Neuronal development

Phosphorylation of proteins is a widespread cellular mechanism controlling precise spatio-temporal aspects of protein functions/interactions. Kaneko et al. indicated that HOTAIR–EZH2 interaction may be controlled by alterations in phosphorylation status of EZH2 in a site-specific manner. Thus, HOTAIR was reported to bind to EZH2 with greater affinity when the latter was phosphorylated at T-345 (Ref. Reference Kaneko14). In view of this study, and given the proposed regulatory actions of EZH2 in neuronal differentiation and recovery following ischaemic stroke (Ref. Reference Yu15), it is stimulating to theorize probable roles of HOTAIR in neuronal differentiation. Indeed, in silico and biochemical data indicate that inhibition of the HOTAIR–EZH2 interaction mediated by amplified miRNA-141 expression is linked to expressional changes in brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), and the differentiation of amniotic epithelial stem cells into dopaminergic neuron-like cells (Ref. Reference Liu16). Similarly, Khani-Habibabadi et al. have reported that HOTAIR is a regulator of oligodendrocyte precursor cell differentiation (Ref. Reference Khani-Habibabadi17).

Neuroinflammatory signalling

Neuroinflammatory pathways are driven by enhanced production of proinflammatory signalling molecules and secondary messengers (cytokines, chemokines, etc.) by immune cells such as endothelial cells, astrocytes and microglia. Often, these responses are associated with redox dyshomoeostasis and oxidative damage. Pro-inflammatory and pro-oxidant signalling is aberrantly activated in almost all neurological disorders. Recent data show that lncRNAs such as HOTAIR contribute immensely to the modulation of both pro-oxidant and pro-inflammatory pathways in CNS (patho)physiology. Indeed, activated microglia which elicit upregulated expression of HOTAIR have been evidenced to excessively produce inflammatory factors (Ref. Reference Cheng18). Overexpression of HOTAIR, and the consequent high mobility group box 1- and nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB)-dependent activation of pro-inflammatory, oxidative and apoptotic pathways may contribute to the pathogenic events in spinal cord ischaemia–reperfusion injury (Ref. Reference Wang19).

Cell signalling

HOTAIR exerts changes in protein functions and cellular signalling cascades through post-translational modifications, such as ubiquitin-mediated protein degradation. For instance, HOTAIR may bind to the RNA-binding domains of E3 ubiquitin ligases, DAZ-interacting zinc finger 3 and Mex-3 RNA-binding family member B (Mex3b). This interaction has been shown to result in facilitating their ubiquitination actions, resulting in proteolysis of target proteins, such as ataxin-1 and snurportin-1 which are involved in cellular senescence pathways (Ref. Reference Yoon20). It should be noted here that ataxin-1 is a crucial regulator of developmental pathways in the brain and its post-translational modifications and mutations in its gene are thought to be associated with CNS dysfunctions such as spinocerebellar ataxia type 1 (Ref. Reference Ju, Kokubu and Lim21). Similarly, interactions of HOTAIR with Mex3b and the consequent alterations in functions of suppressor of mothers against decapentaplegic family member 4 and nucleoside diphosphate linked moiety X-type motif 3 (Ref. Reference Barrios-Rodiles22) may suggest potential participation of HOTAIR in multiple neurobiological processes.

Alzheimer's disease

In one of the earliest studies evaluating the expressional changes of lncRNAs in AD pathology, Lee et al. performed microarray analyses and reported appreciable dysregulations in HOTAIR levels in transgenic animal models; the 3xTg-AD mice (Ref. Reference Lee24), which elicits overexpression of mutant forms of amyloid precursor protein (APP), presenilin-1 (PS-1) and microtubule-associated protein tau proteins. In another transgenic AD model, the APP/PS1 mice, implementation of voluntary exercise regimens was found to result in repression of HOTAIR expression. The diminishment of the sponging effects of HOTAIR on miR-130a-3p was proposed to be associated with the voluntary exercise-induced recovery of memory functions in the Morris water maze test and attenuation of pro-inflammatory responses in these mice (Ref. Reference Lu25).

HOTAIR may also repress the levels of cyclin-dependent kinase 5 (Cdk5), possibly through its modulatory effects on the miR-15/107 pathway. Cdk5 is known as one of the central mediators of tau and amyloid pathologies and is severely hyper-activated in AD (Ref. Reference Liu26), which may, at least in part, be dependent on the altered expression levels of lncRNAs, such as NEAT1 and HOTAIR. In support of this idea, HOTAIR has been observed to elicit brain region-specific alterations in AD subjects, compared with controls (Ref. Reference Spreafico27). Altered levels of HOTAIR have also been reported in serum samples of AD patients by Lu et al. In their study, increased serum expression of HOTAIR showed close associations with cognitive and memory impairments, as assessed by the Mini-Mental State Examination and Alzheimer's Disease Assessment Scale-Cognitive tests, leading the authors to propose serum HOTAIR expression as a probable diagnostic/prognostic biomarker for AD. Indeed, a 3-month long bicycle training regimen significantly reduced the serum levels of HOTAIR with concomitant attenuation of AD-linked cognitive impairment (Ref. Reference Lu28). In spite of these data supporting a probable role of HOTAIR in AD pathogenesis, the exact identities of the molecular and cellular pathways have remained obscure and might represent an interesting area of research in the coming years.

