LncRNA-NONHSAT024778 promote the proliferation and invasion of chordoma cell by regulating miR-1290/Robo1 axis

Unraveling molecular signatures in rare bone tumors and navigating the cancer pathway landscapes for targeted therapeutics

Rare cancers (RCs), which account for over 20% of cancer cases, face significant research and treatment challenges due to their limited prevalence. This results in suboptimal outcomes compared to more common malignancies. Rare bone tumors (RBTs) constitute 5-10% of rare cancer cases and pose unique diagnostic complexities. The therapeutic potential of anti-cancer drugs for RBTs remains largely unexplored. Identifying molecular alterations in cancer-related genes and their associated pathways is essential for precision medicine in RBTs. Small molecule inhibitors and monoclonal antibodies targeting specific RBT-associated proteins show promise. Ongoing clinical trials aim to define RBT biomarkers, subtypes, and optimal treatment contexts, including combination therapies and immunotherapeutic agents. This review addresses the challenges in diagnosing, treating, and studying RBTs, shedding light on the current state of RBT biomarkers, potential therapeutic targets, and promising inhibitors. Rare cancers demand attention and innovative solutions to improve clinical outcomes.

N6-methyladenosine-modified circTEAD1 stabilizes Yap1 mRNA to promote chordoma tumorigenesis

BACKGROUND

Chordoma, a rare bone tumour with aggressive local invasion and high recurrence rate with limited understanding of its molecular mechanisms. Circular RNAs (circRNAs) have been extensively implicated in tumorigenesis, yet their involvement in chordoma remains largely unexplored. N6-methyladenosine (m6A) modification holds a crucial function in regulating protein translation, RNA degradation and transcription.

METHODS

Initially, screening and validation of circTEAD1 in chordoma were conducted by high-throughput sequencing. Subsequently, sh-circTEAD1 and an overexpression plasmid were constructed. Colony formation assays, cell counting kit-8, Transwell and wound healing assays were utilized to validate the function of circTEAD1 in vitro. RNA pull-down assays identified the binding proteins of circTEAD1, which underwent verification through RNA immunoprecipitation (RIP). Methylated RIP assays were conducted to detect the m6A binding sites. Following this, luciferase assay, RT-qPCR, RIP and Western blotting analyses were conducted, revealing that Yap1 was the direct target of circTEAD1. Afterwards, the same methods were utilized for the validation of the function of Yap1 in chordoma in vitro. Finally, the regulatory relationship between circTEAD1 and Yap1 in chordoma was verified by an in vivo tumour formation assay.

RESULTS

CircTEAD1 was identified as an upregulated circRNA in chordoma specimens, with heightened circTEAD1 expression emerging as a prognostic indicator. In vitro experiments convincingly demonstrated that circTEAD1 significantly promoted chordoma cell invasion, migration and aggressiveness. Furthermore, the analysis revealed that methyltransferase-like 3-mediated m6A modification facilitated the cytoplasmic export of circTEAD1. The circTEAD1/IGF2BP3/Yap1 mRNA RNA-protein ternary complex not only bolstered the stability of Yap1 mRNA but also exerted a pivotal role in driving chordoma tumorigenesis.

CONCLUSIONS

In this study, the role of m6A-modified circTEAD1 in chordoma was identified. The findings offer novel insights into the potential molecular targets for chordoma therapy, shedding light on the intricate interplay between circRNAs, m6A modification and Yap1 mRNA in chordoma pathogenesis.

Dysregulation of noncoding RNA in chordoma; implications in identifying potential targets for novel therapeutic approaches

Chordoma is a rare form of bone cancer develops in the spinal cord and skull. Instead of conventional (radio/chemotherapies) and targeted therapies, the disease is associated with high rate of recurrence and poor patient survival. Thus, for better disease management, the molecular pathogenesis of chordoma should be studied in detail to identify dysregulated biomolecules that can be targeted by novel therapeutics. Recent research showed frequent dysregulation of long noncoding RNA (lncRNA), microRNA (miRNA), and circular RNA (circRNA) in association with aggressive tumor phenotypes like cell proliferation, migration, invasion, and metastasis in a variety of cancers, including chordoma. Apart from diagnostic and prognostic importance, noncoding RNAs may serve as promising targets for novel therapeutics in cancer. In this review, we summarized a list of miRNAs, lncRNAs, and circRNA found to be dysregulated in chordoma from available data published in relevant databases (PubMed), as such an approach seems to be rare to date. The dysregulated noncoding RNAs were also associated with adverse tumor phenotypes to assess the impact on disease pathogenesis and, associated downstream molecular pathways were focused. Synthetic compounds and natural products that were reported to target the noncoding RNAs in other malignancies were also listed from published literature and proposed as potential therapeutic agents in chordoma. This review will provide information for further research on chordoma focusing on detailed characterization of dysregulated lncRNAs, miRNAs, and circRNA to understand the disease pathogenesis and, exploration of suitable natural and synthetic products targeting dysregulated non-coding RNAs to develop effective therapeutic measures.

