The long non-coding RNA LUCAT1 is a negative feedback regulator of interferon responses in humans

AbstractLong non-coding RNAs are important regulators of biological processes including immune responses. The immunoregulatory functions of lncRNAs have been revealed primarily in murine models with limited understanding of lncRNAs in human immune responses. Here, we identify lncRNA LUCAT1 which is upregulated in human myeloid cells stimulated with lipopolysaccharide and other innate immune stimuli. Targeted deletion of LUCAT1 in myeloid cells increases expression of type I interferon stimulated genes in response to LPS. By contrast, increased LUCAT1 expression results in a reduction of the inducible ISG response. In activated cells, LUCAT1 is enriched in the nucleus where it associates with chromatin. Further, LUCAT1 limits transcription of interferon stimulated genes by interacting with STAT1 in the nucleus. Together, our study highlights the role of the lncRNA LUCAT1 as a post-induction feedback regulator which functions to restrain the immune response in human cells.

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The expression of Drosophila melanogaster Hox gene Ultrabithorax is not overtly regulated by the intronic long non-coding RNA lncRNA: PS4 in a wild type genetic background

G3 Genes|Genome|Genetics ◽

10.1093/g3journal/jkab374 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Anita Hermann ◽

Dave Kosman ◽

William McGinnis ◽

Ella Tour

Keyword(s):

Drosophila Melanogaster ◽

Genetic Background ◽

Hox Genes ◽

Coding Region ◽

Targeted Deletion ◽

Non Coding Rna ◽

Ectopic Activation ◽

Homeotic Mutation ◽

Long Non Coding Rna

Abstract Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) have been implicated in a variety of processes in development, differentiation, and disease. In Drosophila melanogaster, the bithorax Hox cluster (BX-C) contains three Hox genes (Ultrabithorax (Ubx), abdominal-A (abd-A), and Abdominal-B (Abd-B)), along with a number of lncRNAs, most with unknown functions. Here, we investigated the function of a long non-coding RNA, lncRNA: PS4 that originates in the second intron of Ubx and is transcribed in the antisense orientation to Ubx. The expression pattern of lncRNA: PS4 is complementary to Ubx in the thoracic primordia, and the lncRNA: PS4 coding region overlaps the location of the large insertion that causes the dominant homeotic mutation Contrabithorax-1 (UbxCbx-1), which partially transforms Drosophila wings into halteres via ectopic activation of Ubx. This led us to investigate the potential role of this lncRNA in regulation of Ubx expression. The UbxCbx-1 mutation dramatically changes the pattern of lncRNA: PS4, eliminating the expression of most lncRNA: PS4 sequences from parasegment 4 (where Ubx protein is normally absent) and ectopically activating lncRNA: PS4 at high levels in the abdomen (where Ubx is normally expressed). These changes, however, did not lead to changes in the Ubx embryonic transcription pattern. Targeted deletion of the two promoters of lncRNA: PS4 did not result in the change of Ubx expression in the embryos. In the genetic background of a UbxCbx-1 mutation, the lncRNA: PS4 mutation does slightly enhance the ectopic activation of Ubx protein expression in wing discs and also slightly enhances the wing phenotype seen in UbxCbx-1 heterozygotes.

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Innate immune responses and type 1 diabetes: A role for a long non-coding RNA?

Diabetologie und Stoffwechsel ◽

10.1055/s-0034-1374906 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 9 (S 01) ◽

Author(s):

MP Ashton ◽

I Tan ◽

L Mackin ◽

C Elso ◽

E Chu ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Type 1 Diabetes ◽

Immune Responses ◽

Innate Immune ◽

Innate Immune Responses ◽

Non Coding Rna ◽

Long Non Coding Rna

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Role of Long Non-Coding RNA Polymorphisms in Cancer Chemotherapeutic Response

Journal of Personalized Medicine ◽

10.3390/jpm11060513 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 (6) ◽

pp. 513

Author(s):

Zheng Zhang ◽

Meng Gu ◽

Zhongze Gu ◽

Yan-Ru Lou

Keyword(s):

Molecular Mechanisms ◽

Neurological Diseases ◽

Cellular Processes ◽

Dna And Rna ◽

Chemotherapeutic Response ◽

Non Coding Rna ◽

Response To Chemotherapy ◽

Personalized Oncology ◽

Long Non Coding Rna

Genetic polymorphisms are defined as the presence of two or more different alleles in the same locus, with a frequency higher than 1% in the population. Since the discovery of long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs), which refer to a non-coding RNA with a length of more than 200 nucleotides, their biological roles have been increasingly revealed in recent years. They regulate many cellular processes, from pluripotency to cancer. Interestingly, abnormal expression or dysfunction of lncRNAs is closely related to the occurrence of human diseases, including cancer and degenerative neurological diseases. Particularly, their polymorphisms have been found to be associated with altered drug response and/or drug toxicity in cancer treatment. However, molecular mechanisms are not yet fully elucidated, which are expected to be discovered by detailed studies of RNA–protein, RNA–DNA, and RNA–lipid interactions. In conclusion, lncRNAs polymorphisms may become biomarkers for predicting the response to chemotherapy in cancer patients. Here we review and discuss how gene polymorphisms of lncRNAs affect cancer chemotherapeutic response. This knowledge may pave the way to personalized oncology treatments.