Parkinson's disease

A number of studies have implicated hyperactivation of HOTAIR in the pathogenesis of PD (Ref. Reference Zhang29). Multiple miRNAs have been proposed to be involved in the HOTAIR-harbouring competing endogenous RNA (ceRNA) network loops in PD (Ref. Reference Asadi30). The first studies proclaiming a role for HOTAIR in PD relied upon a chemically induced N-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6- tetrahydropyridine-mediated mouse model, and an in vitro PD model composed of N-methyl-4-phenylpyridinium (MPP⁺)-challenged SH-SY5Y cells. It was observed that in both these PD models, there was a significantly amplified expression of HOTAIR lncRNAs, in complementation with enhanced levels of leucine-rich repeat kinase 2 (LRRK2), a proteinaceous player strongly implicated in the disease pathogenesis (Ref. Reference Usmani, Shavarebi and Hiniker31). Further, siRNA-induced knockdown of HOTAIR was found to be robustly neuroprotective, and resulted in attenuation of LRRK2 induction and reduced neuronal death (Refs Reference Liu32, Reference Wang33). In addition, altered sponging of miR-126-5p as a result of aberrant HOTAIR activity may also underlie promotion of PD phenotype, possibly through the mediation of RAB3A interacting protein (RAB3IP), a Rab-specific guanine nucleotide exchange factor which has prominent regulatory roles in synaptic physiology. Interestingly, siRNA-mediated repression of the HOTAIR–miR-126-5p–RAB3IP axis has been evidenced to result in inhibition of cellular apoptosis of tyrosine hydroxylase-positive cells, as well as in reduction in the number of α-synuclein-positive cells, concomitantly with appreciable diminution of PD-linked motor and cognitive decline (Ref. Reference Lin34).

Altered activities of other target miRNAs have also been proposed as mediators of PD-promoting actions of HOTAIR. For instance, aberrant elevation in HOTAIR levels in dopaminergic neurons was observed to induce autophagy-associated genes (lysosomal-associated membrane protein type I and II, and microtubule associated protein-1 light chain 3 beta LC3B-I/LC3B-II ratio) in PD mice, probably via activation of the miR-221-3p–neuronal pentraxin II (NPTX2) pathway (Ref. Reference Lang35). HOTAIR has also been reported to stimulate neuronal damage and Nod-like receptor (NLR) family pyrin domain containing 3-facilitated pyroptosis in PD via its sponging actions against miR-326, and the consequent stimulation of ELAV-like RNA binding protein 1 (ELAVL1) expression (Ref. Reference Zhang36). Further, Zhao et al. have postulated the involvement of the HOTAIR–miR-874-5p–autophagy-related protein 10 (ATG10) cascade in the induction of pro-inflammatory (elevated levels of interleukins: IL-6 and IL-1β, and tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α□), pro-apoptotic (upregulated levels of Bax protein and repressed expression of Bcl-2 protein) and pro-oxidative (enhanced cellular reactive oxygen species or ROS and diminished antioxidant activity) signalling in an MPP⁺-induced cellular model of PD (Ref. Reference Zhao, Li and Chang37). More recently, it has been shown that HOTAIR-mediated sponging of miR-221-3p has direct effects on α-synuclein expression, resulting in the latter's high levels and consequent anomalous aggregation (Ref. Reference Sun38).

Multiple sclerosis

In support of the probable evidences of HOTAIR signalling in immunomodulation during demyelination and in the pathogenesis of MS (Ref. Reference Li39), the efficiencies of vitamin D3-reliant therapeutic strategies administered to MS patients has been reported to be because of their abilities, at least in part, to rescue the increased levels of HOTAIR. Thus, Pahlevan Kakhki et al. observed substantial upregulation of HOTAIR expression in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) of MS patients. Conversely, vitamin D3 supplementation could abolish the aberrant activation of HOTAIR. Further, vitamin D3's role in modulating HOTAIR levels was affirmed in a murine model of experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis, and in human monocytic THP-1 cells challenged with immunoactivators (recombinant human granulocyte–macrophage colony-stimulating factor and phytohaemagglutinin) (Ref. Reference Pahlevan Kakhki40). In agreement with these results, sulphasalazine, another immunosuppressive drug prescribed for MS patients, was observed to appreciably repress HOTAIR levels through the miR-136-5p pathway. For this study, a mouse model of cuprizone-induced demyelination was employed; wherein sulphasalazine treatment stimulated oligodendrocyte differentiation and remyelination by blocking the microglial switch to pro-inflammatory M1-like phenotype. These sulphasalazine-induced protective effects were reported to be dependent on alterations in miR-136-5p sponging activities of HOTAIR and via modulation of the Akt2-NF-κB cascade (Ref. Reference Duan41). Recently, increased levels of HOTAIR lncRNA were reported in PBMCs of relapse-remitting MS patients in the relapse phase, making it a possible biomarker for distinguishing the remit and relapse phases (Ref. Reference Soltanmoradi42). Finally, it has been suggested that the rs4759314 single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) in HOTAIR may be linked with MS pathogenesis, at least in Iranian population (Ref. Reference Taheri43). Further studies however are warranted to confirm this in subjects from other ethnicities.