Investigating the regulatory role of miRNAs as silent conductors in the management of pathogenesis and therapeutic resistance of pancreatic cancer

Pancreatic cancer (PC) has the greatest mortality rate of all the main malignancies. Its advanced stage and poor prognosis place it at the bottom of all cancer sites. Hence, emerging biomarkers can enable precision medicine where PC therapy is tailored to each patient. This highlights the need for new, highly sensitive and specific biomarkers for early PC diagnosis. Prognostic indicators are also required to stratify PC patients. To avoid ineffective treatment, adverse events, and expenses, biomarkers are also required for patient monitoring and identifying responders to treatment. There is substantial evidence that microRNAs (miRs, miRNAs) play a critical role in regulating mRNA and, as a consequence, protein expression in normal and malignant tissues. Deregulated miRNA profiling in PC can help with diagnosis, treatment planning, and prognosis. Furthermore, knowledge of the primary effector genes and downstream pathways in PC can help pinpoint potential miRNAs for use in treatment. Different miRNA expression profiles may serve as diagnostic, prognostic markers, and therapeutic targets across the spectrum of malignant pancreatic illness. Dysregulation of miRNAs has been linked to the malignant pathophysiology of PC through affecting many cellular functions such as increasing invasive and proliferative prospect, supporting angiogenesis, cell cycle aberrance, apoptosis elusion, metastasis promotion, and low sensitivity to particular treatments. Accordingly, in the current review, we summarize the recent advances in the roles of oncogenic and tumor suppressor (TS) miRNAs in PC and discuss their potential as worthy diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers for PC, as well as their significance in PC pathogenesis and anticancer drug resistance.

Competing endogenous RNA (ceRNA) in a non-model animal: Non-coding RNAs respond to heat stress in rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) through ceRNA-regulated mechanisms

BACKGROUND

Rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) is a typical cold-water fish. With global warming and extreme heat, high summer temperatures are the biggest threat to rainbow trout farming. Rainbow trout initiate stress defense mechanisms in response to thermal stimuli, and competing endogenous RNA (ceRNA) regulation of target genes (mRNAs) mediated by non-coding RNAs (microRNAs [miRNAs], long non-coding RNAs) may be the main strategy for responding to thermal stimuli and enhancing adaptation.

RESULTS

We screened the LOC110485411-novel-m0007-5p-hsp90ab1 ceRNA relationship pairs for affect heat stress in rainbow trout and validated their targeting relationships and functions based on preliminary high-throughput sequencing analysis results. The transfection of exogenous novel-m0007-5p mimics and inhibitors into primary rainbow trout hepatocytes effectively bound and inhibited the target genes hsp90ab1 and LOC110485411 without significant effects on hepatocyte viability, proliferation, and apoptosis. The inhibitory effect of novel-m0007-5p overexpression on hsp90ab1 and LOC110485411 under heat stress was time-efficient. Similarly, small interfering RNAs (siRNAs) affected hsp90ab1 mRNA expression by silencing LOC110485411 expression time-efficiently.

CONCLUSIONS

In conclusion, we found that in rainbow trout, LOC110485411 and hsp90ab1 can bind competitively to novel-m0007-5p via 'sponge adsorption' and that interference with LOC110485411 affects hsp90ab1 expression. These results provide potential for anti-stress drug screening in rainbow trout.

Tumor-Derived Exosomal miR-29b Reduces Angiogenesis in Pancreatic Cancer by Silencing ROBO1 and SRGAP2

Background. Exosomal miR-29b reportedly plays a role during cancer metastasis. However, its exact function and underlying mechanism during pancreatic cancer (PC) have not been investigated. Methods. Exosomes from PC cells were prepared and identified. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and confocal microscopy were used to examine structural characteristics of the exosomes and verify their internalization by human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs). The tube formation and migration abilities of HUVECs were detected. VEGF content was assessed by ELISA. GW4869 was used to suppress exosome release. Luciferase reporter assays were performed to verify the predicted interaction of miR-29b with ROBO1 and SRGAP2 mRNA. Results. Exosomal miRNA-29b was differentially expressed in the conditioned medium of PC cells. Exosomes from PC cells were verified by TEM and western blotting. Treatment with the exosomal inhibitor (GW4869) prevented an increase in miR-29b expression and recused the reduced VEGF expression and tube formation and migration abilities of HUVECs cocultured with BxPC3 and AsPC-1 cells that overexpressed miR-29b. Furthermore, the downregulation of ROBO1 and SRGAP2 in cocultured HUVECs was also reduced after additional treatment with GW4869. After incubation with miR-29b exosomes, HUVECs had lower VEGF concentrations and reduced migration and tube formation rates; however, those effects were eliminated by subsequent transfection with the miR-29b inhibitor. Luciferase reporter assays verified the interaction of miR-29b with ROBO1 and SRGAP2. That interaction was also supported by rescue assays showing that overexpression of ROBO1 and SRGAP2 also reduced the antiangiogenic effect of exosomal miR-29b in HUVECs. Conclusion. Exosomal miR-29b originating from PC cells protected HUVECs from PC cell-induced angiogenesis by attenuating ROBO1 and SRGAP2 expression. Our findings suggest a strategy for treating PC.

