Long noncoding RNA TMPO-AS1 accelerates glycolysis by regulating the miR-1270/PKM2 axis in colorectal cancer.

BACKGROUND: Long noncoding RNA thymopoietin-antisense RNA 1 (TMPO-AS1) is recognized as a participant in cancer progression. Nevertheless, its biological function in colorectal cancer remains obscure and needs further elucidation. METHODS AND RESULTS: First, we discovered enriched TMPO-AS1 in the tumor tissues that were related to poor prognosis. TMPO-AS1 knockdown enhanced SW480 cell apoptosis but inhibited invasion, proliferation, migration, and glucose metabolism. Further, MiR-1270 is directly bound with TMPO-AS1. MiR-1270 mimics were confirmed to inhibit cell proliferation, invasion, and glucose metabolism in our study. Mechanistically, miR-1270 directly is bound with the 3' untranslated regions (3'UTR) of PKM2 to downregulate PKM2. MiR-1270 inhibitors reversed the TMPO-AS1 knockdown's effect on suppressing the tumor cell proliferation, invasion, and glycolysis, while the knockdown of PKM2 further inverted the function of miR-1270 inhibitors on the TMPO-AS1 knockdown. CONCLUSIONS: This study illustrated that TMPO-AS1 advanced the development and the glycolysis of colorectal cancer by modulating the miR-1270/PKM2 axis, which provided a new insight into the colorectal cancer therapeutic strategy.

c-Fos regulated by TMPO/ERK axis promotes 5-FU resistance via inducing NANOG transcription in colon cancer.

Acquired drug resistance is one of the most common limitations for the clinical response of colon cancer to 5-Fluorouracil (5-FU)-based chemotherapy. The relevant molecular mechanisms might be diversity, but still not be elucidated clearly. In this study, we aimed to investigate the potential mechanisms of c-Fos, a subfamily of activator protein-1, in 5-FU chemoresistance. We determined that phosphorylated c-Fos promoted colon cancer cells resistance to 5-FU by facilitating the cancer stemness. Mechanically, 5-FU treatment induced autolysosome-dependent degradation of TMPO, which subsequently triggered ERK-mediated phosphorylation of c-Fos. Additionally, c-Fos was found to bind to the promoter of NANOG and phosphorylation of c-Fos at Ser 374 was required for its regulation of NANOG expression. NANOG ablation impaired c-Fos/p-c-Fos induced 5-FU resistance and stemness. Taken together, these findings revealed that TMPO-mediated phosphorylation of c-Fos conferred 5-FU resistance by regulating NANOG expression and promoting cell stemness in colon cancer cells. c-Fos could be as a therapeutic target for colon cancer.

Thermosensitive TMPO-oxidized lignocellulose/cationic agarose hydrogel loaded with deferasirox nanoparticles for photothermal therapy in melanoma.

Deferasirox (DFX) is an iron-chelating agent effective in treating various kinds of cancers, which inhibits iron metabolism in cancer cells. The recent study aimed to prepare an injectable thermosensitive hydrogel based on lignocellulose and agarose containing deferasirox-loaded polypyrrole nanoparticles for local drug delivery in a combined chemo-photothermal therapy by laser light irradiation. Polypyrrole nanoparticles containing DFX were made by the emulsification method and optimized. Thermosensitive hydrogels were prepared by quaternary ammonium substituted agarose and TMPO-oxidized lignocellulose at different ratios, and the optimal hydrogel was selected based on gelation time, gelation temperature, and injectability. DFX- loaded polypyrrole nanoparticles were then added to the hydrogel, and the drug release, rheology test, injectability, degradation, and swelling percent, as well as cytotoxicity, and photothermal properties, were studied on B16F10, human melanoma cells. The hydrogel with 2 % anionic lignocellulose and 0.5 % cationic agarose showed the shortest gelation time and the highest mechanical strength. It transferred from a liquid state at 4 °C into a semisolid form at 37 °C with a gelation time of 10.3 min. The nanoparticles loaded in hydrogel showed dose-dependent cytotoxicity. The cytotoxic dose of the drug was reduced by laser light irradiation.

