Takahashi Kenji, Taniue Kenzui, Ono Yusuke, Fujiya Mikihiro, Mizukami Yusuke, Okumura Toshikatsu
Division of Metabolism and Biosystemic Science, Gastroenterology and Hematology/Oncology, Department of Medicine, Asahikawa Medical University, Asahikawa, Japan.
Isotope Science Center, The University of Tokyo, Bunkyo, Japan.
Front Mol Biosci. 2021 Nov 8;8:717890. doi: 10.3389/fmolb.2021.717890. eCollection 2021.
Non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs), or RNA molecules that do not code for proteins, are generally categorized as either small or long ncRNA (lncRNA) and are involved in the pathogenesis of several diseases including many cancers. Identification of a large number of ncRNAs could help to elucidate previously unknown mechanisms in phenotype regulation. Some ncRNAs are encapsulated by extracellular vesicles (EVs) and transferred to recipient cells to regulate cellular processes, including epigenetic and post-transcriptional regulations. Recent studies have uncovered novel molecular mechanisms and functions of lncRNAs in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC), one of the most intractable cancers that is highly invasive and metastatic. As the epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) triggers tumor cell invasion and migration, clarification of the roles of lncRNA in EMT and tumor cell stemness would be critical for improving diagnostic and therapeutic approaches in metastatic cancers. This review provides an overview of relevant studies on lncRNA and its involvement with EMT in PDAC. Emerging knowledge offers evidence for the dysregulated expression of lncRNAs and essential insights into the potential contribution of both lncRNAs and EVs in the pathogenesis of PDAC. Future directions and new clinical applications for PDAC are also discussed.
非编码RNA（ncRNAs），即不编码蛋白质的RNA分子，通常被分类为小非编码RNA或长链非编码RNA（lncRNA），并参与包括多种癌症在内的多种疾病的发病机制。大量ncRNAs的鉴定有助于阐明表型调控中以前未知的机制。一些ncRNAs被细胞外囊泡（EVs）包裹并转移到受体细胞中，以调节细胞过程，包括表观遗传和转录后调控。最近的研究揭示了lncRNAs在胰腺导管腺癌（PDAC）中的新分子机制和功能，PDAC是最棘手的癌症之一，具有高度侵袭性和转移性。由于上皮-间质转化（EMT）触发肿瘤细胞的侵袭和迁移，阐明lncRNA在EMT和肿瘤细胞干性中的作用对于改善转移性癌症的诊断和治疗方法至关重要。本综述概述了关于lncRNA及其在PDAC中与EMT关系的相关研究。新出现的知识为lncRNAs的表达失调提供了证据，并对lncRNAs和EVs在PDAC发病机制中的潜在作用提供了重要见解。还讨论了PDAC的未来方向和新的临床应用。
