Exploring the regulatory role of tsRNAs in the TNF signaling pathway: Implications for cancer and non-cancer diseases.

Transfer RNA-derived small RNAs (tsRNAs), a recently identified subclass of small non-coding RNAs (sncRNAs), emerge through the cleavage of mature transfer RNA (tRNA) or tRNA precursors mediated by specific enzymes. The tumor necrosis factor (TNF) protein, a signaling molecule produced by activated macrophages, plays a pivotal role in systemic inflammation. Its multifaceted functions include the capacity to eliminate or hinder tumor cells, enhance the phagocytic capabilities of neutrophils, confer resistance against infections, induce fever, and prompt the production of acute phase proteins. Notably, four TNF-related tsRNAs have been conclusively linked to distinct diseases. Examples include 5'tiRNA-Gly in skeletal muscle injury, tsRNA-21109 in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), tRF-Leu-AAG-001 in endometriosis (EMs), and tsRNA-04002 in intervertebral disk degeneration (IDD). These tsRNAs exhibit the ability to suppress the expression of TNF-α. Additionally, KEGG analysis has identified seven tsRNAs potentially involved in modulating the TNF pathway, exerting their influence across a spectrum of non-cancerous diseases. Noteworthy instances include aberrant tiRNA-Ser-TGA-001 and tRF-Val-AAC-034 in intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR), irregular tRF-Ala-AGC-052 and tRF-Ala-TGC-027 in obesity, and deviant tiRNA-His-GTG-001, tRF-Ser-GCT-113, and tRF-Gln-TTG-035 in irritable bowel syndrome with diarrhea (IBS-D). This comprehensive review explores the biological functions and mechanisms of tsRNAs associated with the TNF signaling pathway in both cancer and other diseases, offering novel insights for future translational medical research.

Exploring the role of tRNA-derived small RNAs (tsRNAs) in disease: implications for HIF-1 pathway modulation.

The tRNA-derived small RNAs (tsRNAs) can be categorized into two main groups: tRNA-derived fragments (tRFs) and tRNA-derived stress-induced RNAs (tiRNAs). Each group possesses specific molecular sizes, nucleotide compositions, and distinct physiological functions. Notably, hypoxia-inducible factor-1 (HIF-1), a transcriptional activator dependent on oxygen, comprises one HIF-1ß subunit and one HIF-α subunit (HIF-1α/HIF-2α/HIF-3α). The activation of HIF-1 plays a crucial role in gene transcription, influencing key aspects of cancer biology such as angiogenesis, cell survival, glucose metabolism, and invasion. The involvement of HIF-1α activation has been demonstrated in numerous human diseases, particularly cancer, making HIF-1 an attractive target for potential disease treatments. Through a series of experiments, researchers have identified two tiRNAs that interact with the HIF-1 pathway, impacting disease development: 5'tiRNA-His-GTG in colorectal cancer (CRC) and tiRNA-Val in diabetic retinopathy (DR). Specifically, 5'tiRNA-His-GTG promotes CRC development by targeting LATS2, while tiRNA-Val inhibits Sirt1, leading to HIF-1α accumulation and promoting DR development. Clinical data have further indicated that certain tsRNAs' expression levels are associated with the prognosis and pathological features of CRC patients. In CRC tumor tissues, the expression level of 5'tiRNA-His-GTG is significantly higher compared to normal tissues, and it shows a positive correlation with tumor size. Additionally, KEGG analysis has revealed multiple tRFs involved in regulating the HIF-1 pathway, including tRF-Val-AAC-016 in diabetic foot ulcers (DFU) and tRF-1001 in pathological ocular angiogenesis. This comprehensive article reviews the biological functions and mechanisms of tsRNAs related to the HIF-1 pathway in diseases, providing a promising direction for subsequent translational medicine research.

Unveiling the role of tRNA-derived small RNAs in MAPK signaling pathway: implications for cancer and beyond.

tRNA-derived small RNAs (tsRNAs) are novel small non-coding RNAs originating from mature or precursor tRNAs (pre-tRNA), typically spanning 14 to 30 nt. The Mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPK) pathway orchestrates cellular responses, influencing proliferation, differentiation, apoptosis, and transformation. tsRNAs influence the expression of the MAPK signaling pathway by targeting specific proteins within the pathway. Presently, four MAPK-linked tsRNAs have implications in gastric cancer (GC) and high-grade serous ovarian cancer (HGSOC). Notably, tRF-Glu-TTC-027 and tRF-Val-CAC-016 modulate MAPK-related protein expression, encompassing p38, Myc, ERK, CyclinD1, CyclinB, and c-Myc, hindering GC progression via MAPK pathway inhibition. Moreover, tRF-24-V29K9UV3IU and tRF-03357 remain unexplored in specific mechanisms. KEGG analysis posits varied tsRNAs in MAPK pathway modulation for diverse non-cancer maladies. Notably, high tRF-36-F900BY4D84KRIME and tRF-23-87R8WP9IY expression relates to varicose vein (VV) risk. Elevated tiRNA-Gly-GCC-001, tRF-Gly-GCC-012, tRF-Gly-GCC-013, and tRF-Gly-GCC-016 target spinal cord injury (SCI)-related brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), influencing MAPK expression. tRF-Gly-CCC-039 associates with diabetes foot sustained healing, while tRF-5014a inhibits autophagy-linked ATG5 in diabetic cardiomyopathy (DCM). Additionally, tsRNA-14783 influences keloid formation by regulating M2 macrophage polarization. Upregulation of tRF-Arg-ACG-007 and downregulation of tRF-Ser-GCT-008 are associated with diabetes. tsRNA-04002 alleviates Intervertebral disk degeneration (IDD) by targeting PRKCA. tsRNA-21109 alleviates Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) by inhibiting macrophage M1 polarization. The upregulated tiNA-Gly-GCC-002 and the downregulated tRF-Ala-AGC-010, tRF-Gln-CTG-005 and tRF-Leu-AAG-001 may be involved in the pathogenesis of Lupus nephritis (LN) by affecting the expression of MAPK pathway. Downregulation of tsRNA-1018, tsRNA-3045b, tsRNA-5021a and tsRNA-1020 affected the expression of MAPK pathway, thereby improving Acute lung injury (ALI). This review comprehensively dissects tsRNA roles in MAPK signaling across cancers and other diseases, illuminating a novel avenue for translational medical exploration.

Synergistically optimized electron and phonon transport in high-performance copper sulfides thermoelectric materials via one-pot modulation.

Optimizing thermoelectric conversion efficiency requires the compromise of electrical and thermal properties of materials, which are hard to simultaneously improve due to the strong coupling of carrier and phonon transport. Herein, a one-pot approach realizing simultaneous second phase and Cu vacancies modulation is proposed, which is effective in synergistically optimizing thermoelectric performance in copper sulfides. Multiple lattice defects, including nanoprecipitates, dislocations, and nanopores are produced by adding a refined ratio of Sn and Se. Phonon transport is significantly suppressed by multiple mechanisms. An ultralow lattice thermal conductivity is therefore obtained. Furthermore, extra Se is added in the copper sulfide for optimizing electrical transport properties by inducing generating Cu vacancies. Ultimately, an excellent figure of merit of ~1.6 at 873 K is realized in the Cu1.992SSe0.016(Cu2SnSe4)0.004 bulk sample. The simple strategy of inducing compositional and structural modulation for improving thermoelectric parameters promotes low-cost high-performance copper sulfides as alternatives in thermoelectric applications.