Leukocyte Nuclear Morphology Alterations in Dilated Cardiomyopathy Caused by a Lamin AC Truncating Mutation (LMNA/Ser431*) Are Modified by the Presence of a LAP2 Missense Polymorphism (TMPO/Arg690Cys).

The clinical phenotype of LMNA-associated dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) varies even among individuals who share the same mutation. LMNA encodes lamin AC, which interacts with the lamin-associated protein 2 alpha (LAP2α) encoded by the TMPO gene. The LAP2α/Arg690Cys polymorphism is frequent in Latin America and was previously found to disrupt LAP2α-Lamin AC interactions in vitro. We identified a DCM patient heterozygous for both a lamin AC truncating mutation (Ser431*) and the LAP2α/Arg690Cys polymorphism. We performed protein modeling and docking experiments, and used confocal microscopy to compare leukocyte nuclear morphology among family members with different genotype combinations (wild type, LAP2α Arg690Cys heterozygous, lamin AC/Ser431* heterozygous, and LAP2α Arg690Cys/lamin AC Ser431* double heterozygous). Protein modeling predicted that 690Cys destabilizes the LAP2α homodimer and impairs lamin AC-LAP2α docking. Lamin AC-deficient nuclei (Ser431* heterozygous) showed characteristic blebs and invaginations, significantly decreased nuclear area, and increased elongation, while LAP2α/Arg690Cys heterozygous nuclei showed a lower perimeter and higher circularity than wild-type nuclei. LAP2α Arg690Cys apparently attenuated the effect of LMNA Ser431* on the nuclear area and fully compensated for its effect on nuclear circularity. Altogether, the data suggest that LAP2α/Arg690Cys may be one of the many factors contributing to phenotype variation of LMNA-associated DCM.

[Structural changes and functional evaluation of the thymus in aging mouse induced by D-galactose].

Objective To explore the structural changes and functional changes of the thymus in aging mouse induced by D-galactose, and to explore a suitable method for establishing an aging mouse model of the thymus. Methods Thymus aging mouse models were established, female C57BL/6 mice were randomly divided into control group, [500 mg/(kg.d)] D-galactose treatment group, and [1000 mg/(kg.d)] D-galactose treatment group, with 8 mice in each group. The mice in the D-galactose treatment group were injected with 500 mg/kg and 1000 mg/kg of D-galactose subcutaneously on the back of the neck every day, while the mice in the control group were injected with the same amount of normal saline every day. After 56 days of continuous administration, the mice were sacrificed to take the thymus to observe the gross thymus morphology and calculate the thymus index. Then the thymus structure were observed by HE staining, and CD4/CD8 positive thymocytes were detected by flow cytometry to evaluate the immune function of the thymus. Later, thymus aging mouse models with different treatment time were established. Female C57BL/6 mice were randomly divided into control group and [1000 mg/(kg.d )] D-galactose treatment group, with 24 mice in each group. The mice were sacrificed after 6 weeks, 9 weeks, and 12 weeks treatment. The structure of thymus was observed by HE staining. The contents of thymosin ß4, thymosin α1, and thymopoietin in plasma were determined by ELISA. Results D-galactose treatment can induce mouse thymus senescence, atrophy of thymus, decrease of thymus index, disorder of thymus structure and impaired immune function. In the [1000 mg/(kg.d)] D-galactose treatment group, the atrophy of the thymic medulla of mice was more obvious, with the disappeared cortical and medullary boundary, decreased CD4+CD8+ thymocytes and increased CD4+CD8- thymocytes. The thymus aging mouse models with different treatment time showed the atrophied thymus, decreased thymus index, constricted thymus medulla, blurred boundary of cortex and medulla, decreased plasma thymosin α1 and impaired thymic secretion function. Thymus senescence was most obvious 12 weeks after D-galactose treatment. Conclusion D-galactose can induce the atrophy of the thymus, the thymus index decreases, consticted thymus medulla and blurred boundary of the cortex and medulla,and result in impaired thymic immune and secretory functions.A subcutaneous injection of 1000 mg/kg D-galactose on the back of the neck every day for 12 consecutive weeks is a suitable method to establish a thymus aging model.

