Long non‑coding RNAs (lncRNAs) are transcripts that are >200 nucleotides, but with no open reading frame. An increasing number of lncRNAs have been identified following the development of second‑generation sequencing technologies, and they have since become a research hotspot. Functionally, they play a vital role in tumor progression, including in tumor proliferation, migration, invasion, apoptosis and acquisition of drug resistance. They regulate gene expression primarily through interaction with DNA, RNA and proteins at the epigenetic, transcriptional and post‑transcriptional levels. Endogenous hypoxia‑inducible factor 1α antisense RNA 2 (lncRNA HIF1A‑AS2) is aberrantly expressed and involved the development/progression of various types of tumors, such as bladder cancer, glioblastoma, breast cancer and osteosarcoma. It plays a vital role in the proliferation, apoptosis, migration, invasion and epithelial‑mesenchymal transformation of various tumor cells. This review summarizes the current body of knowledge on the biological functions and related molecular mechanisms of lncRNA HIF1A‑AS2 in the development/progression of human tumors and other diseases.

Pseudomonas aeruginosa mannose sensitive hamemagglutination strain (PA-MSHA) is a kind of peritrichous P. aeruginosa strain with MSHA fimbriae and has been shown to activate kinds of immunocytes. Dendritic cells (DCs) are specialized antigen-presenting cells required for the stimulating and priming CD4⁺ T cells toward the T helper cell type 1 (Th1), Th2 and other different phenotypes. PA-MSHA effecting on Th1 remains an important missing link. Here we demonstrated that PA-MSHA augmented monocytes derived-dendritic cells (Mo-DCs) expression of HLA-DR, co-stimulatory and adhesion molecules, and induced Th1-promoting interleukin-12 and tumor necrosis factor α secretion, in addition, PA-MSHA treated Mo-DCs displayed lesser endocytic capacity. Furthermore, in mixed lymphocyte reactions, allostimulatory capacity of Mo-DCs was enhanced by PA-MSHA, CD4⁺ T cells stimulated by PA-MSHA -activated Mo-DCs showed a Th1-polarized cytokine production, increasing secretion of IFN-γ and decreasing secretion of IL-10 and IL-4. Our findings identified PA-MSHA as an important exogenous factor that induced DCs maturation toward a Th1-promoting phenotype.

Background: Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) HIF1A-AS2 is upregulated in multiple human cancers and are associated with various aspects of tumor progression. However, the molecular mechanisms of HIF1A-AS2 in cervical cancer (CC) remain largely unknown. In this study, we aim to investigate the expression pattern and signaling pathways of HIF1A-AS2 in CC.Methods: The study included a group of 20 CC patients, from whom tumor tissue specimens were collected. Additionally, three distinct CC cell lines (HeLa, SiHa, CaSki) were utilized. Quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) was used to assess the transcript levels of HIF1A-AS2 in these samples. Functional studies were performed by CCK-8, Transwell and Apoptosis assays. Databases including JASPAR, miRDB and Targetscan were used for the transcription factor or target miRNA prediction, subsequent dual luciferase activity assay, chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) and Ago2 immunoprecipitation (RIP) were also adopted for validation.Results: The study demonstrated that HIF1A-AS2 expression was elevated in clinical cervical cancer specimens and cultured cell lines in comparison to normal controls. Knockdown of HIF1A-AS2 notably inhibited the proliferation and invasion of cervical cancer cells, while inducing apoptosis. In contrast, HIF1A-AS2 overexpression promoted cellular proliferation and invasion and suppressed apoptosis. It was also identified that c-Jun functions as a transcription factor, activating HIF1A-AS2 expression. Additionally, HIF1A-AS2 was found to serve as a molecular sponge for miR-34b-5p, negatively regulating its expression. Furthermore, HIF1A-AS2 controlled the expression of radixin (RDX) by sponging the miR-34b-5p pathway.Conclusion: Our findings indicate that c-Jun-activated HIF1A-AS2 acts as an oncogenic factor in CC by sponging miR-34b-5p to target radixin. These findings suggest that HIF1A-AS2 might be a viable and promising therapeutic target for cervical cancer treatment.

As a versatile opportunistic pathogen, the accurate identification of Haemophilus species is a challenge in clinical practice. In this study, we characterized the phenotypic and genotypic features of four H. seminalis strains that were isolated from human sputum specimens and propose the “ H . intermedius ” and hemin (X-factor)-independent H. haemolyticus isolates as belonging to H. seminalis .