YRNAs: New Insights and Potential Novel Approach in Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma

Kacper Guglas; Tomasz Kolenda; Maciej Stasiak; Magda Kopczyńska; Anna Teresiak; Matthew Ibbs; Renata Bliźniak; Katarzyna Lamperska

doi:10.3390/cells9051281

YRNAs: New Insights and Potential Novel Approach in Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma

Cells. 2020 May 21;9(5):1281. doi: 10.3390/cells9051281.

Authors

Kacper Guglas^{1

2}, Tomasz Kolenda^{1

3}, Maciej Stasiak⁴, Magda Kopczyńska^{1

3}, Anna Teresiak¹, Matthew Ibbs^{5

6}, Renata Bliźniak¹, Katarzyna Lamperska¹

Affiliations

¹ Laboratory of Cancer Genetics, Greater Poland Cancer Centre, Poznan, Poland, ul. Garbary 15, 61-866 Poznan, Poland.
² Postgraduate School of Molecular Medicine, Medical University of Warsaw, ul. Zwirki 61 and ul. Wigury, 02-091 Warsaw, Poland.
³ Department of Cancer Immunology, Chair of Medical Biotechnology, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, ul. Rokietnicka 8, 60-101 Poznan, Poland.
⁴ Chair of Medical Biotechnology, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, ul. Rokietnicka 8, 60-101 Poznan, Poland.
⁵ Department of Tumour Pathology, Greater Poland Cancer Centre, Poznan, Poland, ul. Garbary 15, 61-866 Poznan, Poland.
⁶ Chair and Department of Tumour Pathology and Prophylaxis, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, ul. Garbary 15, 61-866 Poznan, Poland.

Abstract

YRNAs are a class of non-coding RNAs that are components of the Ro60 ribonucleoprotein particle and are essential for initiation of DNA replication. Ro60 ribonucleoprotein particle is a target of autoimmune antibodies in patients suffering from systemic lupus erythematosus and Sjögren's syndrome. Deregulation of YRNAs has been confirmed in many cancer types, but not in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). The main aim of this study was to determine the biological role of YRNAs in HNSCC, the expression of YRNAs, and their usefulness as potential HNSCC biomarkers. Using quantitative reverse transcriptase (qRT)-PCR, the expression of YRNAs was measured in HNSCC cell lines, 20 matched cancer tissues, and 70 FFPETs (Formaline-Fixed Paraffin-Embedded Tissue) from HNSCC patients. Using TCGA (The Cancer Genome Atlas) data, an analysis of the expression levels of selected genes, and clinical-pathological parameters was performed. The expression of low and high YRNA1 expressed groups were analysed using gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA). YRNA1 and YRNA5 are significantly downregulated in HNSCC cell lines. YRNA1 was found to be significantly downregulated in patients' tumour sample. YRNAs were significantly upregulated in T4 stage. YRNA1 showed the highest sensitivity, allowing to distinguish healthy from cancer tissue. An analysis of TCGA data revealed that expression of YRNA1 was significantly altered in the human papilloma virus (HPV) infection status. Patients with medium or high expression of YRNA1 showed better survival outcomes. It was noted that genes correlated with YRNA1 were associated with various processes occurring during cancerogenesis. The GSEA analysis showed high expression enrichment in eight vital processes for cancer development. YRNA1 influence patients' survival and could be used as an HNSCC biomarker. YRNA1 seems to be a good potential biomarker for HNSCC, however, more studies must be performed and these observations should be verified using an in vitro model.

Keywords: GSEA; HNSCC; RNY; Ro60 associated YRNA; YRNA; biomarker; cancer; small non-coding RNA.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Aged
Cell Line, Tumor
Disease-Free Survival
Female
Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic
Head and Neck Neoplasms / genetics*
Humans
Male
Papillomaviridae / physiology
RNA, Untranslated / genetics
RNA, Untranslated / metabolism*
ROC Curve
Squamous Cell Carcinoma of Head and Neck / genetics*
Squamous Cell Carcinoma of Head and Neck / virology
Treatment Outcome

Substances

RNA, Untranslated