (Catenin β-1) and IDH1. Conclusion: the IM subtype showed a distinct immune microenvironment, as well as subtype-specific genomic alterations. Characterizing TNBC at a molecular and transcriptomic level might guide immune-based therapy in this subgroup of patients.

Protective effects of endothelial progenitor cell microvesicles on Ang II‑induced rat kidney cell injury

Chronic hypertension can lead to kidney damage, known as hypertensive nephropathy or hypertensive nephrosclerosis. Further understanding of the molecular mechanisms via which hypertensive nephropathy develops is essential for effective diagnosis and treatment. The present study investigated the mechanisms by which endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) repair primary rat kidney cells (PRKs). ELISA, Cell Counting Kit-8 and flow cytometry assays were used to analyze the effects of EPCs or EPC-MVs on the oxidative stress, inflammation, cell proliferation, apoptosis and cycle of PRKs induced by AngII. A PRK injury model was established using angiotensin II (Ang II). After Ang II induction, PRK proliferation was decreased, apoptosis was increased and the cell cycle was blocked at the G₁ phase before entering the S phase. It was found that the levels of reactive oxygen species and malondialdehyde were increased, while the levels of glutathione peroxidase and superoxide dismutase were decreased. Moreover, the levels of the inflammatory cytokines IL-1β, IL-6 and TNF-α were significantly increased. Thus, Ang II damaged PRKs by stimulating oxidative stress and promoting the inflammatory response. However, when PRKs were co-cultured with EPCs, the damage induced by Ang II was significantly reduced. The current study collected the microvesicles (MVs) secreted by EPCs and co-cultured them with Ang II-induced PRKs, and identified that EPC-MVs retained their protective effect on PRKs. In conclusion, EPCs protect PRKs from Ang II-induced damage via secreted MVs.

N6-Methyladenosine-regulated LINC00675 Suppress the Proliferation, Migration and Invasion of Breast Cancer cells via Inhibiting miR-513b-5p

Breast cancer (BC) is the most common cancer among women. LINC00675 and miR-513b-5p has been reported to be abnormally expressed in multiple types of cancers and modulate malignant phenotypes of cancer cells. However, to date, the functional role and underlying regulatory mechanism of LINC00675 and miR-513b-5p in BC remains largely unknown. Here, we found that LINC00675 was significantly downregulated in BC tissues and cell lines. Decrease of LINC00675 expression associated with higher tumor grade, lymphovascular invasion and shorter survival in BC patients. Functional experiments demonstrated that overexpression of LINC00675 suppressed BC cell proliferation, migration and invasion, whereas depletion of LINC00675 exerted opposite effects. Mechanistically, LINC00675 functioned as a competing endogenous RNA (ceRNA) to interact with miR-513b-5p and suppress its expression. Moreover, METTL3 increased the m⁶A methylation of LINC00675, which enhanced the association between LINC00675 and miR-513b-5p. Collectively, the central findings of our study suggest that LINC00675 represses BC progression through the inhibition of miR-513b-5p in a m⁶A-dependent manner.

miR-513b-5p inhibits the proliferation and promotes apoptosis of retinoblastoma cells by targeting TRIB1

MicroRNAs are involved in the pathogenesis of various human malignant tumors. This study aims to explore the role of miR-513b-5p in the malignant proliferation of retinoblastoma (RB) cells and its potential molecular mechanisms. The function-gain and function-loss experiments were performed in Weri-RB1 cells using miR-513b-5 mimics and inhibitors. miR-513b-5p mimics inhibited the proliferation and clone formation and promoted apoptosis of Weri-RB1 cells. In contrast, the miR-513b-5p inhibitor promoted the proliferation and clone formation of Weri-RB1 cells and inhibited cell apoptosis. miR-513b-5p can directly bind to the 3'UTR region of TRIB1 mRNA, and inhibit its protein expression. Overexpression of TRIB1 promoted the proliferation and cloning of Weri-RB1 cells but inhibited their apoptosis. The knockdown of TRIB1 inhibited the proliferation and clone formation of Weri-RB1 cells and promoted cell apoptosis. In addition, miR-513b-5p mimics neutralized the effects of TRIB1 overexpression on the proliferation and apoptosis of Weri-RB1 cells. Finally, miR-513b-5p can inhibit the phosphorylation level of AKT, mTOR, and p70, while TRIB1 played the opposite role. miR-513b-5p inhibits the malignant proliferation of Weri-RB1 cells by repressing the expression of TRIB1. miR-513b-5p and TRIB1 may be the biomarkers and/or key targets for clinical diagnosis and treatment of RB.

HNSC exosome-derived MIAT improves cognitive disorders in rats with vascular dementia via the miR-34b-5p/CALB1 axis

OBJECTIVE

To explore the molecular mechanism by which hippocampal neural stem cell (HNSC) exosome (exo)-derived MIAT improves cognitive disorders in rats with vascular dementia (VD).

