长非编码RNA在基因调控和肿瘤形成中的作用

哺乳动物中,只有小部分基因转录成为编码蛋白质的RNA,大量的基因则转录为不能编码蛋白质的RNA,即ncRNA。长非 编码RNA(lncRNAs)是分子长度在200-100000 nt 之间的一类ncRNA。lncRNAs 的数量超过蛋白质编码基因的数量。目前,对长非 编码RNA(lncRNAs)的生物学特性,转录调控以及其在肿瘤发生发展中的作用机制的研究任然是RNA研究的热点。lncRNAs 通 过控制染色质重塑,转录调控和录转录后调控而在基因的转录调节中发挥了重要作用。lncRNAs 与多种肿瘤相关,并且在抑制因 素和促进因素中都具有重要的作用。众多文献报道的结果表明lncRNAs 参与调控基因表达,在正常细胞与肿瘤细胞的转换中起 到至关重要的作用。     

长链非编码RNA在肝细胞肝癌发病中的作用及其机制研究进展

肝细胞肝癌(HCC)是肝癌中最常见的病理类型,患者病死率高。对HCC发生发展机制的认知局限是其不良预后的重要原因。长链非编码RNA(LncRNA)是基因调控的重要组成部分,可通过表观遗传、转录调节和转录后调节等方式调控肝癌细胞的发生发展。近年来,LncRNA在肝癌发生发展中作用的研究逐渐深入,这为HCC早期诊断、病情控制和预后评估提供了新的方法和思路。本文就LncRNA在HCC中的研究进展作一综述。     

New insights into the role of microRNAs and long noncoding RNAs in most common neurodegenerative diseases

Neurodegenerative diseases (NDs) are a diversity of neurological disorders characterized by the progressive degeneration of the structure and function of the central nervous system (CNS). The most common NDs are Alzheimer's disease (AD), Parkinson's disease (PD), and Huntington's disease (HD). Recently, many studies have investigated associations between common NDs with noncoding RNAs (ncRNAs) molecules. ncRNAs are regulatory molecules in the normal functioning of the CNS. Two of the most important ncRNAs are microRNAs (miRNAs) and long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs). These types of ncRNAs are involved in different biological processes including brain development, maturation, differentiation, neuronal cell specification, neurogenesis, and neurotransmission. Increasing data has demonstrated that miRNAs and lncRNAs have strong correlations with the development of NDs, particularly gene expression. Besides, ncRNAs can be introduced as new biomarkers for diagnosis and prognosis of NDs. Hence, in this review, we summarized the involvement of various miRNAs and lncRNAs in most common NDs followed by a correlation of ncRNAs dysregulation with the AD, PD, and HD.     

Identification of short-lived long non-coding RNAs as surrogate indicators for chemical stress response

Abiotic and biotic stressors in human cells are often a result of sudden and/or frequent changes in environmental factors. The molecular response to stress involves elaborate modulation of gene expression and is of homeostatic, ecological, and evolutionary importance. Although attention has primarily focused on signaling pathways and protein networks, long non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) are increasingly involved in the molecular mechanisms associated with responses to cellular stresses. We identified six novel short-lived long ncRNAs (MIR22HG, GABPB-AS1, LINC00152, IDI2-AS1, SNHG15, and FLJ33630) that responded to chemical stressors (cisplatin, cycloheximide, and mercury (II) oxide) in HeLa Tet-off cells. Our results indicate that short-lived long ncRNAs respond to general and specific chemical stressors. The expression levels of the short-lived long ncRNAs were elevated because of prolonged decay rates in response to chemical stressors and interruption of RNA degradation pathways. We propose that these long ncRNAs have the potential to be surrogate indicators of cellular stress responses.     