LncRNA TMPO-AS1 promotes esophageal squamous cell carcinoma progression by forming biomolecular condensates with FUS and p300 to regulate TMPO transcription.

Esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) is one of the most life- and health-threatening malignant diseases worldwide, especially in China. Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) have emerged as important regulators of tumorigenesis and tumor progression. However, the roles and mechanisms of lncRNAs in ESCC require further exploration. Here, in combination with a small interfering RNA (siRNA) library targeting specific lncRNAs, we performed MTS and Transwell assays to screen functional lncRNAs that were overexpressed in ESCC. TMPO-AS1 expression was significantly upregulated in ESCC tumor samples, with higher TMPO-AS1 expression positively correlated with shorter overall survival times. In vitro and in vivo functional experiments revealed that TMPO-AS1 promotes the proliferation and metastasis of ESCC cells. Mechanistically, TMPO-AS1 bound to fused in sarcoma (FUS) and recruited p300 to the TMPO promoter, forming biomolecular condensates in situ to activate TMPO transcription in cis by increasing the acetylation of histone H3 lysine 27 (H3K27ac). Targeting TMPO-AS1 led to impaired ESCC tumor growth in a patient-derived xenograft (PDX) model. We found that TMPO-AS1 is required for cell proliferation and metastasis in ESCC by promoting the expression of TMPO, and both TMPO-AS1 and TMPO might be potential biomarkers and therapeutic targets in ESCC.

lncRNA TMPO antisense RNA 1 promotes the malignancy of cholangiocarcinoma cells by regulating let-7g-5p/ high-mobility group A1 axis.

Cholangiocarcinoma (CHOL) is often diagnosed at an advanced stage; therefore, exploring its key regulatory factors is important for earlier diagnosis and treatment. This study aimed to identify the mechanisms of long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) TMPO Antisense RNA 1 (TMPO-AS1), microRNA let-7 g-5p, and high-mobility group A1 (HMGA1) proteins in CHOL. Our results, through quantitative real-time PCR and Western blot detection, showed that TMPO-AS1 and HMGA1 were overexpressed while let-7 g-5p was underexpressed in CHOL. Cell function experiments in CHOL cells revealed that TMPO-AS1 knockdown inhibited cell proliferation, colony formation, and cell migration, but induced apoptosis. TMPO-AS1 knockdown also suppressed tumor growth in vivo. Together with luciferase assay and Western blotting, we found that TMPO-AS1 could sponge let-7 g-5p to promote HMGA1 expression. Moreover, HMGA1 overexpression attenuated the effect of TMPO-AS1 downregulation in CHOL cells. Overall, our findings identified the oncogenic effect of TMPO-AS1 on CHOL cells, which may put forward a novel methodology for CHOL diagnosis and therapy.

Long non-coding RNA TMPO-AS1 facilitates the progression of colorectal cancer cells via sponging miR-98-5p to upregulate BCAT1 expression.

