scholarly journals The Contribution of Autophagy and LncRNAs to MYC-Driven Gene Regulatory Networks in Cancers

2021 ◽  
Vol 22 (16) ◽  
pp. 8527
Author(s):  
Leila Jahangiri ◽  
Perla Pucci ◽  
Tala Ishola ◽  
Ricky M. Trigg ◽  
John A. Williams ◽  
...  

MYC is a target of the Wnt signalling pathway and governs numerous cellular and developmental programmes hijacked in cancers. The amplification of MYC is a frequently occurring genetic alteration in cancer genomes, and this transcription factor is implicated in metabolic reprogramming, cell death, and angiogenesis in cancers. In this review, we analyse MYC gene networks in solid cancers. We investigate the interaction of MYC with long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs). Furthermore, we investigate the role of MYC regulatory networks in inducing changes to cellular processes, including autophagy and mitophagy. Finally, we review the interaction and mutual regulation between MYC and lncRNAs, and autophagic processes and analyse these networks as unexplored areas of targeting and manipulation for therapeutic gain in MYC-driven malignancies.

Biomedicines ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (8) ◽  
pp. 921
Author(s):  
Ekaterina Mikhailovna Stasevich ◽  
Matvey Mikhailovich Murashko ◽  
Lyudmila Sergeevna Zinevich ◽  
Denis Eriksonovich Demin ◽  
Anton Markovich Schwartz

Alterations in the expression level of the MYC gene are often found in the cells of various malignant tumors. Overexpressed MYC has been shown to stimulate the main processes of oncogenesis: uncontrolled growth, unlimited cell divisions, avoidance of apoptosis and immune response, changes in cellular metabolism, genomic instability, metastasis, and angiogenesis. Thus, controlling the expression of MYC is considered as an approach for targeted cancer treatment. Since c-Myc is also a crucial regulator of many cellular processes in healthy cells, it is necessary to find ways for selective regulation of MYC expression in tumor cells. Many recent studies have demonstrated that non-coding RNAs play an important role in the regulation of the transcription and translation of this gene and some RNAs directly interact with the c-Myc protein, affecting its stability. In this review, we summarize current data on the regulation of MYC by various non-coding RNAs that can potentially be targeted in specific tumor types.


2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (7) ◽  
pp. 1723-1729
Author(s):  
Jeffrey A Fawcett ◽  
Hideki Innan

Abstract Nature has found many ways to utilize transposable elements (TEs) throughout evolution. Many molecular and cellular processes depend on DNA-binding proteins recognizing hundreds or thousands of similar DNA motifs dispersed throughout the genome that are often provided by TEs. It has been suggested that TEs play an important role in the evolution of such systems, in particular, the rewiring of gene regulatory networks. One mechanism that can further enhance the rewiring of regulatory networks is nonallelic gene conversion between copies of TEs. Here, we will first review evidence for nonallelic gene conversion in TEs. Then, we will illustrate the benefits nonallelic gene conversion provides in rewiring regulatory networks. For instance, nonallelic gene conversion between TE copies offers an alternative mechanism to spread beneficial mutations that improve the network, it allows multiple mutations to be combined and transferred together, and it allows natural selection to work efficiently in spreading beneficial mutations and removing disadvantageous mutations. Future studies examining the role of nonallelic gene conversion in the evolution of TEs should help us to better understand how TEs have contributed to evolution.


2020 ◽  
Vol 21 (18) ◽  
pp. 6720
Author(s):  
Linda Fabris ◽  
Jaroslav Juracek ◽  
George Calin

The discovery of non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) and their role in tumor onset and progression has revolutionized the way scientists and clinicians study cancers. This discovery opened new layers of complexity in understanding the fine-tuned regulation of cellular processes leading to cancer. NcRNAs represent a heterogeneous group of transcripts, ranging from a few base pairs to several kilobases, that are able to regulate gene networks and intracellular pathways by interacting with DNA, transcripts or proteins. Deregulation of ncRNAs impinge on several cellular responses and can play a major role in each single hallmark of cancer. This review will focus on the most important short and long non-coding RNAs in chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL), highlighting their implications as potential biomarkers and therapeutic targets as they relate to the well-established hallmarks of cancer. The key molecular events in the onset of CLL will be contextualized, taking into account the role of the “dark matter” of the genome.


2019 ◽  
Vol 16 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Peijing Zhang ◽  
Wenyi Wu ◽  
Qi Chen ◽  
Ming Chen

AbstractEukaryotic genomes are pervasively transcribed. Besides protein-coding RNAs, there are different types of non-coding RNAs that modulate complex molecular and cellular processes. RNA sequencing technologies and bioinformatics methods greatly promoted the study of ncRNAs, which revealed ncRNAs’ essential roles in diverse aspects of biological functions. As important key players in gene regulatory networks, ncRNAs work with other biomolecules, including coding and non-coding RNAs, DNAs and proteins. In this review, we discuss the distinct types of ncRNAs, including housekeeping ncRNAs and regulatory ncRNAs, their versatile functions and interactions, transcription, translation, and modification. Moreover, we summarize the integrated networks of ncRNA interactions, providing a comprehensive landscape of ncRNAs regulatory roles.