Traumatic, hypoxic and ischaemic brain injury

Research evaluating the molecular mechanisms linking lncRNAs and the (patho)physiology of brain insults, such as stroke and traumatic brain injury (TBI), has only been recently instigated (Ref. Reference Zhang44). In this regard, Cheng et al. were the first to elucidate the pro-neuroinflammatory actions of HOTAIR in TBI. For this, they used an in vivo Feeney's free-fall impact model of TBI, as well as a lipopolysaccharide-challenged cellular (microglial BV2 cells) model. They showed a drastic upsurge in HOTAIR expression in both these pathological systems which resulted in enhanced production of inflammatory mediators, such as TNF-α, IL-1β and IL-6 from microglia. These effects were attributed to increased stability of myeloid differentiation primary response protein (MyD88), a protein with known pro-inflammatory effects, by repressing its ubiquitination mediated by E3 ubiquitin-protein ligase Nrdp1. Correspondingly, shRNA-mediated silencing of HOTAIR normalized Nrdp1 levels and prevented microglial activation (Ref. Reference Cheng18).

Middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO)-mediated hypoxia induction in rodents has been shown to result in significant increases in HOTAIR expression in the lesion sites, in turn culminating into elevated serum levels of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate or NADPH oxidase 2 (NOX2). NOX2 is a primary pathogenic player in ischaemic injury and stroke was also shown to be induced in a HOTAIR-dependent manner in HT22 cells challenged with hypoxic insults. Moreover, HOTAIR–NOX2 interactions were critical in inducing apoptotic death of hypoxic cells, as evidenced by RNA interference (against HOTAIR) experiments (Ref. Reference Yang and Lu45). Recently, Huang et al. have implicated the HOTAIR–miR-148a-3p–Kruppel-like factor 6 (KLF6) axis in neuronal death following ischaemic stroke. Their analyses in a murine MCAO model and a cellular oxygen-glucose deprivation (OGD) model provided robust affirmation of the participation of HOTAIR in the induction of inflammation and apoptotic death in a signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) pathway-dependent manner. The sponging of the miR-148a-3p–KLF6 pathway by HOTAIR was reaffirmed by shRNA-mediated knockdown of the latter in OGD-induced N2A cells and in mice induced with ischaemic stroke. Interestingly, knockdown of HOTAIR in MACO mice was associated with significant attenuation in the severity of neurological deficits and in cognitive decline, as measured by a battery of behavioural assays evaluating memory, motor, sensory and proprioceptive functions in mice (Ref. Reference Huang46). In addition, sponging of miR-211 may also partly explain the pathogenic roles of HOTAIR in cerebral ischaemia–reperfusion injury (Ref. Reference Ma47).

Similarly, human brain microvascular endothelial cells challenged with to OGD/reperfusion insult have been found to elicit robust upregulation of HOTAIR transcripts. Further, the association of HOTAIR with EZH2/PRC2 seems to be instrumental in enhancing cellular migration and in inducing membrane disintegration and pro-apoptotic pathways in the pathogenesis of endothelial dysfunction. Indeed, the roles of the HOTAIR–EZH2 signalling in inducing blood brain barrier (BBB) deficits are supported by marked enhancements in the plasma HOTAIR levels in newborn human cases of hypoxic-ischaemic encephalopathy (Ref. Reference Wang48). Finally, in an interesting recent study, Ali et al. estimated the changes in serum HOTAIR levels in control subjects and cases with cerebrovascular stroke (with and without comorbidities of chronic hypertension). Surprisingly, they observed reduced HOTAIR expression in cerebrovascular stroke subjects, compared with the controls. Further, hypertensive group of cerebrovascular stroke cases elicited significantly lowered plasma HOTAIR levels when compared with their non-hypertensive counterparts. Importantly, the authors observed significant positive correlation between HOTAIR expression and the scores obtained on the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale, which measures different aspects of behavioural and cognitive attributes (e.g. motor and sensory function, language and speech production, vision, attention and focus) (Ref. Reference Ali49).

Neuropsychiatric disorders

The association of rs1899663, an intronic SNP of HOTAIR, was evaluated in multiple psychiatric conditions, viz. bipolar disorder types I and II, drug (methamphetamine) addiction, major depressive disorder (MDD), schizophrenia and attention-deficit hyperactive disorder (ADHD). Although the investigators did not observe any significant connections between the rs1899663 SNP and the risk of developing schizophrenia or methamphetamine addiction, a significant association was observed for bipolar disorder type I in the allelic, co-dominant and dominant models. Further, the SNP was linked with enhanced risk of developing bipolar disorder type II, MDD and ADHD (Ref. Reference Sayad50), indicating that HOTAIR may be linked to several of the neuropsychiatric conditions. In accordance, based upon a study conducted in bipolar disorder cases and age-matched normal controls, HOTAIR SNPs rs1899663 G/T, rs4759314 A/G, rs12826786 C/T and rs920778 C/T have been proposed as risk factors for the development and progression of bipolar disorder. Specifically, although GT genotype of rs1899663 G/T, CT genotype of rs920778 C/T and CT genotype of rs12826786 C/T SNPs were reported to enhance the risk for bipolar disorder development, GG genotype of rs4759314 A/G SNP was shown to lessen the chances of developing the disease (Ref. Reference Sargazi51).

