The long non-coding RNA HOTAIRM1 promotes tumor aggressiveness and radiotherapy resistance in glioblastoma

Glioblastoma is the most common malignant primary brain tumor. To date, clinically relevant biomarkers are restricted to isocitrate dehydrogenase (IDH) gene 1 or 2 mutations and O6-methylguanine DNA methyltransferase (MGMT) promoter methylation. Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) have been shown to contribute to glioblastoma pathogenesis and could potentially serve as novel biomarkers. The clinical significance of HOXA Transcript Antisense RNA, Myeloid-Specific 1 (HOTAIRM1) was determined by analyzing HOTAIRM1 in multiple glioblastoma gene expression data sets for associations with prognosis, as well as, IDH mutation and MGMT promoter methylation status. Finally, the role of HOTAIRM1 in glioblastoma biology and radiotherapy resistance was characterized in vitro and in vivo. We identified HOTAIRM1 as a candidate lncRNA whose up-regulation is significantly associated with shorter survival of glioblastoma patients, independent from IDH mutation and MGMT promoter methylation. Glioblastoma cell line models uniformly showed reduced cell viability, decreased invasive growth and diminished colony formation capacity upon HOTAIRM1 down-regulation. Integrated proteogenomic analyses revealed impaired mitochondrial function and determination of reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels confirmed increased ROS levels upon HOTAIRM1 knock-down. HOTAIRM1 knock-down decreased expression of transglutaminase 2 (TGM2), a candidate protein implicated in mitochondrial function, and knock-down of TGM2 mimicked the phenotype of HOTAIRM1 down-regulation in glioblastoma cells. Moreover, HOTAIRM1 modulates radiosensitivity of glioblastoma cells both in vitro and in vivo. Our data support a role for HOTAIRM1 as a driver of biological aggressiveness, radioresistance and poor outcome in glioblastoma. Targeting HOTAIRM1 may be a promising new therapeutic approach

İnsanda apoptozu düzenleyen uzun kodlanmayan RNA'ların belirlenmesi

Thesis (Master)--Izmir Institute of Technology, Molecular Biology and Genetics, Izmir, 2015Includes bibliographical references (leaves: 41-57)Text in English; Abstract: Turkish and Englishix, 57 leavesApoptosis is essential for cellular homeostasis and normal development. Aberrant apoptosis (too much or too less) is associated with many important diseases such as autoimmune diseases and cancer. Studies have led to the identification of a number of proteins and microRNAs involved in the regulation of apoptosis. However, the role of long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) is still unclear. In this study, two cancer therapeutics drugs, cisplatin and doxorubicin, and two ligands, Fas mAb and TNF-alpha, were used in identification of differentially expressed pathway-drug specific and/or global lncRNAs in apoptotic HeLa cells. Following dose-kinetics experiments the level of apoptosis was measured by Flow Cytometry and was further verified by Fluorescence Microscopy and Western Blotting via measurement of Caspase 3, 8 and 9 protein levels. Three replicates of total RNAs (control and drug/ligand-treated cells) were sent to deepsequencing using the Illumina platform. The resulting reads matched to the human genome greater than 95%. Under our experimental setting, treatments with cisplatin, doxorubicin, Fas mAb and TNF-alpha led to the differential expression of 1644, 506, 584 and 807 lncRNAs, respectively (2-fold or higher, P < 0.01). Two of identified lncRNAs common for all inducers was in antisense position to TRAIL-R2 receptor and FasR associated factor which play directly in apoptosis. Results suggest that many lncRNAs are differentially expressed upon treatment with the indicated agents. Functional characterization of candidates might provide an interesting insight into regulation of apoptosis.Hücre içi homeostazinin sağlanması açısından çok önemli olan apoptoz normal gelişimin yanı sıra otoimmun ve kanser gibi önemli hastalıklarla da bağlantılıdır. Biyokimyasal ve genetik analizler sonucu apoptozun kontrol mekanizmasında görev alan bir dizi protein ve mikroRNA’lar belirlenmiştir. Post-genomik çağdaki son çalışmalar genomda bir dönem ‘çöp’ DNA olarak belirlenen bölgelerden çok sayıda uzun kodlanmayan RNA’ların (ukmRNA) keşfine yol açmıştır. Bu çalışmada, apoptozun tetiklendiği HeLa hücrelerinde farklı ifade edilen ukmRNA’ların belirlenebilmesi için iki anti-kanser ilaç, sisplatin ve doksorubisin, ve iki ligant, TNFalpha ve Fas monoklonal antikoru, kullanılmıştır. Doz - ve zaman - kinetik deneylerini müteakip apoptoz seviyesi akış sitometresiyle ölçülmüş ve floresan mikroskopuyla sonuçlar teyit edilmiştir. Apoptozun tetiklendiğini doğrulamak için biyokimyasal olarak kaspaz 3, 8 ve 9 proteinlerinin seviyeleri ölçüldü. İllumina platformunu kullanarak derin sekans analizi yapabilmek için kontrol ve ilaç ile muamele edilmiş hücrelerden üçer replika toplam RNA örnekleri elde edildi. Sekans sırasında örnekler insan genomu ile %95 eşleşmiştir. Doksorubisin, sisplatin, TNFalpha ve Fas monoklonal antikoru muamelesi hücrelerde sırası ile 1644, 506, 584 and 807 adet ukmRNA’nın farklı ifade edilmesine neden olmuştur (an ez 2 kat, P < 0.05). Tüm ilaç muamelerinde ortak olarak faklı ifade edilen ukmRNA’lardan ikisi apoptozda önemli rol oynayan TRAIL-R2 reseptör ve FasR reseptöre bağlı öğe 1’ye (FAF1) antisens olarak bulunmuştur. Deneysel şartlarımız çerçevesinde sonuçlar ukmRNA’ların yukarıda belirtilmiş ilaçla muamele sırasında farklı ifade edildiğini göstermektedir. Adayların fonksiyonel karakterizasyonu ukmRNA’ların apoptozdaki rollerinin moleküler düzeyde anlaşılmasına yardımcı olacaktır