XIST sponges miR-320d to promote chordoma progression by regulating ARF6

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XIST was highly expressed in chordoma tissues.

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XIST knockdown inhibited chordoma progression by downregulating ARF6.

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MiR-320d inhibited the malignant behaviors of chordoma cells.

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XIST positively upregulated ARF6 expression via sponging miR-320d in chordoma cells.

Background

Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) have been demonstrated to play important roles in various tumors, including chordoma. The purpose of this study was to investigate the role and mechanism of lncRNA X-inactive specific transcript (XIST) in chordoma.

Methods

RNA levels and protein levels were measured by real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT‑qPCR) and western blot assay, respectively. Cell proliferation was assessed by 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay, 5-ethynyl-2′-deoxyuridine (EdU) assay and colony formation assay. Tanswell assay was used to examine cell migration and invasion. Cellular glycolysis was examined via the measurement of extracellular acidification rate (ECAR) and lactate production. The interaction between microRNA-320d (miR-320d) and XIST or ADP-ribosylation factor 6 (ARF6) was predicted by bioinformatics analysis and verified by a dual-luciferase reporter and RNA-pull down assays. The xenograft tumor model was used to explore the biological function of XIST in vivo.

Results

XIST was overexpressed in chordoma tissues. XIST knockdown suppressed chordoma cell proliferation, migration, invasion, and glycolysis. XIST acted as a sponge of miR-320d. Moreover, miR-320d overexpression inhibited the proliferation, migration, invasion, and glycolysis of chordoma cells. ARF6 was a direct target of miR-320d, and XIST upregulated ARF6 expression via sponging miR-320d. Furthermore, overexpression of ARF6 reversed the inhibitory effects of XIST knockdown on chordoma cell proliferation, migration, invasion, and glycolysis. Importantly, XIST silencing blocked xenograft tumor growth in vivo.

Conclusion

XIST knockdown inhibited chordoma progression via regulating the miR-320d/ARF6 axis, providing a novel insight into chordoma pathogenesis.

A Review on the Role of miR-1290 in Cell Proliferation, Apoptosis and Invasion

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) have been shown to affect expression of several genes contributing in important biological processes. miR-1290 a member of this family with crucial roles in the carcinogenesis. This miRNA is transcribed from MIR1290 gene on chromosome 1p36.13. This miRNA has interactions with a number of mRNA coding genes as well as non-coding RNAs SOCS4, GSK3, BCL2, CCNG2, KIF13B, INPP4B, hMSH2, KIF13B, NKD1, FOXA1, IGFBP3, CCAT1, FOXA1, NAT1, SMEK1, SCAI, ZNF667-AS1, ABLIM1, Circ_0000629 and CDC73. miR-1290 can also regulate activity of JAK/STAT3, PI3K/AKT, Wnt/β-catenin and NF-κB molecular pathways. Most evidence indicates the oncogenic roles of miR-1290, yet controversial evidence also exists. In the present review, we describe the results of in vitro, animal and human investigations about the impact of miR-1290 in the development of malignancies.

The potential role of miR-1290 in cancer progression, diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment: An oncomiR or onco-suppressor microRNA?

Cancer is one of the leading causes of death in humans because of the lack of early diagnosis, distant metastases, and the resistance to adjuvant therapies, including chemotherapy and radiotherapy. In addition to playing an essential role in tumor progression and development, microRNAs (miRNAs) can be used as a robust biomarker in the early detection of cancer. MiR-1290 was discovered for the first time in human embryonic stem cells, and under typical physiological situations, plays an essential role in neuronal differentiation and neural stem cell proliferation. Its coding sequence is located at the 1p36.13 regions in the first intron of the aldehyde dehydrogenase 4 gene member A1. miR-1290 is out of control in many cancers such as breast cancer, colorectal cancer, esophageal squamous cell carcinoma, gastric cancer, lung cancer, pancreatic cancer, and plays a vital role in their development. Therefore, it is suggested that miR-1290 can be considered as a potential diagnostic and therapeutic target in many cancers. In addition to the importance of miR-1290 in the noninvasive diagnosis of various cancers, this systematic review study discussed the role of miR-1290 in altering the expression of different genes involved in cancer development and chemo-radiation resistance. Moreover, it considered the regulatory effect of natural products on miR-1290 expression and the interaction of lncRNAs by miR-1290.