BACKGROUND AND AIM: Colorectal cancer, as a common malignant carcinoma in the gastrointestinal tract, has a high mortality globally. However, the specific molecular mechanisms of long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) thymopoietin antisense transcript 1 (TMPO-AS1) in colorectal cancer were unclear. METHODS: We tested the expression level of TMPO-AS1 via qRT-PCR in colorectal cancer cells, while the protein levels of branched chain amino acid transaminase 1 (BCAT1) and the stemness-related proteins were evaluated by western blot analysis. Colony formation, EdU staining, TUNEL, flow cytometry, and sphere formation assays were to assess the biological behaviors of colorectal cancer cells. Then, luciferase reporter, RIP, and RNA pull down assay were applied for confirming the combination between microRNA-98-5p (miR-98-5p) and TMPO-AS1/BCAT1. RESULTS: TMPO-AS1 was aberrantly expressed at high levels in colorectal cancer cells. Silenced TMPO-AS1 restrained cell proliferation and stemness and promoted apoptosis oppositely, while overexpressing TMPO-AS1 exerted the adverse effects. Furthermore, miR-98-5p was proven to a target of TMPO-AS1 inhibit cell progression in colorectal cancer. Additionally, BCAT1 was proved to enhance cell progression as the target of miR-98-5p, and it offset the effect of silenced TMPO-AS1 on colorectal cancer cells. CONCLUSION: TMPO-AS1 promotes the progression of colorectal cancer cells via sponging miR-98-5p to upregulate BCAT1 expression.

The Potential Biocontrol Agent Paenibacillus polymyxa TP3 Produces Fusaricidin-Type Compounds Involved in the Antagonism Against Gray Mold Pathogen Botrytis cinerea.

Paenibacillus polymyxa is a beneficial bacterium for plant health. P. polymyxa TP3 exhibits antagonistic activity toward Botrytis cinerea and alleviates gray mold symptoms on the leaves of strawberry plants. Moreover, suppression of gray mold on the flowers and fruits of strawberry plants in field trials, including vegetative cells and endospores, was demonstrated, indicating the potential of strain TP3 as a biological control agent. To examine the anti-B. cinerea compounds produced by P. polymyxa TP3, we performed matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry, and fusaricidin-corresponding mass spectra were detected. Moreover, fusaricidin-related signals appeared in imaging mass spectrometry of TP3 when confronted with B. cinerea. By using liquid chromatography mass spectrometry-based molecular networking approach, we identified several fusaricidins including a new variant of mass/charge ratio 917.5455 with serine in the first position of the hexapeptide. Via advanced mass spectrometry and network analysis, fusaricidin-type compounds produced by P. polymyxa TP3 were efficiently disclosed and were presumed to play roles in the antagonism against gray mold pathogen B. cinerea.

Anti-inflammation of epicatechin mediated by TMEM35A and TMPO in bovine mammary epithelial cell line cells and mouse mammary gland.

Epicatechin (EC) has significant antiinflammation, antioxidation, and anticancer activities. It also provides a new alternative treatment for mastitis, which can result in great economic losses in the dairy industry if left untreated. The purpose of this study was to investigate the anti-inflammatory effects of EC on mastitis and the underlying mechanism using in vivo and in vitro systems. The use of ELISA and immunohistochemistry assays showed that EC treatment at 1.5, 7.5, 15, and 30 mg/mL decreased protein expression of inflammatory mediators, including cyclooxygenase-2 and inducible nitric oxide synthase; inflammatory cytokines, which were composed of IL-1ß, TNF-α, and IL-6 in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated bovine mammary epithelial cell line (MAC-T); and mouse mammary gland, together with reduced filtration of T lymphocytes in the mouse mammary gland. Furthermore, EC treatment reduced LPS-induced phosphorylation levels of p65 and inhibitor of NF-κB, and blocked nuclear translocation of p65 as revealed by western blot and immunofluorescence test in MAC-T cells and the mouse mammary gland. Epicatechin also attenuated LPS-induced phosphorylation levels of mitogen-activated protein kinase members (i.e., p38, c-Jun N-terminal kinase 1/2 and extracellular regulated protein kinases 1/2). Using RNA-seq and tandem mass tag analyses, upregulation of TMEM35A and TMPO proteins was disclosed in MAC-T cells cotreated with LPS and EC. Although clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats/Cas9-based knockdown of TMEM35A and TMPO attenuated abundance of phosphorylated (p)-p65, p-p38, TNF-α, and iNOS, overexpression of TMEM35A reversed EC-mediated effects in TMPO knockdown cells. Moreover, interaction between TMEM35A and TMPO was detected using the co-immunoprecipitation method. In conclusion, our data demonstrated that EC inhibited LPS-induced inflammatory response in MAC-T cells and the mouse mammary gland. Importantly, TMEM35A mediated the transmembrane transport of EC, and the interaction between TMEM35A and TMPO inhibited MAPK and NF-κB pathways.