İnsanda apoptozu düzenleyen uzun kodlanmayan RNA'ların belirlenmesi

Thesis (Master)--Izmir Institute of Technology, Molecular Biology and Genetics, Izmir, 2015Includes bibliographical references (leaves: 41-57)Text in English; Abstract: Turkish and Englishix, 57 leavesApoptosis is essential for cellular homeostasis and normal development. Aberrant apoptosis (too much or too less) is associated with many important diseases such as autoimmune diseases and cancer. Studies have led to the identification of a number of proteins and microRNAs involved in the regulation of apoptosis. However, the role of long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) is still unclear. In this study, two cancer therapeutics drugs, cisplatin and doxorubicin, and two ligands, Fas mAb and TNF-alpha, were used in identification of differentially expressed pathway-drug specific and/or global lncRNAs in apoptotic HeLa cells. Following dose-kinetics experiments the level of apoptosis was measured by Flow Cytometry and was further verified by Fluorescence Microscopy and Western Blotting via measurement of Caspase 3, 8 and 9 protein levels. Three replicates of total RNAs (control and drug/ligand-treated cells) were sent to deepsequencing using the Illumina platform. The resulting reads matched to the human genome greater than 95%. Under our experimental setting, treatments with cisplatin, doxorubicin, Fas mAb and TNF-alpha led to the differential expression of 1644, 506, 584 and 807 lncRNAs, respectively (2-fold or higher, P < 0.01). Two of identified lncRNAs common for all inducers was in antisense position to TRAIL-R2 receptor and FasR associated factor which play directly in apoptosis. Results suggest that many lncRNAs are differentially expressed upon treatment with the indicated agents. Functional characterization of candidates might provide an interesting insight into regulation of apoptosis.Hücre içi homeostazinin sağlanması açısından çok önemli olan apoptoz normal gelişimin yanı sıra otoimmun ve kanser gibi önemli hastalıklarla da bağlantılıdır. Biyokimyasal ve genetik analizler sonucu apoptozun kontrol mekanizmasında görev alan bir dizi protein ve mikroRNA’lar belirlenmiştir. Post-genomik çağdaki son çalışmalar genomda bir dönem ‘çöp’ DNA olarak belirlenen bölgelerden çok sayıda uzun kodlanmayan RNA’ların (ukmRNA) keşfine yol açmıştır. Bu çalışmada, apoptozun tetiklendiği HeLa hücrelerinde farklı ifade edilen ukmRNA’ların belirlenebilmesi için iki anti-kanser ilaç, sisplatin ve doksorubisin, ve iki ligant, TNFalpha ve Fas monoklonal antikoru, kullanılmıştır. Doz - ve zaman - kinetik deneylerini müteakip apoptoz seviyesi akış sitometresiyle ölçülmüş ve floresan mikroskopuyla sonuçlar teyit edilmiştir. Apoptozun tetiklendiğini doğrulamak için biyokimyasal olarak kaspaz 3, 8 ve 9 proteinlerinin seviyeleri ölçüldü. İllumina platformunu kullanarak derin sekans analizi yapabilmek için kontrol ve ilaç ile muamele edilmiş hücrelerden üçer replika toplam RNA örnekleri elde edildi. Sekans sırasında örnekler insan genomu ile %95 eşleşmiştir. Doksorubisin, sisplatin, TNFalpha ve Fas monoklonal antikoru muamelesi hücrelerde sırası ile 1644, 506, 584 and 807 adet ukmRNA’nın farklı ifade edilmesine neden olmuştur (an ez 2 kat, P < 0.05). Tüm ilaç muamelerinde ortak olarak faklı ifade edilen ukmRNA’lardan ikisi apoptozda önemli rol oynayan TRAIL-R2 reseptör ve FasR reseptöre bağlı öğe 1’ye (FAF1) antisens olarak bulunmuştur. Deneysel şartlarımız çerçevesinde sonuçlar ukmRNA’ların yukarıda belirtilmiş ilaçla muamele sırasında farklı ifade edildiğini göstermektedir. Adayların fonksiyonel karakterizasyonu ukmRNA’ların apoptozdaki rollerinin moleküler düzeyde anlaşılmasına yardımcı olacaktır