Lastly, genetic studies have also implicated HOTAIR in the pathogeneses of autism spectrum disorders (ASDs). Thus, from the clinical data of 427 ASD subjects and 430 controls, the rs12826786 SNP in HOTAIR showed significant associations with the ASD-resembling phenotype in allelic (T versus C) and recessive (TT versus TC + CC) models (Ref. Reference Safari52). Although these data indicate an interactive effect of HOTAIR SNPs on the pathogenesis of multiple psychosocial conditions across different age clusters, further research is warranted for elucidation of the functional roles of these HOTAIR SNPs.

Chemically induced cognitive dysfunction

Sevoflurane, a volatile anaesthetic induces cognitive dysfunction upon prolonged exposure in humans and rodents. Employing a rat model, Wang et al. demonstrated that sevoflurane exposure results in appreciable loss of working and reference memory functions, as assessed by radial arm maze test; as well as a pronounced diminishment of BDNF expression. These effects were possibly mediated by RE-1 silencing transcription factor, under the control of HOTAIR signalling. Indeed, siRNA-mediated knockdown of HOTAIR was found to prevent the detrimental effects of sevoflurane on cognition and BDNF signalling (Ref. Reference Wang53). Similar findings were reported for isoflurane (another volatile anaesthetic)-mediated oxidative dyshomoeostasis, neuroinflammation, cellular apoptosis and cognitive impairment in rats; wherein the investigators provided evidence for the involvement of repressed miRNA-129-5p functions mediated by HOTAIR as a critical pathogenic trigger (Ref. Reference Wang54).

Diabetic retinopathy and neuropathy

Severe hyperglycaemic conditions in diabetes are associated with damage to nerves (diabetic neuropathy) and retina (diabetic retinopathy). A pathogenic role for HOTAIR has recently been proposed for diabetic retinopathy. Thus, in a cellular model of human retinal endothelial cells exposed to high concentrations of extracellular glucose, Biswas et al. observed appreciable increments in HOTAIR levels. This was linked with detrimental alterations in redox signalling, mitochondrial bioenergetics and angiogenesis. Moreover, serum and vitreous humour of diabetic neuropathic human subjects elicited high expressions of HOTAIR lncRNA, as did the retinal tissues from a streptozotocin-induced rodent model of diabetic neuropathy. Lastly, RNA interference-mediated knockdown of HOTAIR was found to prevent many of the effects induced by hyperglycaemia (Ref. Reference Biswas55). SNP expression studies in human subjects have also implicated HOTAIR lncRNAs in the (patho)physiology of diabetic retinopathy. From the data of a case-control clinical study involving 276 individuals with diabetic retinopathy and 452 control subjects, three HOTAIR SNPs, rs1899663-TT, rs12427129-CT + TT and rs12427129-CT were evidenced to have abnormally elevated expression in the human cases of diabetic retinopathy, compared with the controls. In addition, significant upregulation of rs1899663-TT and rs12427129-CT + TT SNPs were observed in patients diagnosed with proliferative diabetic retinopathy (Ref. Reference Chuang56).

Gliomas and other brain cancers

Gliomas are the most prevalent of the primary brain cancers and are notoriously problematic to diagnose, classify and treat (Ref. Reference Ahmad57). Recent years have seen exponential increases in research studies evaluating the positive and negative roles of different lncRNA species, including HOTAIR in the (patho)physiology of gliomas (Ref. Reference Angelopoulou, Paudel and Piperi58). Amongst the initial studies evaluating the roles of HOTAIR lncRNAs in human glioma subjects, Zhang et al. proposed that HOTAIR could be employed as a suitable biomarker for identification of the diverse molecular subtypes of gliomas (Ref. Reference Zhang59). In addition, they envisioned as a tumour grade marker, since its expression was observed to elicit robust positive correlation with tumour grade; i.e. higher HOTAIR levels in high-grade gliomas and conversely lower levels in low-grade gliomas. Further, based upon correlational Kaplan–Meier survival curve analysis, they suggested HOTAIR as a potent prognostic marker for predicting survival of glioma patients (Ref. Reference Zhang59). In an interesting study, HOTAIR gene expression, methylation status and copy number were evaluated in human glioma cases; and it was observed that high expression of HOTAIR was associated with higher glioma grades. An important outcome of this study was the observation of a strong correlation of HOTAIR expression and the levels of homoeobox protein HOXA9, particularly in higher-grade gliomas; compelling the authors to undertake chromatin immunoprecipitation-quantitative polymerase chain reaction analyses. This led the authors to identify a direct role of HOXA9 in binding to the promoter and regulating the expression of HOTAIR during glioma pathogenesis (Ref. Reference Xavier-Magalhães60). In concurrence with these results, upon microarray-based assessment of the altered expression levels of lncRNA species in human glioblastoma patients versus controls, HOTAIR was established as one of the major lncRNAs with significant upregulations in glioblastoma (Ref. Reference Yan61). Similarly, analyses of the RNA-seq data from Chinese glioma subjects identified HOTAIR as a key overexpressed lncRNA (Ref. Reference Li62). These results are in concurrence with those obtained by Lv et al. who employed The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database for identification of HOTAIR, LOC00132111 and DLEU1 as the lncRNAs species with the strongest associations with the overall survival rate of glioma cases (Ref. Reference Lv63).

