A review of nanocellulose as a new material towards environmental sustainability.

Dioscin prevents DSS-induced colitis in mice with enhancing intestinal barrier function and reducing colon inflammation.

Abstract It is well known that noncoding RNAs (ncRNAs) cannot encode proteins, but they can play important regulatory roles in tumors by combining with proteins, RNAs, and DNAs. As more and more studies reveal the important roles and underlying mechanisms of long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) and circular RNAs (circRNAs) in cancer, their huge application potential in cancer therapy cannot be ignored. For example, lncRNAs can be involved in tumor‐related signal transduction pathways, cell cycle control, DNA damage, epigenetic regulation, and microRNA control. A group of studies confirmed that abnormal expression of lncRNAs can affect cancer progression. Furthermore, as covalently closed continuous circular ncRNAs, many recent studies have shown that circRNAs have regulatory effects and other important biological significances in cancer. Interestingly, circRNAs were found to have translational functions. This has greatly attracted people's attention to circRNAs research. In this review, we introduce the important roles of lncRNAs and circRNAs in some representative cancers, respectively. Furthermore, we focus on the biological functions and important clinical therapeutic implications of lnRNAs and circRNAs in neuroblastoma. Our review also focuses on providing rationale and relevant references for novel biomarkers for neuroblastoma diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment.

https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdfdirect/10.1002/mco2.141

LncRNAs and CircRNAs in cancer

Effect of Antarctic krill phospholipid (KOPL) on high fat diet-induced obesity in mice.

Renal interstitial fibrosis (RIF) is a crucial pathological change leading to chronic kidney disease (CKD). Currently, no effective medicines have been available for treating it. In our research, we examined the effects of polysaccharides extracted from Balanophora polyandra Griff (BPPs) on kidney fibrosis and epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT) in vivo and in vitro, aiming to explore the underlying mechanisms. By using the mice with unilateral urethral obstruction (UUO) as experimental subjects, we examined the medicinal values of BPPs on alleviating RIF. The effects of BPPs were evaluated by examining the histological staining and relative mRNA and protein expression levels of the related genes. The possible underlying mechanisms were further explored with human normal renal proximal tubular epithelia (HK-2 cells) as in vitro model. In UUO mice, BPP treatment could significantly alleviate interstitial fibrosis through reducing the components (Collagens I, III and IV) of extracellular matrix (ECM), and reducing the activation of fibroblasts producing these components, as revealed by inhibiting the hallmarks (fibronectin and α-SMA) of fibroblast activation. Furthermore, BPP administration increased the expression levels of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) and declined those of tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinases (TIMPs). BPPs markedly ameliorated EMT in both the kidneys of UUO mice and TGF-β1 treated HK-2 cells. Moreover, BPP treatment decreased the expression levels of several transcriptional factors involved in regulating E-cadherin expression, including snail, twist and ZEB1. Additionally, the Hedgehog pathway was found to be closely correlated with renal fibrosis and EMT. Altogether, our results clearly demonstrated that BPP treatment effectively inhibited the Hedgehog pathway both in renal tissues of UUO mice and TGF-β1-treated HK-2 cells. Thus, BPPs ameliorated RIF and EMT in vivo and in vitro via suppressing Hedgehog signalling pathway.

https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1111/jcmm.16313

Polysaccharides extracted from balanophora polyandra Griff (BPP) ameliorate renal Fibrosis and EMT via inhibiting the Hedgehog pathway.

Many experimental shreds of evidence have shown that lncRNA MALAT1 is related to proliferation ability, invasion and migration ability, autophagy ability, and chemoresistance in gastric cancer. Moreover, MALAT1 is related to metastasis and patient prognosis in gastric cancer. This review aims to reveal the biological functions and specific mechanisms of MALAT1 in gastric cancer. Methods After a comprehensive and systematic search in PubMed, various molecular mechanisms of MALAT1 in mediating gastric carcinogenesis are collated and summarized. Results MALAT1-mediated gastric cancer is involved in a variety of molecular mechanisms. For example, MALAT1 can enhance the proliferation ability of gastric cancer cells by inhibiting the expressions of miR-122, miR-1297, miR-22-3p, miR-202, etc. MALAT1 enhances the metastasis and invasion of gastric cancer by participating in EMT process, PI3-Akt and other pathways. MALAT1 enhances the proliferation and invasion of gastric cancer by inhibiting the function of tumor suppressor gene PCDH10. MALAT1 can increase the autophagy ability of gastric cancer cells by inhibiting miR-183 and increasing the level of autophagy markers. MALAT1 enhances chemical resistance by inhibiting UPF1 and miR-30e levels. Conclusions MALAT1 is tightly linked to gastric carcinogenesis through various molecular mechanisms. Moreover, MALAT1 is also closely associated with chemoresistance and poor prognosis in gastric cancer patients, suggesting the possibility of its use as a clinical therapeutic target and a promising independent risk factor for predicting patient prognosis.