Long non-coding RNAs: Promising new targets in pulmonary fibrosis

Pulmonary fibrosis is characterized by progressive and irreversible scarring in the lungs with poor prognosis and treatment. It is caused by various factors, including environmental and occupational exposures, and some rheumatic immune diseases. Even the rapid global spread of the COVID-19 pandemic can also cause pulmonary fibrosis with a high probability. Functions attributed to long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) make them highly attractive diagnostic and therapeutic targets in fibroproliferative diseases. Therefore, an understanding of the specific mechanisms by which lncRNAs regulate pulmonary fibrotic pathogenesis is urgently needed to identify new possibilities for therapy. In this review, we focus on the molecular mechanisms and implications of lncRNAs targeted protein-coding and non-coding genes during pulmonary fibrogenesis, and systematically analyze the communication of lncRNAs with various types of RNAs, including microRNA, circular RNA and mRNA. Finally, we propose the potential approach of lncRNA-based diagnosis and therapy for pulmonary fibrosis. We hope that understanding these interactions between protein-coding and non-coding genes will contribute to the development of lncRNA-based clinical applications for pulmonary fibrosis.     

非编码RNA在骨骼肌发育中的功能

近几年的研究表明,非编码RNA的功能几乎涉及生命活动的各个方面。非编码RNA在骨骼肌发育中的功能研究揭示了骨骼肌发育调控的复杂性。该文总结了骨骼肌发育中非编码RNA的系统发现与鉴定以及非编码RNA在骨骼肌发育和再生中的功能研究。     

Roles of noncoding RNAs in drug resistance in multiple myeloma

Despite the administration of new effective drugs in recent years, relapse and drug resistance are still the main obstacles in multiple myeloma (MM) treatment, making MM an incurable disease. To overcome drug resistance in MM, it is critical to understand the underlying mechanisms of malfunctioning gene expression and develop novel targeted therapies. During the past few decades, with the discovery and characterization of noncoding RNAs (ncRNAs), the landscape of dysregulated ncRNAs of cancers as well as their biological and pathobiological functions in tumorigenesis and drug resistance have been recognized. Studies about ncRNAs improved the understanding of variations of drug response among individuals at a level distinguished from genetic polymorphism, and provided with new orientations for targeted therapies. In this review, we will summarize the emerging impact and underlying molecular mechanisms of the most relevant classes of ncRNAs in drug resistance of MM, and discuss the potential as well as strategies of treating ncRNAs as therapeutic targets.     

The Role of Extracellular Vesicles in Senescence

Cells can communicate in a variety of ways, such as by contacting each other or by secreting certain factors. Recently, extracellular vesicles (EVs) have been proposed to be mediators of cell communication. EVs are small vesicles with a lipid bilayer membrane that are secreted by cells and contain DNA, RNAs, lipids, and proteins. These EVs are secreted from various cell types and can migrate and be internalized by recipient cells that are the same or different than those that secrete them. EVs harboring various components are involved in regulating gene expression in recipient cells. These EVs may also play important roles in the senescence of cells and the accumulation of senescent cells in the body. Studies on the function of EVs in senescent cells and the mechanisms through which nonsenescent and senescent cells communicate through EVs are being actively conducted. Here, we summarize studies suggesting that EVs secreted from senescent cells can promote the senescence of other cells and that EVs secreted from nonsenescent cells can rejuvenate senescent cells. In addition, we discuss the functional components (proteins, RNAs, and other molecules) enclosed in EVs that enter recipient cells.     

长链非编码RNA(lncRNA)及其在昆虫学研究中的进展

长链非编码RNA（long noncoding RNA, lncRNA）是一类转录本长度超过200 nt的非编码RNA,主要通过转录调控和转录后调控调节基因的表达,也可通过影响蛋白质定位和端粒复制发挥其强大的生物学功能。本文在介绍lncRNA的特征、分类及其主要作用机制的基础上,综述了有关昆虫lncRNA的鉴定及功能研究等方面的最新进展。近5年来已经从黑腹果蝇Drosophila melanogaster、小菜蛾Plutella xylostella和褐飞虱Nilaparvata lugens等8种昆虫中鉴定出了大量lncRNA,为进一步研究lncRNA在昆虫生长发育过程中的功能奠定了重要基础。非编码RNA参与调控害虫抗药性的分子机制已经成为昆虫毒理学研究的一个新兴领域,因此本文对有关lncRNA与害虫抗药性关系的最新研究进展也做了介绍。