In silico (and combinatorial) studies have been instrumental in our understanding of the multimodal tumour-promoting roles played by HOTAIR in gliomas. For example, Huang et al. employed the Chinese Glioma Genome Atlas and proposed a cell cycle-related mRNA network made up of 18 genes positively regulated by HOTAIR as the latter's core feature promoting proliferation of glioma cells (Ref. Reference Huang64). Similarly, using RNA sequencing data from TCGA, Lei et al. recognized HOTAIR as one of the most conspicuous lncRNAs as a biomarker for glioblastoma prognosis and predictor of patient survival (Ref. Reference Lei65). Combining data for lncRNA and gene expression profiles, with transcription factor–gene target relationships in computational frameworks, Li et al. identified multitudes of the lncRNA–transcription factor–gene target triplet axes with significant associations with glioblastoma (patho)physiology. Some of these included the HOTAIR–MAX-interacting protein 1–CD58/protein kinase C epsilon type (HOTAIRMXI1–CD58/PRKCE) and the HOTAIR–activating transcription factor 5–neural cell adhesion molecule 1 (HOTAIR–ATF5–NCAM1) axes. The data indicated that HOTAIR and the abovementioned targets may serve as potent targets for diagnosis, molecular classification, therapy, prognosis and survival-predictors for gliomas in humans (Ref. Reference Li66). Data from patients diagnosed with glioblastoma or low-grade gliomas (LGGs) obtained from the TCGA and Gene Expression Omnibus databases have been recently used to create a ceRNA network for distinction between glioblastoma and LGGs, and HOTAIR was amongst 13 lncRNAs identified as hub components with the highest degrees of connections in this ceRNA network (Ref. Reference Li67). Other analytical studies focusing on the altered expression of lncRNAs in glioblastoma pathogeneses using data from TCGA databases have identified HOTAIR as a major lncRNA with exceedingly high levels of expression in the diseased subjects (Ref. Reference Li68). Gene ontology analyses indicated that HOTAIR influences key physiological cascades such as cell proliferation and cell cycle progression, and DNA and RNA metabolism (Ref. Reference Zhang69). Small nucleolar RNA, C/D box small nucleolar RNA 76 (SNORD76) was proposed as novel target of HOTAIR signalling in glioblastoma pathology by Chen and coworkers. They found that HOTAIR reduces the expression of SNORD76, resulting in retinoblastoma gene-induced cell cycle arrest in glioma cells. HOTAIR-induced reduction in SNORD76 expression in tumour tissues supported the former's tumour-stimulatory role in glioblastoma (Ref. Reference Chen70). The tumour-promoting functions of HOTAIR in glioma (patho)physiology may also depend on its capability to repress the functions of programmed cell death protein 4 (PDCD4) (Ref. Reference Chen71). More recently, it has been demonstrated that pro-metastatic actions of HOTAIR rely on pathogenic alterations in Nemo-like kinase (NLK) signalling, with consequent overactivation of the β-catenin pathway (Ref. Reference Zhu72).

