Review
Neurosciences
Steven G. Fagan, Mark Helm, Jochen H. M. Prehn
Summary: tsRNA is a recently identified family of non-coding RNA that regulate various cellular functions in the nervous system, including stress responses, proteostasis, and neuronal survival during disease processes. Mutations to tRNA cleaving and modifying enzymes have been associated with several neurodegenerative disorders, and tsRNA levels in blood are emerging as biomarkers for neurological diseases.
PROGRESS IN NEUROBIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Engineering, Aerospace
Hao Bai, Tongshan Zhang, Jufang Wang, Junrui Hua, Wenjun Wei
Summary: Space radiation, particularly heavy ions in cosmic rays, can cause serious DNA damage and potential carcinogenesis. Recent research identified new proteins, miRNAs, and tRNA fragments in serum as potential early biomarkers for exposure to heavy ions, which could be valuable for dose reconstruction and risk assessment in deep space exploration.
Article
Endocrinology & Metabolism
N. Ng, H. A. Y. Gibriel, L. Halang, E. Jirstrom, J. A. Ioana, M. Burke, M. M. Byrne, J. H. M. Prehn
Summary: This study investigated the levels of tiRNA 5'ValCAC (alone and in combination with miR-23b-3p) in serum samples from healthy controls, type 1 diabetes, type 2 diabetes, and MIDD subjects. The results showed reduced levels of 5'ValCAC in MIDD and type 2 diabetes subjects compared to controls, and higher levels of miR-23b-3p in type 2 diabetes subjects. Receiver Operating Characteristic analysis demonstrated the potential of 5'ValCAC and miR-23b-3p as MIDD biomarkers, with the combination showing excellent separation from type 2 diabetes subjects.
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Mai-Huong Thi Nguyen, Yueh-Hsia Luo, An-Lun Li, Jen-Chieh Tsai, Kun-Lin Wu, Pei-Jung Chung, Nianhan Ma
Summary: Immune checkpoint inhibitors show promise in cancer treatment, but resistance in melanoma patients hinders their effectiveness. Recent studies explore the role of miRNAs in immune response and tumor microenvironment, suggesting their potential as key players in immunotherapy.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Michal Marczyk, Joanna Polanska, Andrzej Wojcik, Lovisa Lundholm
Summary: This study aimed to test miRNA biomarkers in leukocytes of breast cancer patients undergoing external beam radiotherapy. The results showed that while miR-744-5p showed promise as a stable miRNA marker, most tested miRNAs displayed individual signal variability and temporal patterns, potentially excluding them as sensitive biomarkers of radiation response in this setting.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2021)
Article
Medicine, Research & Experimental
Mohadeseh Fathi, Soudeh Ghafouri-Fard, Atefe Abak, Mohammad Taheri
Summary: Pancreatic cancer is a deadly disease with genetic aberrations and epigenetic alterations playing a role in its development. Certain miRNAs act as oncomiRs, promoting cell proliferation, while others function as tumor suppressors, regulating cell growth and cycle transitions. The use of miRNAs as non-invasive markers for diagnosing and prognosticating pancreatic cancer shows promise in research.
BIOMEDICINE & PHARMACOTHERAPY
(2021)
Article
Endocrinology & Metabolism
Agnieszka Bielska, Magdalena Niemira, Witold Bauer, Iwona Sidorkiewicz, Anna Szalkowska, Anna Skwarska, Justyna Raczkowska, Damian Ostrowski, Kamil Gugala, Slawomir Dobrzycki, Adam Kretowski
Summary: The increasing morbidity and mortality of type 2 diabetic mellitus (T2DM) patients with ischemic heart disease (IHD) highlight the urgent need to identify early biomarkers for IHD development in diabetic individuals. This study suggests that circulating serum-derived micro RNAs (miRNAs) may serve as potential biomarkers for early diagnosis of IHD in T2DM patients. Six miRNAs were significantly upregulated in T2DM IHD patients and were associated with multiple signaling pathways. These miRNAs showed high diagnostic value, indicating their potential as biomarkers for early IHD detection in diabetic patients.