METHODS

Rat hippocampal tissues were collected, and HNSCs and hippocampal neuronal cells (HNCs) were isolated, purified, and identified. Then the exosomes (exo) of the HNSCs were extracted and identified. A VD rat model was constructed. HE staining was used to evaluate the hippocampal pathology in each group. The expressions of the RNAs in the HNSCs were intervened, and the cells were then grouped. ELISA was used to measure the of TNF-α, IL-1, and Aβ1-42 expression levels. The kits were used to determine the oxidative stress factor levels. The targeting relationships among MIAT, miR-34b-5p, and CALB1 were measured using dual-luciferase assays. The MIAT expressions in exo were measured using qRT-PCR. The proliferation and apoptosis of the HNCs were determined using CCK-8 and Annexin V-FITC/PI staining, respectively. The CALB1, TH, and Bcl-2 protein expressions were determined using Western blot. The Morris water maze test was used for the spatial learning and memory testing.

RESULTS

The hippocampal tissues in the model group were clearly damaged, but the pathological characteristics were significantly improved in the exo group. The exo group also showed an increased SOD level, decreased MDA and ROS levels, and down-regulated TNF-α, IL-1, and Aβ1-42 expressions (all P<0.05). MiR-34b-5p had a targeting relationship with both MIAT and CALB1, and MIAT was found to be expressed in exo. The oe-MIAT-exo group and the miR-34b-5p inhibitor group showed significantly up-regulated CALB1, TH, and Bcl-2 protein expressions in the HNCs, increased cell viability, as well as reduced apoptosis, but the si-MIAT-exo group showed the opposite results (all P<0.05). The MiR-34b-5p inhibitor partially reversed the effect on the si-MIAT-exo group. The miR-34b-5p mimic group showed significantly down-regulated CALB1, TH, and Bcl-2 protein expressions in the HNCs, inhibited cell viability, as well as increased apoptosis, but the oe-CALB1 group showed the opposite results (all P<0.05). Oe-CALB1 partially reversed the effect on the miR-34b-5p mimic group. The memory and learning abilities of the rats in the oe-MIAT-exo group and the model + exo group were significantly improved but not as much as they were in the normal rats.

CONCLUSION

MIAT-containing exo from HNSCs can improve cognitive disorders in VD rats via the miR-34b-5p/CALB1 axis.

Dysregulated lncRNAs are Involved in the Progress of Sepsis by Constructing Regulatory Networks in Whole Blood Cells

Sepsis is a highly heterogeneous syndrome that is caused by an unbalanced host response to an infection. Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) have been reported to exert regulatory roles in a variety of biological processes, and became potential biomarkers and therapeutic targets for diverse diseases. However, current understanding on the roles of lncRNAs in sepsis is extremely limited. Herein, to decipher the underlying functions of lncRNAs, we reexplored the 83 transcriptome datasets from specimens with sepsis, no_sepsis by final diagnosis, and control. The results of differentially expressed genes (DEGs), differentially expressed lncRNA (DElncRNA) analysis, and co-expression analysis of lncRNA–mRNA pairs were obtained. We found that the expression pattern of lncRNAs was significantly activated in sepsis specimens, which was clearly distinguished in sepsis from no_sepsis and control specimens. By performing co-expression analysis, we found DElncRNAs were closely related to T-cell activation and immune response–related terms in sepsis by regulating mRNA expression in the trans manner. The lncRNA–mRNA network and the qRT-PCR test revealed that lncRNAs LINC00861, RP11-284N8.3, and CTB-61M7.2 were significantly correlated with the pathogenesis of sepsis. In addition, weighted gene co-expression analysis (WGCNA) and cis-regulation analysis also revealed sepsis-specific lncRNAs were highly associated with important biological processes correlated with sepsis. In summary, the systematic dysregulation of lncRNAs is tightly involved in the remodeling of gene expression regulatory network in sepsis, and the lncRNA–mRNA expression network may be used to refine biomarker predictions for developing novel therapeutic approaches in sepsis.

The Good and Bad of Nrf2: An Update in Cancer and New Perspectives in COVID-19

Nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) is a well-known transcription factor best recognised as one of the main regulators of the oxidative stress response. Beyond playing a crucial role in cell defence by transactivating cytoprotective genes encoding antioxidant and detoxifying enzymes, Nrf2 is also implicated in a wide network regulating anti-inflammatory response and metabolic reprogramming. Such a broad spectrum of actions renders the factor a key regulator of cell fate and a strategic player in the control of cell transformation and response to viral infections. The Nrf2 protective roles in normal cells account for its anti-tumour and anti-viral functions. However, Nrf2 overstimulation often occurs in tumour cells and a complex correlation of Nrf2 with cancer initiation and progression has been widely described. Therefore, if on one hand, Nrf2 has a dual role in cancer, on the other hand, the factor seems to display a univocal function in preventing inflammation and cytokine storm that occur under viral infections, specifically in coronavirus disease 19 (COVID-19). In such a variegate context, the present review aims to dissect the roles of Nrf2 in both cancer and COVID-19, two widespread diseases that represent a cause of major concern today. In particular, the review describes the molecular aspects of Nrf2 signalling in both pathological situations and the most recent findings about the advantages of Nrf2 inhibition or activation as possible strategies for cancer and COVID-19 treatment respectively.