HOTAIR's capability to act as a molecular sponge and repress a plethora of target miRNAs (Table 1) adds another facet to its pro-tumourigenic roles in glioma pathology. Indeed, data obtained from human glioma tissues as well as U251 and U87 glioma cell lines show aberrant overexpression of HOTAIR and the consequent trans-silencing of miR-141. This HOTAIR–miR-141–spindle and kinetochore-associated protein 2 (SKA2) signalling axis was proposed to be instrumental in inhibition of tumour xenograft growth in mice based upon experiments performed to both knockdown HOTAIR and overexpress miR-141 (Ref. Reference Bian73). miR-326 is another target of HOTAIR which is implicated in gliomas. miR-326 sponging and the consequent tumour-promoting actions of HOTAIR may stem from hyperactivation of fibroblast growth factor 1 (FGF-1) signalling, causing hyperactivation of phosphoinositide 3-kinase/Akt and mitogen-activated protein kinases 1/2 signalling cascades (Ref. Reference Ke74). Using an A172 glioma cell line, miR-148b-3p was identified to be another direct mediator of pro-tumourigenic effects of HOTAIR lncRNA in gliomas. Thus, HOTAIR expression was observed to be inversely related to that of miR-148b-3p; and its siHOTAIR-mediated silencing led to attenuation of survival, malignant, proliferative and invasive abilities of the A172 cells (Ref. Reference Wang75). Interestingly, the HOTAIR–miR-148b-3p–upstream stimulatory factor 1 (USF-1) pathway has been proposed as a focal point regulating the permeability of blood tumour barrier (BTB). HOTAIR expression was found to be heavily upregulated in a cellular model of BTB fabricated as a co-culture of human cerebral microvascular endothelial cell line hCMEC/D3 and human glioblastoma U87 cells. This was paralleled by downregulation of miR-148b-3p expression, and upregulation in USF-1 levels, resulting in altered expressions of tight junction forming proteins (zonula occludens-1, occludin and claudin-5) in glioma microvascular endothelial cells (Ref. Reference Sa76). miR-301a-3p may represent another sponging target of HOTAIR in gliomas, and inhibition of miR-301a-3p mediated by HOTAIR has been reported to cause induction of the expression of transcription factor, Fos-like 1 (FOSL1) (Ref. Reference Guo77). The miR-126-5p–glutaminase (GLS) axis is yet another target of HOTAIR in the pathogeneses of gliomas. The ability of HOTAIR to act as a ceRNA for miR-126-5p and promote GLS expression was observed in human tissue samples from cases of glioblastomas, astrocytomas and oligodendrogliomas (Ref. Reference Liu78). In addition to confirming the pro-cancer actions of HOTAIR, the study, for the first time, provided evidence for the engrossment of HOTAIR in the modulation of glutamine metabolism. Further, HOTAIR has been reported to modulate the miR-15b/p53 regulatory loop which regulates proliferation, growth and metastasis of glioma cells. Thus, although overexpression of miR-15b and p53 promoted apoptosis and inhibited proliferation and invasion of human glioma U87 cells, HOTAIR upregulation culminated into enhanced proliferativity and invasivity of these cells (Ref. Reference Sun79). The miR-218–phosphodiesterase 7A (PDE7A) axis is also thought to be a target of HOTAIR with regards to glioma (patho)physiology (Ref. Reference Wei80). Experiments with both glioma tissues and cell lines confirmed high expression levels of HOTAIR lncRNA, concomitantly with significant repressions in miR-218 levels. Further, experimental data suggest that altering HOTAIR–miR-218–PDE7A cascade by shRNA-mediated HOTAIR inhibition or miR-218 overexpression results in apoptotic induction and suppression of proliferation and invasion in U251 glioma cells.

Table 1.

Involvement of genetic variants of HOTAIR SNPs in neuropathological conditions

SNPs of HOTAIR have been linked to multiple neuropathologies, including MS, neuropsychiatric conditions and brain cancers (Table 2). One of the initial studies which assessed the associations of HOTAIR polymorphisms in glioma pathogenesis was conducted by Xavier-Magalhães et al. in Portuguese subjects diagnosed with multiple types of gliomas. Interestingly, although the authors reported the absence of any statistically significant changes in the distribution of the rs920778 or the rs12826786 HOTAIR SNPs between the cases and controls, both rs12826786 CT and rs920778 CT genotypes were found to be robustly associated with the survival of grade III anaplastic oligodendroglioma subjects, indicating the probable benefits of using these SNPs as prognosis markers for this particular glioma type (Ref. Reference Xavier-Magalhães81). Needless to say, more research data are required to establish and confirm the linkages of novel SNPs in HOTAIR with glioma (patho)physiology.

Table 2.

Molecular sponging targets of HOTAIR in neuronal disorders

Studies have also implicated HOTAIR signalling as a major molecular agent conferring chemoresistance to cancer cells against multiple chemotherapeutics. With regards to CNS cancers, cisplatin has been shown to retard EMT in glioblastoma and neuroblastoma cells, possibly by its ability to alter HOTAIR signalling (Ref. Reference Gonçalves82). Interestingly, exposure of HOTAIR-containing extracellular vesicles obtained from the serum samples of glioblastoma subjects has been observed to tremendously expedite glioma proliferation and temozolomide-resistance in vitro (U251 and LN229 cells) and in vivo (orthotopic transplantation of U251 cells in mice brain). This temozolomide-resistance conferred by extracellular vesicular HOTAIR was possibly because of the diminution of inhibitory actions of miR-526b-3p on epithelial V-like antigen 1 (EVA 1), a regulator of programmed cell death cascades (Ref. Reference Wang83). In U251 glioma cells, HOTAIR regulatory element was found to determine sensitivity to temozolomide, possibly via long-range expressional alteration of target genes, CALCOCO1 (calcium binding and coiled-coil domain 1) and ZC3H10 (zinc finger CCCH-type containing 10) (Ref. Reference Zhang84). Moreover, temozolomide-resistance in gliomas may manifest because of aberrant overactivation of hexokinase 2 (HK2) and the glycolytic pathway in a HOTAIR–miR125-reliant manner. Indeed, HOTAIR repression was found to result in strong downregulation of HK-2 mRNA and protein, and in enhanced susceptibility of glioma cells to temozolomide (Ref. Reference Zhang85).