FRONTIERS IN ENDOCRINOLOGY
(2022)
Review
Immunology
Soudeh Ghafouri-Fard, Tayyebeh Khoshbakht, Bashdar Mahmud Hussen, Mohammad Taheri, Normohammad Arefian
Summary: Sepsis results from inflammatory response to microbial agents and can lead to multiple organ system failure. Non-coding RNAs such as lncRNAs, miRNAs, and circRNAs have been found to play a role in the pathogenesis of sepsis-related complications.
FRONTIERS IN IMMUNOLOGY
(2021)
Review
Immunology
Soudeh Ghafouri-Fard, Yadollah Poornajaf, Farzaneh Dashti, Bashdar Mahmud Hussen, Mohammad Taheri, Elena Jamali
Summary: Interferons (IFNs) are essential proteins in regulating immune responses during microbial infections and have significant roles in autoimmune disorders. Non-coding RNAs can influence the expression and activities of IFNs, particularly in the context of cancer. Additionally, non-coding RNAs may contribute to the pathogenesis of various diseases, including neuropsychiatric conditions and systemic sclerosis.
FRONTIERS IN IMMUNOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Biology
Chao Li, Peng Dou, Tianxiang Wang, Xin Lu, Guowang Xu, Xiaohui Lin
Summary: Studying miRNA synergy and identifying miRNA synergistic modules can help understand complex diseases such as cancers. A new method called DDRM combines knowledge databases and miRNA data to define disease-related modules and construct a weighted miRNA synergistic network. Experiments on TCGA datasets showed that DDRM can accurately distinguish cancer samples from normal samples and outperforms previous methods. Validation on prostate cancer data also demonstrated superior performance. Hence, combining miRNA synergy networks and miRNA data is significant for studying disease mechanisms.
COMPUTERS IN BIOLOGY AND MEDICINE
(2023)
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Jacek Kabzinski, Monika Maczynska, Ireneusz Majsterek
Summary: This article discusses the potential use of microRNAs in the diagnosis of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma, highlighting their application in radiotherapy and immunotherapy, as well as addressing the challenges and future research directions in developing this promising technology.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Prasenjit Mitra, Taru Goyal, Preeti Singh, Shailja Sharma, Praveen Sharma
Summary: The study found that miR-155 and miR-221 were significantly upregulated in occupationally lead-exposed workers, while miR-20b showed no significant difference. These miRNAs have the potential to trigger various genes and cellular pathways, highlighting the importance of miRNA dysregulation in the systemic effects of lead toxicity.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH
(2021)
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Agnieszka Bielska, Magdalena Niemira, Adam Kretowski
Summary: Type 2 diabetes and its complications pose a serious threat to patients' life and health worldwide, especially vascular complications. MicroRNAs are considered potential biomarkers for detecting diabetes-related complications and may facilitate the development of more effective therapeutic approaches.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Jiung-Pang Huang, Chih-Chun Chang, Chao-Yu Kuo, Kuang-Jing Huang, Etienne M. Sokal, Kuan-Hsing Chen, Li-Man Hung
Summary: EXO-miRNAs have the potential to be used as biomarkers for diabetic HFpEF. The study found that miR-30d-5p and miR-126a-5p were associated with HFpEF, and may be important for the development of diagnostic tools for diabetic HFpEF.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2022)
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Raphael Mohr, Burcin Oezdirik, Joeri Lambrecht, Muenevver Demir, Johannes Eschrich, Lukas Geisler, Teresa Hellberg, Sven H. Loosen, Tom Luedde, Frank Tacke, Linda Hammerich, Christoph Roderburg
Summary: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is commonly developed from chronic liver injury progressing to liver cirrhosis. The role of non-coding RNA, such as microRNA (miRNA), has been demonstrated in chronic liver diseases and HCC, showing potential as therapeutics and biomarkers.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2021)