Molecular mechanism of the canonical oncogenic lncRNA MALAT1 in gastric cancer

Background There is increasing evidence that lncRNA, a type of transcript that is over 200 nucleotides in length and may serve as oncogenes or suppressor genes, is implicated in the pathophysiology of human diseases. In particular, tumorigenesis and progress are closely correlated with its abnormal expression. In addition, it may become a promising target for many oncology biotherapies. Abnormal DLX6-AS1 expression affects different cellular processes such as proliferation, aggression and metastasis. This review aims to probe into the pathophysiological functions and molecular mechanisms of DLX6-AS1 in various cancers. Methods By retrieving the literature, this review summarizes the biological function and mechanism of LncRNA DLX6-AS1 in tumor occurrence. Results The lncRNA DLX6-AS1 is a new tumor-related RNA that has recently been found to be aberrantly expressed in diverse cancers, such as pancreatic cancer, osteosarcoma, non-small cell lung cancer, gastric carcinoma, glioma, hepatocellular cancer, colorectal carcinoma, renal carcinoma, esophageal squamous cell cancer, ovarian cancer, Ewing sarcoma, cervical cancer, breast cancer, thyroid cancer, neuroblastoma, pulmonary adenocarcinoma, nasopharyngeal carcinoma, squamous laryngeal cancer and bladder cancer, etc. Meanwhile, it is identified that DLX6-AS1 regulates the aggression, translocation and proliferation of diverse cancers. Conclusion LncRNA DLX6-AS1 may be viable markers in tumors or a potential therapeutic target for multiple tumors.

DLX6-AS1: An Indispensable Cancer-related Long Non-coding RNA.

Background Long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) with little or no coding ability has shown a variety of biological functions in cancer, including epigenetic regulation, DNA damage, regulation of microRNAs, and participation in signal transduction pathways. LncRNA can be used as an oncogene and tumor suppressor gene through transcriptional regulation in cancer. For example, the over-expressed lncRNA DLEU2 promotes the occurrence of laryngeal cancer, lung cancer, hepatocellular carcinoma, etc. and inhibits the progression of chronic lymphocytic leukemia. Deleted in Lymphocytic Leukemia 2 (DLEU2), as one of the long non-coding RNA, was first found in chronic lymphoblastic leukemia and drawn into the progress of innumerable cancers. The molecular mechanism of DLEU2 in multiple tumors will be revealed. Methods In this review, current studies on the biological functions and mechanisms of DLEU2 in tumors are summarized and analyzed; related researches are systematically retrieved and collected through PubMed. Results DLEU2, a novel cancer-related lncRNA, has been demonstrated to be abnormally expressed in various malignant tumors, including leukemia, esophageal cancer, lung cancer, glioma, hepatocellular carcinoma, malignant pleural mesothelioma, bladder cancer, pancreatic cancer, pharynx and throat cancer, renal clear cell carcinoma, breast cancer, osteosarcoma. Besides, lncRNA DLEU2 has been shown to be involved in the process of proliferation, migration, invasion and inhibition of apoptosis of cancer cells. Conclusion Due to the biological functions and mechanisms involved in DLEU2, it may represent an available biomarker or potential therapeutic target in a variety of malignant tumors.

DLEU2: A Meaningful Long Noncoding RNA in Oncogenesis.

Background CASC15, one of long non-coding RNA, is involved in the regulation of many tumor biological processes, and is expected to become a new biological therapeutic target. This paper aims to elucidate the pathophysiological function of CASC15 in various tumors. Methods The relationship between CASC15 and tumors was analyzed by searching references, and summarized the specific pathophysiological mechanism of CASC15. Results LncRNA CASC15 is closely related to tumor development, and has been shown to be abnormally high expressed in all kinds of tumors, including breast cancer, cervical cancer, lung cancer, hepatocellular carcinoma, gastric cancer, bladder cancer, colon cancer, colorectal cancer, cardiac hypertrophy, intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma, leukemia, melanoma, tongue squamous cell carcinoma and nasopharyngeal carcinoma. However, CASC15 has been found to be down-expressed abnormally in ovarian cancer, glioma and neuroblastoma. Besides, it is identified that CASC15 can affect the proliferation, invasion and apoptosis of tumors. Conclusion LncRNA CASC15 has the potential to become a new therapeutic target or marker for a variety of tumors.

CASC15: A Tumor-Associated Long Non-Coding RNA.

Balanophora polyandra Griff. (B. polyandra) is a folk medicine used as an antipyretic, antidote, haemostatic, dressing and haematic tonic, for the treatment of gonorrhea, syphilis, wounds, and the bleeding of the alimentary tract by the local people in China. This study was designed to investigate the effects of B. polyandra on dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-treated colitis mice in vivo and lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced RAW 264.7 macrophages in vitro. Mice were induced with B. polyandra total extract (BPE, 250 and 1000 mg kg-1) and B. polyandra polysaccharides (BPP, 100 and 400 mg kg-1) for 22 days and treated with 3.5% DSS in their drinking water for the last 7 days and the LPS-induced RAW264.7 macrophages were treated with BPE (100 μg ml-1) and BPP (100 μg ml-1). Mice treated with DSS developed severe mucosal colitis, with a marked distortion and crypt loss of colonic surface epithelium and a colonic shortening. B. polyandra significantly inhibited colonic shortening and reduced the severity of colitis in the colon and lowered the colonic inflammation score (p < 0.05) and decreased the expression of interleukin (IL)-1β, tumor necrosis factor (TNF-α), inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), and anti-serum amyloid A3 (SAA3) as well as the pro-inflammatory chemokine C-X-C motif chemokine 10 (CXCL10). B. polyandra also significantly suppressed the activation of nucleotide-binding domain like receptor protein 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome and the nuclear factor kB (NF-κB). These results suggest that dietary intake of B. polyandra ameliorates colitis. Such activities of B. polyandra in humans remain to be investigated.

Bei Wang

Papers

Molecular mechanism of the canonical oncogenic lncRNA MALAT1 in gastric cancer

DLX6-AS1: An Indispensable Cancer-related Long Non-coding RNA.

DLEU2: A Meaningful Long Noncoding RNA in Oncogenesis.

CASC15: A Tumor-Associated Long Non-Coding RNA.

Balanophora polyandra Griff. prevents dextran sulfate sodium-induced murine experimental colitis via the regulation of NF-κB and NLRP3 inflammasome