In addition to gliomas, HOTAIR has been implicated in the pathogeneses of other brain tumours. Significant upregulation of HOTAIR has been observed in tissues from atypical teratoid rhabdoid tumours, medulloblastomas and juvenile pilocytic astrocytomas (Ref. Reference Chakravadhanula86). A more recently published study attempted to discern the molecular mechanisms of HOTAIR-mediated tumourigenic effects in medulloblastoma cells. shRNA-mediated silencing of HOTAIR was found to result in a significant induction of cellular apoptosis and attenuation of proliferative abilities of medulloblastoma cells, possibly via altered regulation of the miR-483-3p–CDK4 axis (Ref. Reference Zhao87). According to Zhang et al., the HOTAIR–miR-1/miR-206–Yin Yang 1 (YY1) axis may also be involved in the pathogeneses of medulloblastomas (Ref. Reference Zhang88). A recent study has evaluated the role of HOTAIR lncRNA in the pathology of a variety of ependymomas, and revealed its significantly elevated expression in myxopapillary ependymoma (MPE), particularly spinal MPE, when compared with other spinal and intracranial ependymomas. Since, its expression was unaltered in non-ependymoma tumours of the spinal cord, the authors proposed that HOTAIR may serve as an effective and specific diagnostic marker of spinal MPE (Ref. Reference Zheng89).

Diagnostic and prognostic potential of HOTAIR

Several studies have indicated the potential usage of HOTAIR as an indicator of poor prognosis in high grade gliomas. Indeed, circulating lncRNAs such as HOTAIR may represent a novel and relevant category of prognoses of gliomas (Ref. Reference Li68). Shen et al. assessed the levels of known tumourigenic lncRNAs (including HOTAIR) in serum samples of primary glioblastoma cases and evaluated their associations with outcomes. For HOTAIR, there was a sturdy and positive correlation with progression and relapse of the condition, and with increased likelihood of mortality, with the adjusted hazard ratios estimated at 1.82 and 2.04; respectively (Ref. Reference Shen90). HOTAIR expression in exosomes derived from serum may also be a potent peripherally acquired biomarker for glioma diagnoses and prognoses. In the study by Tan et al. for example, the exosomal expression of HOTAIR was assessed in serum samples isolated from 43 subjects of glioblastoma multiforme and 40 control subjects. Pearson's correlational analyses indicate a significant correlation between HOTAIR levels in serum-derived exosomes and in the corresponding tumour tissues. Importantly, for the serum exosomal HOTAIR expression levels, the area under the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve significantly differentiated the subjects from the controls with an estimated value of 0.913, and with high sensitivity (86.1%) and specificity (87.5%), indicating their suitability as a peripherally sourced minimally invasive prognostic and diagnostic biomarker (Ref. Reference Tan91). Along similar lines, using a mouse xenograft model comprising transplanted malignant glioma U87 cells, Ren et al. have advocated for the potential safety, specificity and effectiveness of liposome-encapsulated radiolabelled antisense oligonucleotide probes against HOTAIR for the in vivo real-time imaging of HOTAIR-positive gliomas (Ref. Reference Ren92). Although the relevance of peripheral levels of HOTAIR for diagnostic and prognostic purposes in oncology is well-established, research studies are warranted to extend this possibility to other neuropathologies.

Therapeutic strategies based upon HOTAIR signalling

Considering its extensive multifaceted pro-tumourigenic roles, numerous groups have suggested that HOTAIR may be a potential target for novel anti-glioma therapeutic strategies. Indeed, in recent years, several therapeutic agents and approaches have been proposed which are based upon repression of HOTAIR functions. For instance, a captivating RNA-based strategy for suppression of pro-tumourigenic actions of HOTAIR has been proposed. The authors of this study constructed a dominant negative deletion mutant of HOTAIR which was incapable of binding and recruiting EZH2 protein. The mutant HOTAIR was able to effectively abolish the tumourigenic actions (such as promotion of cellular invasivity and EMT) of endogenous HOTAIR, both in vitro and in vivo (Ref. Reference Battistelli93). Interestingly, HOTAIR has also been proposed as a key target of oncolytic virus-mediated glioma therapy. Thus, Vazifehmand et al. provided evidence for the alterations in the levels of HOTAIR (amongst other lncRNA species) upon treatment of glioblastoma U251 cells with HSV-G47Δ oncolytic viral particles (Ref. Reference Vazifehmand94). In a very interesting recently published study, clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeat (CRISPR)-based interference was employed to identify the lncRNAs, including HOTAIR which undergo massive expressional changes during the progression of gliomas in vivo, for example in a mouse xenograft model of glioblastoma U87 cells transplanted in the cerebral cortices (Ref. Reference Attenello95). Further, Schisandrin B, a bioactive phytochemical from the Chinese medicinal plant Schisandra chinensis, was demonstrated to harbour significant anti-glioma (apoptotic induction, and reduced cellular viability, migration and invasiveness) potential, at least in part, by repressing the sponging actions of HOTAIR against miR-125a–mTOR (mammalian target of rapamycin) signalling (Ref. Reference Jiang96).