Article
Oncology
Doron Tolomeo, Debora Traversa, Santina Venuto, Karoline K. Ebbesen, Juan L. Garcia Rodriguez, Grazia Tamma, Marianna Ranieri, Giorgia Simonetti, Martina Ghetti, Matteo Paganelli, Grazia Visci, Arcangelo Liso, Klaas Kok, Lucia Anna Muscarella, Federico Pio Fabrizio, Maria Antonia Frassanito, Aurelia Lamanuzzi, Ilaria Saltarella, Antonio Giovanni Solimando, Alessandro Fatica, Zaira Ianniello, Rene Massimiliano Marsano, Antonio Palazzo, Amalia Azzariti, Vito Longo, Stefania Tommasi, Domenico Galetta, Annamaria Catino, Alfredo Zito, Tommaso Mazza, Alessandro Napoli, Giovanni Martinelli, Jorgen Kjems, Lasse Sommer Kristensen, Angelo Vacca, Clelia Tiziana Storlazzi
Summary: Small cell lung cancer (SCLC) is a heterogeneous disease characterized by distinct molecular subtypes. The amplification of MYC oncogene in SCLC is associated with different histological classes. Circular (circRNA) and chimeric RNAs derived from the co-amplified PVT1 gene were found to have a functional role in SCLC, promoting cell growth and preventing apoptosis. These PVT1 transcripts also showed a connection between MYC and YAP1/POU2F3, contributing to the transcriptional landscape of MYC-amplified tumors. These findings suggest that circular and chimeric PVT1 transcripts could serve as novel biomarkers for MYC-amplified SCLC.
GENES CHROMOSOMES & CANCER
(2023)
Article
Oncology
Christoffer T. Maansson, Sofie Helstrup, Eva B. F. Ebert, Peter Meldgaard, Boe S. Sorensen
Summary: This study discovers novel circulating biomarkers that can predict the overall survival after progressive disease (PD) on osimertinib treatment in non-small-cell lung cancer patients with EGFR mutations. The altered expression of immune system-related proteins at PD provides insight into osimertinib resistance.
TRANSLATIONAL LUNG CANCER RESEARCH
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Xialin Zhang, Nicole Stephanie Galenkamp, Nieck Jordy van der Heide, Giovanni Maglia, Jorgen Kjems, Julian Moreno
Summary: Nanopores functionalized with different nanobodies show great potential for stochastic sensing of proteins. They can detect Spike protein, HER2 receptor, and muPA protein through reversible blockade events or larger blockage signals, enabling the clinical detection of protein biomarkers.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Claudia Catapano, Johanna V. Rahm, Marjan Omer, Laura Teodori, Jorgen Kjems, Marina S. Dietz, Mike Heilemann
Summary: HER2 belongs to the ErbB sub-family of receptor tyrosine kinases and is activated through heterodimerization with other ErbB receptors. This study found that HER2 is strongly activated by EGFR-targeting ligands EGF and TGFa, with a distinguishable temporal fingerprint. HER4-targeting ligands EREG and NRG beta 1 showed weaker activation of HER2, with a preference for EREG and a delayed response to NRG beta 1.
CELLULAR AND MOLECULAR LIFE SCIENCES
(2023)
Article
Immunology
Dirk Reinhold, Vadim Farztdinov, Yan Yan, Christian Meisel, Henrik Sadlowski, Joachim Kuehn, Frank H. Perschel, Matthias Endres, Emrah Duezel, Stefan Vielhaber, Karina Guttek, Alexander Goihl, Morten Veno, Bianca Teegen, Winfried Stoecker, Paula Stubbemann, Florian Kurth, Leif E. Sander, Markus Ralser, Carolin Otto, Simon Streit, Sven Jarius, Klemens Ruprecht, Helena Radbruch, Jorgen Kjems, Michael Muelleder, Frank Heppner, Peter Koertvelyessy
Summary: Patients with COVID-19 may experience various neurological symptoms, but the role of the central nervous system (CNS) in COVID-19 is still unclear. The inflammatory response in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of COVID-19 patients was studied, and it was found that there were attenuated inflammatory changes compared to patients with herpes simplex virus encephalitis (HSVE). The inflammatory mediators in the CSF of COVID-19 patients were likely derived from the systemic circulation rather than produced within the CNS. Further investigation is needed to understand the relevance of blood-derived mediators of inflammation in the CSF for neurological COVID-19 and post-COVID-19 symptoms.
