As a special type of noncoding RNA, long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) have vital roles during the development of human cancers and may be novel predictors or therapeutic targets for improving the management of patients with cancer. DiGeorge syndrome critical region gene 5 (DGCR5) is a prominent tumor-associated lncRNA, exerting tumor suppressor or oncogenic roles in various cancers. Previous studies have reported that DGCR5 has low expression in most types of cancers but high expression in triple-negative breast cancer, gallbladder cancer, and lung cancer. And DGCR5 expression is related to many hallmarks of cancer types, including cell proliferation, invasion, migration, apoptosis, stemness, and therapeutic responsiveness. Additionally, the pivotal molecules involved in DGCR5 regulation of signaling pathways are attributed to cancer hallmarks related to the pathogenesis of different types of malignant tumors. Herein, we discuss the DGCR5 expression pattern in various types of tumor tissues and relationships between DGCR5 expression and immune cell infiltration and immune purity. We also review our current understanding of DGCR5 in carcinogenesis and its potential application as a prognostic biomarker or therapeutic target in human cancers.

Progress and assessment of lncRNA DGCR5 in malignant phenotype and immune infiltration of human cancers.

Melanoma is one of the most aggressive skin cancers and a major cause of cancer-linked deaths worldwide. As the morbidity and mortality of melanoma are increasing, it is necessary to elucidate the potential mechanism influencing melanoma progression. Tumor tissues and adjacent normal tissues (5 cm away from tumors) from 22 melanoma patients at the I–II stage and 39 patients at the III–VI stage were acquired. The expression of LINC01063 in melanoma was estimated by quantitative PCR. Functional assays were employed to investigate the function of LINC01063 in melanoma. Mechanism assays were adopted to explore the mechanism of LINC01063. LINC01063 knockdown impeded melanoma cell proliferation, migration, invasion, and epithelial–mesenchymal transition as well as melanoma tumor growth. Mechanistically, LINC01063 acted as an miR-5194 sponge to upregulate SOX12 expression. Finally, LINC01063 was tested to facilitate the malignant behaviors of melanoma cells via targeting miR-5194/SOX12. LINC01063 was significantly upregulated in melanoma. Specifically, LINC01063 displayed a higher level in patients at an advanced stage or with metastasis than those at an early stage or without metastasis. Our study revealed the oncogenic effects of LINC01063 on melanoma cell/tumor growth and its molecular mechanism involving miR-5194/SOX12, which might support LINC01063 to be the potential prognostic or therapeutic biomarker against melanoma.

LINC01063 functions as an oncogene in melanoma through regulation of miR-5194-mediated SOX12 expression

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psj.2022.101930

Overexpression of lncRNA-Gm2044 in spermatogonia impairs spermatogenesis in partial seminiferous tubules

Objective: To investigate the mechanisms of lncRNA on the occurrence and development of NOA by constructing ceRNA regulation network of lncRNA, miRNA and mRNA. Methods: Samples of adult human testis were obtained from NOA patients and OA patients with normal spermatogenesis (controls), recruited from the Reproductive Medicine Center of Nanfang Hospital from June 2017 to June 2018. Differentially expressed lncRNAs and mRNAs in testicular tissues from patients with NOA were identified by microarray analysis in previous association study. In this study, differentially expressed lncRNAs and mRNA were used to construct the ceRNA regulatory network in NOA and clarify the interaction relationship among lncRNA, miRNA and mRNA. GeneMANIA database was used to construct Protein-Protein Interaction (PPI) of the mRNAs in ceRNA regulatory network. WebGestalt toolkit was employed to perform gene function and pathway enrichment analyses of those coding genes. Finally, qRT-PCR and dual luciferase reporter system were employed for further experimental validation. Results: The ceRNA regulatory network of lncRNA, miRNA and mRNA consists of 21 nodes and 26 edges, of which 4 lncRNAs, 13 miRNAs and 4 mRNAs. 19 proteins were found to interact with the mRNA coding proteins in ceRNA regulatory network by PPI analysis. Gene oncology and KEGG pathway enrichment analyses indicate these coding genes were significantly enriched in pentose metabolic process and pentose phosphate pathway. Furthermore, lncRNA ANXA2P3 was found binding with miR-613 and miR-206 to inhibit mRNA TKT expression. Conclusion: lncRNAs exert an important role in the occurrence and development of NOA via ceRNA regulatory network, which could be used as new biomarkers for NOA treatment.

S Quan

Papers

[Effects and mechanism of lncRNA serving as ceRNA in non-obstructive azoospermia].