The Emerging Role of Thymopoietin-Antisense RNA 1 as Long Noncoding RNA in the Pathogenesis of Human Cancers.

Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) play essential roles in the occurrence and development of multiple human cancers. An accumulating body of researches have investigated thymopoietin antisense RNA 1 (TMPO-AS1) as a newly discovered lncRNA, which functions as an oncogenic lncRNA that is upregulated in various human malignancies and associated with poor prognosis. Many studies have detected abnormally high expression levels of TMPO-AS1 in multiple cancers, such as lung cancer, breast cancer, colorectal cancer (CRC), hepatocellular carcinoma, CRC, gastric cancer, ovarian cancer, thyroid cancer, esophageal cancer, Wilms tumor, cervical cancer, retinoblastoma, bladder cancer, osteosarcoma, and prostate cancer. TMPO-AS1 has been subsequently demonstrated to play a pivotal role in tumorigenesis and progression. The aberrantly expressed TMPO-AS1 acts as a competing endogenous RNA (ceRNA) that inhibits miRNA expression, thus activating the expression of downstream oncogenes. This study comprehensively summarizes the aberrant expressions of TMPO-AS1 as reported in the current literature and explains the relevant biological regulation mechanisms in carcinogenesis and tumor progression. Corresponding studies have indicated that TMPO-AS1 has a potential value as a promising biomarker or a target for cancer therapy.

Long noncoding RNA TMPO-AS1/miR-126-5p/BRCC3 axis accelerates gastric cancer progression and angiogenesis via activating PI3K/Akt/mTOR pathway.

BACKGROUND AND AIM: Gastric cancer (GC) is an aggressive tumor featured by uncontrolled cell proliferation and metastasis. In recent years, long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) act as crucial regulators and biological markers in multiple cancers. LncRNA TMPO-AS1 has been revealed to be an oncogene in some cancers. Nevertheless, there is little known about the biological role of TMPO-AS1 in GC. METHODS: Reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction analysis was used to examine the expression level of TMPO-AS1 in GC tissues and cells. Cell Counting Kit-8, colony formation, wound healing assays, and western blot analysis were performed to determine the role of TMPO-AS1 in GC cells. RNA pull-down, luciferase reporter, and RNA immunoprecipitation assays were used to test the interaction among TMPO-AS1, miR-126-5p, and BRCC3. RESULTS: TMPO-AS1 was highly expressed in GC tissues and cells. Upregulated TMPO-AS1 was closely associated with adverse prognosis of GC patients. Functional assays showed that TMPO-AS1 promoted GC cell proliferation, migration, and angiogenesis. Furthermore, it was found that TMPO-AS1 acted as a competing endogenous RNA for miR-126-5p to upregulate BRCC3 expression. Rescue assays revealed that TMPO-AS1 facilitated cellular progression of GC by sponging miR-126-5p and upregulating BRCC3. In addition, we found that the effects of the TMPO-AS1/miR-126-5p/BRCC3 axis on GC cell progression were related to the PI3K/Akt/mTOR pathway. CONCLUSIONS: Our study demonstrated that the TMPO-AS1/miR-126-5p/BRCC3 axis was involved in GC progression via the regulation of PI3K/Akt/mTOR pathway, which might provide a potential therapeutic strategy for GC.

LncRNA TMPO-AS1 Aggravates the Development of Hepatocellular Carcinoma via miR-429/GOT1 Axis.