JOURNAL OF NEUROINFLAMMATION
(2023)
Article
Oncology
Eileen Wedge, Ulvi Ahmadov, Thomas B. Hansen, Zongliang Gao, Morten Tulstrup, Christophe Come, Sridhar Nonavinkere Srivatsan, Tanzir Ahmed, Jakob S. Jespersen, Balthasar C. Schlotmann, Claudia Schollkopf, Klas Raaschou-Jensen, Niels Odum, Jorgen Kjems, Rasmus O. Bak, Matthew J. Walter, Kirsten Gronbaek, Lasse S. Kristensen
Summary: Mutations in the U2AF1 gene are associated with a higher occurrence of myelodysplastic neoplasms (MDS) and a worse prognosis, but the exact molecular mechanisms are not fully understood. This study found that U2AF1 mutations may impact circRNA production, leading to increased cancer development. Increased circRNA expression levels were observed in cells and patient samples with U2AF1 mutations, suggesting a potential role of circRNA as a biomarker and therapeutic target in MDS.
Article
Oncology
Judit Kisistok, Ditte Sigaard Christensen, Mads Heilskov Rasmussen, Lone Duval, Ninna Aggerholm-Pedersen, Adam Andrzej Luczak, Boe Sandahl Sorensen, Martin Roelsgaard Jakobsen, Trine Heide Oellegaard, Nicolai Juul Birkbak
Summary: Immunotherapy has dramatically improved the treatment outcomes for metastatic melanoma patients, but it also brings immune-related adverse events. Identifying nonresponding patients early is crucial, and this study explores the use of circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) analysis as a minimally invasive tool. In a cohort of 24 melanoma patients, the presence of ctDNA was associated with poor prognosis, suggesting its potential to be used in clinical practice.
Article
Neurosciences
Sabine Seeler, Maria Schertz Andersen, Tamas Sztanka-Toth, Mateja Rybiczka-Tesulov, Marleen H. van den Munkhof, Chi-Chih Chang, Muyesier Maimaitili, Morten Trillingsgaard Veno, Thomas Birkballe Hansen, R. Jeroen Pasterkamp, Agnieszka Rybak-Wolf, Mark Denham, Nikolaus Rajewsky, Lasse Sommer Kristensen, Jorgen Kjems
Summary: Using RNA-sequencing, this study reveals that circRNA levels significantly increase during the differentiation of human embryonic stem cells into neural progenitor cells. Knockdown of circFAT3 leads to transcriptional alterations and loss of specific cell types in cerebral organoids. Depletion of circFAT3 in mouse prefrontal cortex affects the positioning of electroporated cells. These findings highlight the important role of circFAT3 in neural development.
MOLECULAR NEUROBIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Oncology
Christoffer Trier Maansson, Peter Meldgaard, Magnus Stougaard, Anders Lade Nielsen, Boe Sandahl Sorensen
Summary: Cell-free chromatin immunoprecipitation (cfChIP) of H3K36me3-modified nucleosomes in blood plasma can be used to determine tumor gene expression levels. In this study, cfChIP-seq was performed on blood plasma samples from lung cancer patients and healthy controls. The results showed increased enrichment of mutated alleles in plasma from patients with somatic cancer mutations, and concordant H3K36me3 cfChIP enrichment profiles in different lung cancer types. These findings demonstrate the utility of cfDNA in liquid biopsies for characterizing cancer and predicting disease progression.