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LncRNA PVT1 promotes cervical cancer progression by sponging miR-503 to upregulate ARL2 expression

Open Life Sciences ◽

10.1515/biol-2021-0002 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 16 (1) ◽

pp. 1-13

Author(s):

Weiwei Liu ◽

Dongmei Yao ◽

Bo Huang

Keyword(s):

Cervical Cancer ◽

Cancer Progression ◽

Luciferase Reporter ◽

Migration And Invasion ◽

Nude Mouse Model ◽

Western Blot Assay ◽

Non Coding Rna ◽

Long Non Coding Rna

Abstract Cervical cancer (CC) is a huge threat to the health of women worldwide. Long non-coding RNA plasmacytoma variant translocation 1 gene (PVT1) was proved to be associated with the development of diverse human cancers, including CC. Nevertheless, the exact mechanism of PVT1 in CC progression remains unclear. Levels of PVT1, microRNA-503 (miR-503), and ADP ribosylation factor-like protein 2 (ARL2) were measured by quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction or western blot assay. 3-(4,5)-Dimethylthiazole-2-y1)-2,5-biphenyl tetrazolium bromide (MTT) and flow cytometry were used to examine cell viability and apoptosis, respectively. For migration and invasion detection, transwell assay was performed. The interaction between miR-503 and PVT1 or ARL2 was shown by dual luciferase reporter assay. A nude mouse model was constructed to clarify the role of PVT1 in vivo. PVT1 and ARL2 expressions were increased, whereas miR-503 expression was decreased in CC tissues and cells. PVT1 was a sponge of miR-503, and miR-503 targeted ARL2. PVT1 knockdown suppressed proliferation, migration, and invasion of CC cells, which could be largely reverted by miR-503 inhibitor. In addition, upregulated ARL2 could attenuate si-PVT1-mediated anti-proliferation and anti-metastasis effects on CC cells. Silenced PVT1 also inhibited CC tumor growth in vivo. PVT1 knockdown exerted tumor suppressor role in CC progression via the miR-503/ARL2 axis, at least in part.

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Role of the Innate Immunity Signaling Pathway in the Pathogenesis of Sjögren’s Syndrome

International Journal of Molecular Sciences ◽

10.3390/ijms22063090 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 22 (6) ◽

pp. 3090

Author(s):

Toshimasa Shimizu ◽

Hideki Nakamura ◽

Atsushi Kawakami

Keyword(s):

Immune Responses ◽

Sjögren's Syndrome ◽

Sjogren’S Syndrome ◽

Sjogren's Syndrome ◽

Innate Immune ◽

Type I ◽

Type I Ifn ◽

Adaptive Immune ◽

Sjögren‘S Syndrome

Sjögren’s syndrome (SS) is a systemic autoimmune disease characterized by chronic inflammation of the salivary and lacrimal glands and extra-glandular lesions. Adaptive immune response including T- and B-cell activation contributes to the development of SS. However, its pathogenesis has not yet been elucidated. In addition, several patients with SS present with the type I interferon (IFN) signature, which is the upregulation of the IFN-stimulated genes induced by type I IFN. Thus, innate immune responses including type I IFN activity are associated with SS pathogenesis. Recent studies have revealed the presence of activation pattern recognition receptors (PRRs) including Toll-like receptors, RNA sensor retinoic acid-inducible gene I and melanoma differentiation-associated gene 5, and inflammasomes in infiltrating and epithelial cells of the salivary glands among patients with SS. In addition, the activation of PRRs via the downstream pathway such as the type I IFN signature and nuclear factor kappa B can directly cause organ inflammation, and it is correlated with the activation of adaptive immune responses. Therefore, this study assessed the role of the innate immune signal pathway in the development of inflammation and immune abnormalities in SS.