BACKGROUND: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), featuring uncontrolled proliferation and migration of tumor cells, is one of the most serious malignancies with high morality. An increasing number of evidences have demonstrated that long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) are involved in the progression of multiple cancers. It has been acknowledged that lncRNA TMPO-AS1 plays an oncogenic role in diverse cancers. METHODS: Reverse transcription­quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) was used to determine the expression of TMPO-AS1, miR-429 and GOT1 in HCC tissues and cell lines. Cell viability, proliferation, apoptosis, and stemness characteristics were detected by Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK-8), colony formation, flow cytometry, sphere formation and western blot assays, separately. The relationship among TMPO-AS1, miR-429 and GOT1 was predicted by starBase database and confirmed using luciferase reporter and RNA pull-down assays. RESULTS: In this study, our findings revealed that TMPO-AS1 expression was upregulated in HCC tissues and cell lines. TMPO-AS1 aggravated HCC progression via promoting cell proliferation, stemness as well as suppressing cell apoptosis. Further, molecular mechanism exploration discovered that TMPO-AS1 functioned as a molecular sponge for miR-429 and GOT1 served as a downstream target gene of miR-429 in HCC. Furthermore, there was a negative relationship between GOT1 and miR-429 as well as a positive correlation between GOT1 and TMPO-AS1 in HCC. Rescue assays suggested that overexpression of GOT1 partially reversed the inhibitory effects of TMPO-AS1 knockdown on HCC progression. CONCLUSIONS: Taken together, these findings indicated that TMPO-AS1 acted as a tumor motivator to expedite HCC progression via targeting miR-429/GOT1 axis, which may provide a fresh treatment strategy for HCC.

LncRNA TMPO-AS1 promotes proliferation and migration in bladder cancer.

OBJECTIVE: This study aims to uncover the in vitro influences of lncRNA TMPO-AS1 on the progression of bladder cancer (BLCA) and the underlying mechanism. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Expression levels of TMPO-AS1 in BLCA tissues and normal bladder tissues were analyzed in The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database. Differential expressions of TMPO-AS1 in BLCA tissues and normal bladder epithelial tissues were detected by quantitative Real Time-Polymerase Chain Reaction (qRT-PCR). Potential influence of TMPO-AS1 on prognosis of BLCA patients was assessed. In vitro influences of TMPO-AS1 on proliferative and migratory abilities in T24 and UMUC-3 cells were evaluated by Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK-8), transwell, and wound healing assay, respectively. Finally, the correlation between TMPO-AS1 and its sense RNA TMPO was assessed by analyzing TCGA database, clinical samples, and BLCA cell lines. RESULTS: By analyzing TCGA database and clinical samples, it was found that TMPO-AS1 was upregulated in BLCA tissues compared with that in normal bladder tissues. Worse survival was observed in BLCA patients with high expression of TMPO-AS1. TMPO-AS1 level was correlated to muscle invasiveness and TNM stage of BLCA patients. In T24 and UMUC-3 cells, the knockdown of TMPO-AS1 suppressed proliferative and migratory abilities. TMPO-AS1 level was positively correlated to that of its sense RNA TMPO. Moreover, the knockdown of TMPO-AS1 downregulated mRNA and protein levels of TMPO in BLCA cells. CONCLUSIONS: TMPO-AS1 is upregulated in BLCA tissue and closely linked to poor prognosis of BLCA patients.

TMPO-AS1 is an independent prognostic factor for patients with laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma.