MiR-513b-5p represses autophagy during the malignant progression of hepatocellular carcinoma by targeting PIK3R3

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) serves as a prevailing global malignancy with severe mortality and extremely unsatisfactory prognosis, in which autophagy is a fundamental process in liver cancer pathogenesis, but the mechanisms are poorly understood. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) serve as a type of well-recognized non-coding regulators and contribute to the modulation of liver cancer development, from the aspects of diagnosis, progression, and therapy. Here, we aimed to investigate the function of hsa_microRNA-513b-5p (miR-513b-5p) in regulating autophagy during HCC progression. Specifically, our data showed that miR-513b-5p mimic reduced the LC3-II and beclin1 expression but enhanced p62 expression in HCC cells. MiR-513b-5p repressed liver cancer cell proliferation, migration/invasion, and induced apoptosis in vitro. Crucially, miR-513b-5p attenuated tumor growth of liver cancer cells in vivo. In the mechanical investigation, we identified that PIK3R3 mRNA 3′UTR was targeted by miR-513b-5p and miR-513b-5p suppressed PIK3R3 expression. PIK3R3 overexpression partly reversed miR-513b-5p-mediated autophagy, proliferation, and apoptosis of liver cancer cells. Consequently, we concluded that miR-513b-5p repressed autophagy during the malignant progression of HCC by targeting PIK3R3. MiR-513b-5p may be applied as a therapeutic target for HCC.

Role of SIRT1 in Isoflurane Conditioning-Induced Neurovascular Protection against Delayed Cerebral Ischemia Secondary to Subarachnoid Hemorrhage

We recently reported that isoflurane conditioning provided multifaceted protection against subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH)-induced delayed cerebral ischemia (DCI), and this protection was through the upregulation of endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS). SIRT1, an NAD-dependent deacetylase, was shown to be one of the critical regulators of eNOS. The aim of our current study is to examine the role of SIRT1 in isoflurane conditioning-induced neurovascular protection against SAH-induced DCI. Mice were divided into four groups: sham, SAH, or SAH with isoflurane conditioning (with and without EX-527). Experimental SAH via endovascular perforation was performed. Anesthetic conditioning was performed with isoflurane 2% for 1 h, 1 h after SAH. EX-527, a selective SIRT1 inhibitor, 10 mg/kg was injected intraperitoneally immediately after SAH in the EX-527 group. SIRT1 mRNA expression and activity levels were measured. Vasospasm, microvessel thrombosis, and neurological outcome were assessed. SIRT1 mRNA expression was downregulated, and no difference in SIRT1 activity was noted after isoflurane exposure. Isoflurane conditioning with and without EX-527 attenuated vasospasm, microvessel thrombosis and improved neurological outcomes. Our data validate our previous findings that isoflurane conditioning provides strong protection against both the macro and micro vascular deficits induced by SAH, but this protection is likely not mediated through the SIRT1 pathway.

Integrated Characterization of lncRNA-Immune Interactions in Prostate Cancer

Prostate cancer is among the top mortality factors in male around the world. Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) have been shown to play crucial roles in tumor biology and immunology. However, lncRNA-immune interactions have not yet examined in prostate cancer. Here, we performed integrated analysis to characterize lncRNA-immune interactions in prostate cancer through multidimensional aspects, including immune-related hallmarks, tumor immunogenomic signatures, immune-related biological processes, immune cells, and immune checkpoints. We dissected the dysregulation of lncRNAs and their clinical relevance in prostate cancer, such as RP11-627G23.1 and RP11-465N4.5. Immune-related hallmarks took up the major parts among top significant lncRNA-hallmark interactions. Our analysis revealed that TGF-β signaling pathway was the most frequent to associate with lncRNAs, which is a signature of immune response in cancer. In addition, immune response and its regulation were the most closely connected immunological processes with lncRNA, implying the regulatory roles of lncRNAs on immune response in prostate cancer. We found that memory resting CD4⁺ T cells were the most lncRNA-correlated immune cell. LINC00861 was found to be potentially intervening targets of immunotherapy for prostate cancer patients, which was significantly associated with PD-1 and CTLA4. Collectively, we offered a handy resource to investigate regulatory roles of lncRNAs on tumor immunology and the development of clinical utility of lncRNAs in prostate cancer.