2019 ◽  
Vol 20 (21) ◽  
pp. 5445 ◽  
Author(s):  
Khachigian

Neointima formation after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) is a manifestation of “phenotype switching” by vascular smooth muscle cells (SMC), a process that involves de-differentiation from a contractile quiescent phenotype to one that is richly synthetic. In response to injury, SMCs migrate, proliferate, down-regulate SMC-specific differentiation genes, and later, can revert to the contractile phenotype. The vascular response to injury is regulated by microRNAs (or miRNAs), small non-coding RNAs that control gene expression. Interactions between miRNAs and transcription factors impact gene regulatory networks. This article briefly reviews the roles of a range of miRNAs in molecular and cellular processes that control intimal thickening, focusing mainly on transcription factors, some of which are encoded by immediate-early genes. Examples include Egr-1, junB, KLF4, KLF5, Elk-1, Ets-1, HMGB1, Smad1, Smad3, FoxO4, SRF, Rb, Sp1 and c-Myb. Such mechanistic information could inform the development of strategies that block SMC growth, neointima formation, and potentially overcome limitations of lasting efficacy following PCI.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Clara E. Pavillet ◽  
Dimitrios Voukantsis ◽  
Francesca M. Buffa

AbstractMotivationGene networks are complex sets of regulators and interactions that govern cellular processes. Their perturbations can disrupt regular biological functions, translating into a change in cell behaviour and ability to respond to internal and external cues. Computational models of these networks can boost translation of our scientific knowledge into medical applications by predicting how cells will behave in health and disease, or respond to stimuli such as a drug treatment. The development of such models requires effective ways to read, manipulate and analyse the increasing amount of existing, and newly deposited gene network data.ResultsWe developed BioSWITCH, a command-line program using the BioPAX standardised language to “switch on” static regulatory networks so that they can be executed in GINML to predict cellular behaviour. Using a previously published haematopoiesis gene network, we show that BioSWITCH successfully and faithfully automates the network de-coding and re-coding into an executable logical network. BioSWITCH also supports the integration of a BioPAX model into an existing GINML graph.AvailabilitySource code available at https://github.com/CBigOxf/[email protected]; [email protected]


Cancers ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (6) ◽  
pp. 1239
Author(s):  
Leila Jahangiri ◽  
Tala Ishola ◽  
Perla Pucci ◽  
Ricky M. Trigg ◽  
Joao Pereira ◽  
...  

Cancer stem cells (CSCs) possess properties such as self-renewal, resistance to apoptotic cues, quiescence, and DNA-damage repair capacity. Moreover, CSCs strongly influence the tumour microenvironment (TME) and may account for cancer progression, recurrence, and relapse. CSCs represent a distinct subpopulation in tumours and the detection, characterisation, and understanding of the regulatory landscape and cellular processes that govern their maintenance may pave the way to improving prognosis, selective targeted therapy, and therapy outcomes. In this review, we have discussed the characteristics of CSCs identified in various cancer types and the role of autophagy and long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) in maintaining the homeostasis of CSCs. Further, we have discussed methods to detect CSCs and strategies for treatment and relapse, taking into account the requirement to inhibit CSC growth and survival within the complex backdrop of cellular processes, microenvironmental interactions, and regulatory networks associated with cancer. Finally, we critique the computationally reinforced triangle of factors inclusive of CSC properties, the process of autophagy, and lncRNA and their associated networks with respect to hypoxia, epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT), and signalling pathways.


2017 ◽  
Vol 15 (02) ◽  
pp. 1650045 ◽  
Author(s):  
Olga V. Petrovskaya ◽  
Evgeny D. Petrovskiy ◽  
Inna N. Lavrik ◽  
Vladimir A. Ivanisenko

Gene network modeling is one of the widely used approaches in systems biology. It allows for the study of complex genetic systems function, including so-called mosaic gene networks, which consist of functionally interacting subnetworks. We conducted a study of a mosaic gene networks modeling method based on integration of models of gene subnetworks by linear control functionals. An automatic modeling of 10,000 synthetic mosaic gene regulatory networks was carried out using computer experiments on gene knockdowns/knockouts. Structural analysis of graphs of generated mosaic gene regulatory networks has revealed that the most important factor for building accurate integrated mathematical models, among those analyzed in the study, is data on expression of genes corresponding to the vertices with high properties of centrality.


2021 ◽  
Vol 22 (22) ◽  
pp. 12098
Author(s):  
Jaylen Hudson ◽  
Laszlo Farkas

Once perceived as a disorder treated by vasodilation, pulmonary artery hypertension (PAH) has emerged as a pulmonary vascular disease with severe endothelial cell dysfunction. In the absence of a cure, many studies seek to understand the detailed mechanisms of EC regulation to potentially create more therapeutic options for PAH. Endothelial dysfunction is characterized by complex phenotypic changes including unchecked proliferation, apoptosis-resistance, enhanced inflammatory signaling and metabolic reprogramming. Recent studies have highlighted the role of epigenetic modifications leading to pro-inflammatory response pathways, endothelial dysfunction, and the progression of PAH. This review summarizes the existing literature on epigenetic mechanisms such as DNA methylation, histone modifications, and non-coding RNAs, which can lead to aberrant endothelial function. Our goal is to develop a conceptual framework for immune dysregulation and epigenetic changes in endothelial cells in the context of PAH. These studies as well as others may lead to advances in therapeutics to treat this devastating disease.


2016 ◽  
Vol 2 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Mariam Murtadha ◽  
Muller Fabbri

AbstractMicroRNAs (miRs) are small non-coding RNAs with key gene regulatory functions. Recent evidence has shown that miRs have a central role in shaping the biology of the Tumor Microenvironment (TME). The discovery that some exosomes contain high levels of miR cargo that shuttle between cells and mediate intercellular cross-talk has shifted the focus of miR research towards understanding the biological role of exosomic miRs. In this review, we highlight the emerging role of exosomic miRs in molding the tumor microenvironment towards pro-tumor conditions by altering intercellular communication. We briefly discuss some mechanisms of selective loading of miRs into exosomes, as well as emerging evidence that exosomic miRs are present in all biological fluids. Furthermore, we describe the differences in the exosomic miR signatures between cancer patients and healthy controls, and the potential role of exosomic miRs as diagnostic, prognostic, and therapeutic biomarkers.


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