LncRNA H19 Promotes Tumor Angiogenesis in Smokers by Targeting Anti-Angiogenic MiRNAs

Abstract

A key concept in drug discovery is the identification of candidate therapeutic targets such as long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) because of their extensive involvement in neoplasms, and impressionability by smoking. Induced by exposure to cigarette smoke, lncRNA H19 targets and inactivates miR-29, miR-30a, miR-107, miR-140, miR-148b, miR-199a and miR-200, which control the rate of angiogenesis by inhibiting BiP, DLL4, FGF7, HIF1A, HIF1B, HIF2A, PDGFB, PDGFRA, VEGFA, VEGFB, VEGFC, VEGFR1, VEGFR2 and VEGFR3. Nevertheless, these miRNAs are often dysregulated in bladder cancer, breast cancer, colorectal cancer, glioma, gastric adenocarcinoma, hepatocellular carcinoma, meningioma, non-small-cell lung carcinoma, oral squamous cell carcinoma, ovarian cancer, prostate adenocarcinoma and renal cell carcinoma. As such, the present perspective article seeks to establish an evidence-based hypothetical model of how a smoking-related lncRNA known as H19 might aggravate angiogenesis by interfering with miRNAs that would otherwise regulate angiogenesis in a nonsmoking individual.

Plain language summary

A primary goal in the treatment of cancer is preventing the formation of new blood vessels, or angiogenesis, within the tumor, because these newly formed capillaries serve to supply tumor cells with oxygen, letting them live for longer periods of time and develop several other unfavorable traits that would complicate the entire treatment process. Although certain molecules are responsible for regulating angiogenesis, others such as lncRNA H19, cause significant deregulation in the level of these antiangiogenic molecules, enhancing tumor vascularization. Because H19 is induced in response to cigarette smoke, individuals who smoke might be at higher risk of treatment failure as a result of accelerated angiogenesis.

Keywords::

• angiogenesis
• lncRNA H19
• miR-107
• miR-140
• miR-148b
• miR-199a
• miR-200
• miR-29
• miR-30a
• smoking

Acknowledgments

The author thanks Storm Johnson, the commissioning editor of Epigenomics, and Francesco Crea, senior editor of Epigenomics and guest editor of the present Special Focus Issue.

Financial&competing interests disclosure

The author has no relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript. This includes employment, consultancies, honoraria, stock ownership or options, expert testimony, grants or patents received or pending, or royalties.

No writing assistance was utilized in the production of this manuscript.

Edboard disclosure

Milad Shirvaliloo is a member of the Epigenomics Editorial Board. They were not involved in any editorial decisions related to the publication of this article, and all author details were blinded to the article’s peer reviewers as per the journal’s double-blind peer review policy.