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Alternative mRNA Splicing in Physiology and Cancer

A special issue of International Journal of Molecular Sciences (ISSN 1422-0067). This special issue belongs to the section "Molecular Oncology".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (25 July 2021) | Viewed by 19177

Special Issue Editor


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Guest Editor
Epigenetics and RNA Biology Program, Centenary Institute, Sydney, Australia
Interests: RNA modification; epigenetics; mRNA splicing

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

It is well established that over 95 percent of human genes can undergo alternative mRNA splicing to generate novel isoforms. In addition to promoting translational diversity, alternative mRNA splicing plays a pivotal role in controlling tissue-specific gene expression. These regulatory processes are crucial to directing physiologically normal processes, including cellular differentiation and plasticity. Not surprisingly, aberrant changes to alternative splicing events have been implicated in diverse human diseases, including cancer.

This Special Issue will focus on basic and translational research into the role of alternative splicing in physiological processes and human malignancies. We will consider manuscripts that provide insights into mechanisms and functions of alternative splicing in normal biology and cancer. Articles on alternative splicing changes as biomarkers and therapeutic approaches that target abnormal splicing in cancer are also strongly encouraged.

Dr. Justin Wong
Guest Editor

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Keywords

  • RNA modification
  • epigenetics
  • mRNA splicing

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Published Papers (3 papers)

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Review

14 pages, 967 KiB  
Review
The Expanding Role of Alternative Splicing in Vascular Smooth Muscle Cell Plasticity
by Immanuel D. Green, Renjing Liu and Justin J. L. Wong
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2021, 22(19), 10213; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms221910213 - 23 Sep 2021
Cited by 10 | Viewed by 4466
Abstract
Vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) display extraordinary phenotypic plasticity. This allows them to differentiate or dedifferentiate, depending on environmental cues. The ability to ‘switch’ between a quiescent contractile phenotype to a highly proliferative synthetic state renders VSMCs as primary mediators of vascular repair [...] Read more.
Vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) display extraordinary phenotypic plasticity. This allows them to differentiate or dedifferentiate, depending on environmental cues. The ability to ‘switch’ between a quiescent contractile phenotype to a highly proliferative synthetic state renders VSMCs as primary mediators of vascular repair and remodelling. When their plasticity is pathological, it can lead to cardiovascular diseases such as atherosclerosis and restenosis. Coinciding with significant technological and conceptual innovations in RNA biology, there has been a growing focus on the role of alternative splicing in VSMC gene expression regulation. Herein, we review how alternative splicing and its regulatory factors are involved in generating protein diversity and altering gene expression levels in VSMC plasticity. Moreover, we explore how recent advancements in the development of splicing-modulating therapies may be applied to VSMC-related pathologies. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Alternative mRNA Splicing in Physiology and Cancer)
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14 pages, 2904 KiB  
Review
The Catastrophic HPV/HIV Dual Viral Oncogenomics in Concert with Dysregulated Alternative Splicing in Cervical Cancer
by Rahaba Marima, Rodney Hull, Georgios Lolas, Konstantinos N. Syrigos, Minah Kgoebane-Maseko, Andreas Martin Kaufmann and Zodwa Dlamini
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2021, 22(18), 10115; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms221810115 - 18 Sep 2021
Cited by 19 | Viewed by 9623
Abstract
Cervical cancer is a public health problem and has devastating effects in low-to-middle-income countries (LTMICs) such as the sub-Saharan African (SSA) countries. Infection by the human papillomavirus (HPV) is the main cause of cervical cancer. HIV positive women have higher HPV prevalence and [...] Read more.
Cervical cancer is a public health problem and has devastating effects in low-to-middle-income countries (LTMICs) such as the sub-Saharan African (SSA) countries. Infection by the human papillomavirus (HPV) is the main cause of cervical cancer. HIV positive women have higher HPV prevalence and cervical cancer incidence than their HIV negative counterparts do. Concurrent HPV/HIV infection is catastrophic, particularly to African women due to the high prevalence of HIV infections. Although various studies show a relationship between HPV, HIV and cervical cancer, there is still a gap in the knowledge concerning the precise nature of this tripartite association. Firstly, most studies show the relationship between HPV and cervical cancer at genomic and epigenetic levels, while the transcriptomic landscape of this relationship remains to be elucidated. Even though many studies have shown HPV/HIV dual viral pathogenesis, the dual molecular oncoviral effects on the development of cervical cancer remains largely uncertain. Furthermore, the effect of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) on the cellular splicing machinery is unclear. Emerging evidence indicates the vital role played by host splicing events in both HPV and HIV infection in the development and progression to cervical cancer. Therefore, decoding the transcriptome landscape of this tripartite relationship holds promising therapeutic potential. This review will focus on the link between cellular splicing machinery, HPV, HIV infection and the aberrant alternative splicing events that take place in HIV/HPV-associated cervical cancer. Finally, we will investigate how these aberrant splicing events can be targeted for the development of new therapeutic strategies against HPV/HIV-associated cervical cancer. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Alternative mRNA Splicing in Physiology and Cancer)
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18 pages, 363 KiB  
Review
The Detection and Bioinformatic Analysis of Alternative 3 UTR Isoforms as Potential Cancer Biomarkers
by Nitika Kandhari, Calvin A. Kraupner-Taylor, Paul F. Harrison, David R. Powell and Traude H. Beilharz
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2021, 22(10), 5322; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms22105322 - 18 May 2021
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 4196
Abstract
Alternative transcript cleavage and polyadenylation is linked to cancer cell transformation, proliferation and outcome. This has led researchers to develop methods to detect and bioinformatically analyse alternative polyadenylation as potential cancer biomarkers. If incorporated into standard prognostic measures such as gene expression and [...] Read more.
Alternative transcript cleavage and polyadenylation is linked to cancer cell transformation, proliferation and outcome. This has led researchers to develop methods to detect and bioinformatically analyse alternative polyadenylation as potential cancer biomarkers. If incorporated into standard prognostic measures such as gene expression and clinical parameters, these could advance cancer prognostic testing and possibly guide therapy. In this review, we focus on the existing methodologies, both experimental and computational, that have been applied to support the use of alternative polyadenylation as cancer biomarkers. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Alternative mRNA Splicing in Physiology and Cancer)
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