MOLECULAR ONCOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Oncology
Trine V. Larsen, Nina Dybdal, Tina F. Daugaard, Johanne Lade-Keller, Lin Lin, Boe S. Sorensen, Anders L. Nielsen
Summary: This study investigates the role of PD-L1 DNA methylation in regulating and predicting PD-L1 expression in non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients undergoing immunotherapy. The analysis of tumor biopsies and cell lines reveals that PD-L1 DNA methylation status influences its expression. However, the correlation between methylation and expression is weak in NSCLC tumor samples. This study emphasizes the importance of further research to improve the effectiveness of PD-1/PD-L1 immunotherapy in NSCLC.
Article
Oncology
Simone Stensgaard, Astrid Thomsen, Sofie Helstrup, Peter Meldgaard, Boe S. Sorensen
Summary: In this study, the researchers investigated whether circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) could predict response to pembrolizumab in patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). The results showed that high blood tumor mutational burden (bTMB) was associated with longer progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS). Moreover, an increase in ctDNA levels after treatment initiation was significantly correlated with inferior survival.
TRANSLATIONAL LUNG CANCER RESEARCH
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Biomedical
Sadegh Ghorbani, Annette Christine Fuchtbauer, Andreas Mollebjerg, Pia Moller Martensen, Sara Hvidbjerg Laursen, David Christian Evar Kraft, Jorgen Kjems, Rikke Louise Meyer, Karim Rahimi, Morten Foss, Ernst-Martin Fuchtbauer, Duncan S. Sutherland
Summary: Biochemical and biomechanical signals in the niche environments regulate stem cell function. A study compared in vitro signals from LN-511 and/or topographic cues to maintain stemness in mESCs. The integration of LN-511 with nanotopography decreased colony growth but maintained stemness markers, suggesting the antagonistic effect of combining biochemical and topographic signals. Faster colony growth was observed at nanotopographies without LN-511, indicating improved ESC expansion.
Article
Oncology
Juan L. Garcia-Rodriguez, Ulrik Korsgaard, Ulvi Ahmadov, Morten T. Jarlstad Olesen, Kim-Gwendolyn Dietrich, Emma B. Hansen, Stine M. Vissing, Benedichte P. Ulhoi, Lars Dyrskjot, Karina D. Sorensen, Jorgen Kjems, Henrik Hager, Lasse S. Kristensen
Summary: The abundance of circRNAs varies systematically between subcompartments of solid tumors and adjacent tissues, suggesting that differentially expressed circRNAs may reflect differences in cell type composition. These findings highlight the limitations of bulk tissue analyses and emphasize the need for spatial analysis in cancer research.
Article
Oncology
Sara Bonlokke, Torben Steiniche, Boe Sandahl Sorensen, Gitte-Bettina Nyvang, Jacob Christian Lindegaard, Jan Blaakaer, Jesper Bertelsen, Katrine Fuglsang, Mikael Lenz Strube, Suzan Lenz, Magnus Stougaard
Summary: This study demonstrates the association between circulating cell-free HPV DNA (ccfHPV) and disease severity in cervical cancer. HPV integration status is also correlated with viral load and survival. The findings suggest that ccfHPV presence may contribute to the identification of patients suitable for adjuvant oncological therapy.
MOLECULAR ONCOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Oncology
Simone Stensgaard, Astrid Thomsen, Sofie Helstrup, Peter Meldgaard, Boe S. Sorensen
Summary: This study investigated the predictive value of circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) in response to pembrolizumab treatment for non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients. The study found that high blood tumor mutational burden (bTMB) was associated with longer progression-free survival and overall survival. Additionally, an increase in ctDNA levels after treatment initiation was significantly correlated with inferior survival.
TRANSLATIONAL LUNG CANCER RESEARCH
(2023)