Structural budget balances in oil-rich countries: The cases of Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, and Russia

This study aims to analyse the discretionary fiscal policy of Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, and Russia for the period 2003-2015 using the structural budget balance (SBB). The SBB considers the permanent component of oil revenue and therefore clearly defines the discretionary fiscal position and the aggregate demand effect of fiscal policy. The SBBs in Azerbaijan and Russia experience a deficit for most of the analysed period. A moderate SBB surplus is observed in Kazakhstan. The estimated SBBs also demonstrate that fiscal policies tend to be mainly procyclical in Kazakhstan and Russia. Azerbaijan conducted a counter-cyclical fiscal policy for half of the investigated period. Moreover, governments placed more importance on economic stabilization in 2009 due to the global financial crisis

Transcriptomics Profiling Identifies Cisplatin-Inducible Death Receptor 5 Antisense Long Non-coding RNA as a Modulator of Proliferation and Metastasis in HeLa Cells

Cisplatin is a well-known cancer chemotherapeutic agent but how extensively long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) expression is modulated by cisplatin is unknown. It is imperative to employ a comprehensive approach to obtain a better account of cisplatin-mediated changes in the expression of lncRNAs. In this study, we used a transcriptomics approach to profile lncRNAs in cisplatin-treated HeLa cells, which resulted in identification of 10,214 differentially expressed lncRNAs, of which 2,500 were antisense lncRNAs. For functional analyses, we knocked down one of the cisplatin inducible lncRNAs, death receptor 5 antisense (DR5-AS) lncRNA, which resulted in a morphological change in HeLa cell shape without inducing any cell death. A second round of transcriptomics-based profiling revealed differential expression of genes associated with immune system, motility and cell cycle in DR5-AS knockdown HeLa cells. Cellular analyses showed that DR5-AS reduced cell proliferation and caused a cell cycle arrest at S and G2/M phases. Moreover, DR5-AS knockdown reduced the invasive capacity of HeLa cells in zebrafish xenograft model. These results suggest that cisplatin-mediated pleiotropic effects, such as reduction in cell proliferation, metastasis and cell cycle arrest, may be mediated by lncRNAs

Supplementary Fig. 5 from Spatial Profiling of Circular RNAs in Cancer Reveals High Expression in Muscle and Stromal Cells

Analysis of Ki67 staining on colon adenocarcinoma and adjacent normal tissue sections. Representative Ki67 staining from tumor (left) and adjacent normal (right) tissues from the five patients’ samples subjected to the analysis. Positive staining is visible as brown color. In the tumor tissues, Ki67 is clearly present in the cancer cells and in some cells in the tumor stroma. In the normal tissue sections, the positive staining is found at the bottom of the crypts in the epithelium whereas no staining is detected in the mucosa and muscle sub-compartments.</p