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Long non-coding RNA LINC00665 promotes gemcitabine resistance of Cholangiocarcinoma cells via regulating EMT and stemness properties through miR-424-5p/BCL9L axis

Cell Death and Disease ◽

10.1038/s41419-020-03346-4 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 12 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Min Lu ◽

Xinglei Qin ◽

Yajun Zhou ◽

Gang Li ◽

Zhaoyang Liu ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Acquired Resistance ◽

Transcriptional Regulators ◽

First Line ◽

Protein Coding ◽

Gemcitabine Resistance ◽

Non Coding Rna ◽

Sphere Formation ◽

Long Non Coding Rna ◽

Line Chemotherapy

AbstractGemcitabine is the first-line chemotherapy drug for cholangiocarcinoma (CCA), but acquired resistance has been frequently observed in CCA patients. To search for potential long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) involved in gemcitabine resistance, two gemcitabine resistant CCA cell lines were established and dysregulated lncRNAs were identified by lncRNA microarray. Long intergenic non-protein coding RNA 665 (LINC00665) were found to rank the top 10 upregulated lncRNAs in our study, and high LINC00665 expression was closely associated with poor prognosis and chemoresistance of CCA patients. Silencing LINC00665 in gemcitabine resistant CCA cells impaired gemcitabine tolerance, while enforced LINC00665 expression increased gemcitabine resistance of sensitive CCA cells. The gemcitabine resistant CCA cells showed increased EMT and stemness properties, and silencing LINC00665 suppressed sphere formation, migration, invasion and expression of EMT and stemness markers. In addition, Wnt/β-Catenin signaling was activated in gemcitabine resistant CCA cells, but LINC00665 knockdown suppressed Wnt/β-Catenin activation. B-cell CLL/lymphoma 9-like (BCL9L), the nucleus transcriptional regulators of Wnt/β-Catenin signaling, plays a key role in the nucleus translocation of β-Catenin and promotes β-Catenin-dependent transcription. In our study, we found that LINC00665 regulated BCL9L expression by acting as a molecular sponge for miR-424-5p. Moreover, silencing BCL9L or miR-424-5p overexpression suppressed gemcitabine resistance, EMT, stemness and Wnt/β-Catenin activation in resistant CCA cells. In conclusion, our results disclosed the important role of LINC00665 in gemcitabine resistance of CCA cells, and provided a new biomarker or therapeutic target for CCA treament.

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Role of Alternative Splicing in Regulating Host Response to Viral Infection

Cells ◽

10.3390/cells10071720 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 10 (7) ◽

pp. 1720

Author(s):

Kuo-Chieh Liao ◽

Mariano A. Garcia-Blanco

Keyword(s):

Innate Immunity ◽

Alternative Splicing ◽

Immune Responses ◽

Viral Infection ◽

Rna Splicing ◽

Type I ◽

Host Immune Responses ◽

Transcriptional Regulatory Mechanisms ◽

Host Virus Interactions

The importance of transcriptional regulation of host genes in innate immunity against viral infection has been widely recognized. More recently, post-transcriptional regulatory mechanisms have gained appreciation as an additional and important layer of regulation to fine-tune host immune responses. Here, we review the functional significance of alternative splicing in innate immune responses to viral infection. We describe how several central components of the Type I and III interferon pathways encode spliced isoforms to regulate IFN activation and function. Additionally, the functional roles of splicing factors and modulators in antiviral immunity are discussed. Lastly, we discuss how cell death pathways are regulated by alternative splicing as well as the potential role of this regulation on host immunity and viral infection. Altogether, these studies highlight the importance of RNA splicing in regulating host–virus interactions and suggest a role in downregulating antiviral innate immunity; this may be critical to prevent pathological inflammation.

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The Role of NKT Cells in Glioblastoma

Cells ◽

10.3390/cells10071641 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 10 (7) ◽

pp. 1641

Author(s):

Emily E. S. Brettschneider ◽

Masaki Terabe

Keyword(s):

Immune Responses ◽

Cell Activity ◽

Nkt Cells ◽

Type I ◽

Type Ii ◽

Central Nervous System Diseases ◽

Nkt Cell ◽

Lipid Antigens ◽

Immunoregulatory Mechanisms

Glioblastoma is an aggressive and deadly cancer, but to date, immunotherapies have failed to make significant strides in improving prognoses for glioblastoma patients. One of the current challenges to developing immunological interventions for glioblastoma is our incomplete understanding of the numerous immunoregulatory mechanisms at play in the glioblastoma tumor microenvironment. We propose that Natural Killer T (NKT) cells, which are unconventional T lymphocytes that recognize lipid antigens presented by CD1d molecules, may play a key immunoregulatory role in glioblastoma. For example, evidence suggests that the activation of type I NKT cells can facilitate anti-glioblastoma immune responses. On the other hand, type II NKT cells are known to play an immunosuppressive role in other cancers, as well as to cross-regulate type I NKT cell activity, although their specific role in glioblastoma remains largely unclear. This review provides a summary of our current understanding of NKT cells in the immunoregulation of glioblastoma as well as highlights the involvement of NKT cells in other cancers and central nervous system diseases.

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