Although long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) are known to play an important role in cell regulation in several cancers, the regulatory mechanisms in renal carcinoma cells remain unclear. HOX transcript antisense RNA (HOTAIR), an lncRNA, coordinates with chromatin-modifying enzymes to regulate gene silencing. HOTAIR is over-expressed in several types of carcinoma cells. Thus, we hypothesised that lncRNA HOTAIR is crucial for cell proliferation and invasion and that its knockdown induces apoptosis in renal carcinoma cells. lncRNA HOTAIR expression was found to be elevated in renal carcinoma cells. Additionally, lncRNA HOTAIR knockdown by RNA interference with siRNA was found to significantly affect the cell cycle in the G0/G1 phase and weaken the abilities of cell proliferation and invasion in vitro. Xenograft experiments confirmed that the growth of xenograft tumours formed by renal carcinoma cells was suppressed after silencing lncRNA HOTAIR expression. Moreover, chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) and RNA-binding protein immunoprecipitation (RIP) assays revealed that knockdown of lncRNA HOTAIR led to the weakening of the recruitment and binding abilities of EZH2 and H3K27me3 locus with lncRNA HOTAIR. Furthermore, the cell cycle-related gene locus was in an active transcriptional state by the silencing of lncRNA HOTAIR expression and modulation of covalent histones.

No abstract

BackgroundAnimal and human studies suggest that inflammation and malnutrition are common in acute kidney injury (AKI) patients. However, only a few studies reported CRP, a marker of inflammation, albumin, prealbumin and cholesterol, markers of nutritional status were associated with the prognosis of AKI patients. No study examined whether the combination of inflammatory and nutritional markers could predict the mortality of AKI patients.Methods155 patients with hospital-acquired AKI were recruited to this prospective cohort study according to RIFLE (Risk, Injury, Failure, Lost or End Stage Kidney) criteria. C-reactive protein (CRP), and the nutritional markers (albumin, prealbumin and cholesterol) measured at nephrology consultation were analyzed in relation to all cause mortality of these patients. In addition, CRP and prealbumin were also measured in healthy controls (n = 45), maintenance hemodialysis (n = 70) and peritoneal dialysis patients (n = 50) and then compared with AKI patients.ResultsCompared with healthy controls and end-stage renal disease patients on maintenance hemodialysis or peritoneal dialysis, patients with AKI had significantly higher levels of CRP/prealbumin (p < 0.001). Higher level of serum CRP and lower levels of albumin, prealbumin and cholesterol were found to be significant in the patients with AKI who died within 28 days than those who survived >28 days. Similarly, the combined factors including the ratio of CRP to albumin (CRP/albumin), CRP/prealbumin and CRP/cholesterol were also significantly higher in the former group (p < 0.001 for all). Multivariate analysis (Cox regression) revealed that CRP/prealbumin was independently associated with mortality after adjustment for age, gender, sepsis and sequential organ failure assessment (SOFA, p = 0.027) while the others (CRP, albumin, prealbumin, cholesterol, CRP/albumin and CRP/cholesterol) became non-significantly associated. The hazard ratio was 1.00 (reference), 1.85, 2.25 and 3.89 for CRP/prealbumin increasing according to quartiles (p = 0.01 for the trend).ConclusionsInflammation and malnutrition were common in patients with AKI. Higher level of the ratio of CRP to prealbumin was associated with mortality of AKI patients independent of the severity of illness and it may be a valuable addition to SOFA score to independent of the severity of illness and it may be a valuable addition to SOFA score to predict the prognosis of AKI patients.