OBJECTIVE Long noncoding RNA (lncRNAs) are frequently abnormally expressed in tumors and involved in the occurrence and progression of human cancer. Recently, a disease-related lncRNA, TMPO antisense RNA 1 (TMPO-AS1), was identified to be dysregulated in several tumors. Hence, we aimed to demonstrate whether TMPO-AS1 could be a promising prognostic marker for patients with laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma (LSCC). METHODS RT-PCR was performed to test TMPO-AS1 expressions in 187 LSCC specimens compared with matched normal specimens. Chi-squared tests were used to determine the associations between TMPO-AS1 expressions and the clinicopathological characteristics of LSCC patients. Then, the clinical outcome of LSCC patients who had lower or higher TMPO-AS1 expression was analyzed using Kaplan-Meier assays. Finally, a Cox proportional hazards model was carried out to evaluate the prognostic values of TMPO-AS1 and other clinical features. RESULTS We found that TMPO-AS1 was distinctly upregulated in human LSCC tissues compared with corresponding normal specimens (p < 0.01). Higher expressions of TMPO-AS1 were observed to be positively associated with the clinical stage (p = 0.020) and lymph node metastasis (p = 0.027). A clinical study in 187 patients revealed that patients with TMPO-AS1 low expressions had poorer survival than those with TMPO-AS1 high expressions (p = 0.0012). In addition, the result of multivariate assays demonstrated TMPO-AS1 expression is an independent predictor for the overall survival of LSCC patients. CONCLUSIONS TMPO-AS1 might be considered a novel molecule involved in LSCC progression, which provides a possible prognostic biomarker.

TMPO-AS1 is an independent prognostic factor for patients with laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma

SUMMARY OBJECTIVE Long noncoding RNA (lncRNAs) are frequently abnormally expressed in tumors and involved in the occurrence and progression of human cancer. Recently, a disease-related lncRNA, TMPO antisense RNA 1 (TMPO-AS1), was identified to be dysregulated in several tumors. Hence, we aimed to demonstrate whether TMPO-AS1 could be a promising prognostic marker for patients with laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma (LSCC). METHODS RT-PCR was performed to test TMPO-AS1 expressions in 187 LSCC specimens compared with matched normal specimens. Chi-squared tests were used to determine the associations between TMPO-AS1 expressions and the clinicopathological characteristics of LSCC patients. Then, the clinical outcome of LSCC patients who had lower or higher TMPO-AS1 expression was analyzed using Kaplan-Meier assays. Finally, a Cox proportional hazards model was carried out to evaluate the prognostic values of TMPO-AS1 and other clinical features. RESULTS We found that TMPO-AS1 was distinctly upregulated in human LSCC tissues compared with corresponding normal specimens (p < 0.01). Higher expressions of TMPO-AS1 were observed to be positively associated with the clinical stage (p = 0.020) and lymph node metastasis (p = 0.027). A clinical study in 187 patients revealed that patients with TMPO-AS1 low expressions had poorer survival than those with TMPO-AS1 high expressions (p = 0.0012). In addition, the result of multivariate assays demonstrated TMPO-AS1 expression is an independent predictor for the overall survival of LSCC patients. CONCLUSIONS TMPO-AS1 might be considered a novel molecule involved in LSCC progression, which provides a possible prognostic biomarker.

RESUMO OBJETIVO RNAs longos não-codificantes (INcRNAs) são frequentemente expressos anormalmente em tumores e estão envolvidos na ocorrência e progressão do câncer humano. Recentemente, um INcRNA relacionado com a doença, o TMPO antisense RNA 1 (TMPO-AS1), foi identificado como desregulado em vários tumores. Por isso, procuramos demonstrar se o TMPO-AS1 poderia ser um marcador de prognóstico promissor para pacientes com carcinoma de células escamosas da laringe (LSCC). MÉTODOS RT-PCR foi realizado para medir as expressões do TMPO-AS1 em 187 espécimes de LSCC em comparação com espécimes normais correspondentes. Foram utilizados testes Qui-quadrado para determinar as associações entre as expressões do TMPO-AS1 e as características clínicas dos pacientes com LSCC. Em seguida, o desfecho clínico dos pacientes com LSCC que tinham uma expressão do TMPO-AS1 inferior ou superior foi analisado com ensaios Kaplan-Meier. Por último, o modelo de riscos proporcionais de Cox foi utilizado para avaliar o valor prognóstico do TMPO-AS1 e outras características clínicas. RESULTADOS Observamos que o TMPO-AS1 estava claramente super-regulado nos tecidos de LSCC humanos em comparação com os espécimes normais correspondentes (p<0,01). Expressões mais elevadas de TMPO-AS1 estavam positivamente associadas ao estágio clínico (p=0,020) e à metástase linfática (p=0,027). Um estudo clínico com 187 pacientes revelou que aqueles com expressões mais baixas de TMPO-AS1 tiveram uma sobrevida pior do que aqueles com expressões elevadas de TMPO-AS1 (p=0,0012). Além disso, o resultado de ensaios multivariados demonstrou que a expressão do TMPO-AS1 é um preditor independente para a sobrevida global de pacientes com LSCC. CONCLUSÕES TMPO-AS1 pode ser considerado uma molécula nova envolvida na progressão do LSCC, o que proporciona um possível biomarcador de prognóstico.