Although these studies indicate the possible utilities of HOTAIR-based therapeutic strategies in gliomas and other cancers, further studies are required to ascertain and extend the utility of such strategies in the clinical settings. In this regard, novel smart nanoplatforms may serve as trend setters (Ref. Reference Ahmad57). Indeed, magnetic nanoparticles loaded with siRNA against HOTAIR have been found to efficiently repress its expression, resulting in robust retardation of cell proliferation and invasiveness. This si-HOTAIR containing magnetic nanotherapeutic agent was also shown to cause significant anti-tumourigenic effects in an in vivo model of xenograft of glioma cells in nude mice, presumably because abolishment of HOTAIR–EZH2/LSD1 signalling resulted in stimulated expression of PDCD4 as well as decreases in the expression of cell cycle and growth regulators; cyclin D1, cyclin-dependent kinase 4 (CDK4), BDNF and Ki67 (Ref. Reference Fang97). It will be interesting to study the therapeutic implications of similar smart nanoformulations against other brain pathologies.

Using molecular docking simulations, Li et al. identified AC1Q3QWB (aka AQB; Fig. 4A) as a probable small-molecule inhibitor of HOTAIR–EZH2–PRC2 signalling. Experimental analyses confirmed AQB's robust inhibitory actions on HOTAIR, and the consequent upregulation of tumour suppressor gene, antigen-presenting cell (APC) regulator of WNT signalling pathway 2 and repression of Wnt/β-catenin cascade in primary patient-derived glioblastoma cells, N5 and N33. Further, when complemented with 3-deazaneplanocin A (DZNep), an EZH2 inhibitor, AQB resulted in much better therapeutic actions (than DZNep alone) in vitro and in vivo (xenograft glioblastoma rodent models) (Ref. Reference Li98). In a subsequent study, AQB was found to elicit increments in the levels of tumour suppressor genes, such as the CWF19-like cell cycle control factor 1 which in turn resulted in degradation of CDK4/6, and cell cycle arrest at G1 stage. In fact, synergistic actions of AQB and CDK4/6 inhibitor palbociclib were found to induce robust anti-metastatic effects both in vitro (U87 and N33 cells) and in vivo (glioblastoma xenograft model in mice), possibly via inhibition of the hyperactive Wnt/β-catenin signalling (Ref. Reference Shi99). In their subsequent study, the research group proposed programmed death ligand 1-reliant induction of NF-κB signalling as a key HOTAIR-based cellular target against immune tolerance in glioma therapy. They observed that AQB treatment caused significant attenuation of upregulated levels of inflammatory markers (viz. NF-κB, IL-8, IL-1β and TNF-α) in U87 and TBD glioma cells. Further analyses involving AQB-dependent repression of HOTAIR signalling indicated the possible involvement of ubiquitin regulatory X domain protein 1 in these effects. Importantly, AQB-induced inhibition of HOTAIR resulted in enhanced immune sensitivity of glioma cells, therefore causing significant reduction in the tumour load and enhancement of survival time of nude mice confronted with orthotopic glioma cell transplant (Ref. Reference Wang100). A combinatorial therapeutic strategy involving AQB and LSD1 inhibitor GSK-LSD1 was proposed as an efficient anti-glioma therapeutic strategy in vitro and in patient-derived xenograft models. Since, HOTAIR–EZH2 interactions require a functional 5′-domain of HOTAIR and binding of LSD1 to HOTAIR relies on the latter's 3′-domain, complemented application of AQB and GSK-LSD1 were found to result in robust blocking of both the functional domains of HOTAIR, culminating into significant inhibition of cell cycle progression genes, concomitantly with activation of pro-apoptotic genes (Ref. Reference Zhao101). Recently, Ren et al. have identified another specific inhibitor of the HOTAIR–EZH2 interaction in a high throughput molecular docking based in silico analyses. The small-molecule inhibitor, AC1NOD4Q (aka. ADQ; Fig. 4B) was reported to halt H3K27-methylation of NLK, a downstream target of HOTAIR which consequently resulted in repression of cellular metastases in a Wnt/β-catenin pathway-dependent manner. RNA immunoprecipitation and electrophoretic mobility shift assay experiments further indicated that ADQ binds to the 5′-domain of HOTAIR which is directly involved in binding and recruitment of EZH2 (Ref. Reference Ren102).

Figure 4.

Small-molecular inhibitors of HOTAIR signalling. 2D structures of (A) (N-[(5,7-dichloro-2,3-dihydro-1-benzofuran-2-yl)methyl]propan-2-amine), also known as AC1Q3QWB (AQB; CID 36806), and (B) 7-nitro-2-[4-(7-nitro-3-oxo-4,9-dihydrofuro[3,2-b]quinoxalin-2-yl)phenyl]-4,9-dihydrofuro[3,2-b]quinoxalin-3-one, also known as AC1NOD4Q (ADQ; CID 5086250). The structures are obtained from PubChem (https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/substance/117467309#section=2D-Structure and https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/substance/113734165#section=2D-Structure).