LncRNA TMPO-AS1 up-regulates the expression of HIF-1α and promotes the malignant phenotypes of retinoblastoma cells via sponging miR-199a-5p.

BACKGROUND: Long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) TMPO antisense RNA 1 (TMPO-AS1) is reported to be oncogenic in prostate cancer and lung cancer. This study aims to investigate the expression and biological function of it in retinoblastoma (RB), and explore its regulatory role for miR-199a-5p and hypoxia-inducible factor-1α (HIF-1α). METHODS: Paired RB samples were collected, and the expression levels of TMPO-AS1, miR-199a-5p and HIF-1α were examined by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR); TMPO-AS1 overexpressing plasmids and TMPO-AS1 shRNA were transfected into HXO-RB44 and SO-Rb50 cell lines respectively, and then proliferation, migration and invasion of RB cells were detected by CCK-8 assay and Transwell method. qRT-PCR and western blot were used to analyze the regulatory function of TMPO-AS1 on miR-199a-5p and HIF-1α; luciferase reporter gene assay was used to determine the regulatory relationship between miR-199a-5p and TMPO-AS1. RESULTS: TMPO-AS1 was significantly up-regulated in cancerous tissues of RB samples (relatively expression: 2.97 vs 3.93, p < 0.001), negatively correlated with miR-199a-5p (r=-0.4813, p < 0.01). There was one binding site on TMPO-AS1 for miR-199a-5p. After transfection of TMPO-AS1 shRNAs into RB cells, the proliferation, migration and invasion of cancer cells was significantly inhibited, while TMPO-AS1 had opposite effects; TMPO-AS1 was also demonstrated to regulate the expression of HIF-1α on both mRNA and protein levels via negatively regulating miR-199a-5p. CONCLUSION: TMPO-AS1 is abnormally up-regulated in RB tissues, and it can modulate the proliferation and migration of RB cells. It has the potential to be the "ceRNA" to regulate HIF-1α expression by sponging miR-199a-5p.

TMPO-AS1/miR-98-5p/EBF1 feedback loop contributes to the progression of bladder cancer.

As reported in numerous studies, long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) exert significant effect on the regulation of tumor development. LncRNA TMPO antisense RNA 1 (TMPO-AS1) has been confirmed to be implicated in the development of several cancers. However, its clinical significance is still largely unknown in bladder cancer (BCa). In this study, high expression of TMPO-AS1 was revealed in BCa tissues and cell lines, and TMPO-AS1 predicted poor prognosis. Moreover, TMPO-AS1 facilitated cell growth. Additionally, TMPO-AS1 also boosted the migration and invasion of BCa cells. Mechanistically, overexpressed EBF transcription factor 1 (EBF1) in BCa cell was verified to promote the transcription of TMPO-AS1. Later, we found that TMPO-AS1 was a cytoplasmic RNA and could sponge miR-98-5p. Besides, it was validated that EBF1 is a target gene of miR-98-5p and negatively correlated with miR-98-5p in terms of expression level. According to the results of rescue experiments, we observed that EBF1 overexpression restored the repressive effect of TMPO-AS1 silencing on BCa development. Our research is the first to disclose the biological role and molecular mechanism of TMPO-AS1 in BCa, and TMPO-AS1 might be identified as a new therapeutic target for BCa patients.