Long noncoding RNA SOX2OT silencing alleviates cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury via miR-135a-5p-mediated NR3C2 inhibition

Therapeutic potential of SOX family transcription factors in osteoarthritis

BACKGROUND

As the worldwide population ages, osteoarthritis has significantly increased. This musculoskeletal condition has become a pressing global health issue and thus, prevention and treatment of osteoarthritis have become the primary focus of domestic and international research. Scholarly investigations of the molecular mechanisms that are related to the occurrence and development of osteoarthritis have shed light on the pathological causes of this condition to a certain extent, providing a foundation for its prevention and treatment. However, further research is necessary to fully understand the critical role of the transcription factor SOX9 in chondrocyte differentiation and the development of osteoarthritis. As a result, there has been widespread interest in SOX transcription factors. While SOX9 has been utilized as a biomarker to indicate the occurrence and prognosis of osteoarthritis, investigations into other members of the SOX family and the development of targeted treatments around SOX9 are still required.

PURPOSE

This article considers the impact of the SOX protein on the development and inhibition of osteoarthritis and highlights the need for therapeutic approaches targeting SOX9, as supported by existing research.

RESULTS

SOX9 can contribute to the process of osteoarthritis through acetylation and ubiquitination modifications. The regulation of the WNT signalling pathway, Nrf2/ARE signalling pathway, NF-κB signalling pathway and SOX9 is implicated in the emergence of osteoarthritis. Non-coding RNA may play a role in the onset and progression of osteoarthritis by modulating various SOX family members, including SOX2, SOX4, SOX5, SOX6, SOX8, SOX9 and SOX11.

CONCLUSION

SOX9 has the capability of mitigating the onset and progression of osteoarthritis through means such as medication therapy, stem cell therapy, recombinant adeno-associated virus (rAAV) vector therapy, physical therapy and other approaches.

Effect and underlying mechanism of Huangjing Qianshi decoction in pre-diabetes mouse model

BACKGROUND

Insulin secretion deficiency and increased insulin resistance are key pathological pathways that lead to pre-diabetes. Without intervention, pre-diabetes can easily develop into type 2 diabetes mellitus. However, no specific medicine is available for treating pre-diabetes except for intervention through lifestyle changes. Huangjing Qianshi decoction (HJQST) is a qi-replenishing and yin-nourishing Chinese medicinal compound. However, the mode and mechanism of action of HJQST in improving pre-diabetes remain unclear. Here, we studied the effect of HJQST on pre-diabetes.

METHODS

BKS-db mice were induced to develop pre-diabetes and treated with HJQST and metformin (MET). After treatment for 51 days, hematoxylin-eosin and oil red O staining were used to analyze the pathological damage and lipid droplet formation in the pancreatic, liver and skeletal muscle of pre-diabetic mice. Serum levels of free fat acid (FFA), glycated hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c), fasting insulin (INS), reactive oxygen species (ROS), and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) were analyzed. Levels of glucose transporter 4 (GLUT-4), INS, nuclear receptor subfamily 3 group c member 2 (NR3C2), phosphorylated-signal transducer and activator of transcription 1 (p-STAT1), peroxisome proliferator activated receptor co-activator 1 α (PGC-1α), and protein inhibitor of activated STAT1 (PIAS1) protein were analyzed by immunohistochemistry and western blot.

RESULTS

The body weight, fasting blood glucose (FBS) levels, and serum levels of HbA1c, FFA, ROS, and TNF-α were significantly decreased, whereas the insulin level was significantly increased in pre-diabetic BKS-db mice after HJQST treatment. Additionally, HJQST treatment improved pancreatic and liver damage and the lipid droplet formation in liver and skeletal muscle. Furthermore, the increased NR3C2 and p-STAT1 protein levels and decreased GLUT-4, INS, PIAS1, and PGC-1a protein levels in pre-diabetic mice were reversed by HJQST treatment.

CONCLUSION

HJQST treatment could reverse high FBS level and aberrant lipid metabolism, oxidative stress, and inflammation in pre-diabetes, all of which are related to the NR3C2/PIAS1/STAT1/PGC-1α signal axis.

The emerging role of long non-coding RNA SOX2-OT in cancers and non-malignant diseases

SOX2 overlapping transcript (SOX2-OT) is a long non-coding RNA located at chromosome 3q26.33 in humans. Convincing data confirm that SOX2-OT is evolutionarily conserved and plays a significant role in various malignant and non-malignant diseases. In most cancers, the upregulation of SOX2-OT acts as an oncogenic factor, strongly correlating with tumor risk, adverse clinicopathological features, and poor prognosis. Mechanistically, SOX2-OT is regulated by seven transcription factors and influences cellular behavior by modulating SOX2 expression, competitively binding 20 types of miRNAs, stabilizing protein expression, or promoting protein ubiquitination. It also participates in epigenetic modifications and activates multiple signaling pathways to regulate cancer cell proliferation, apoptosis, migration, invasion, autophagy, immune evasion, and resistance to chemotherapy/targeted therapies. Additionally, SOX2-OT triggers apoptosis, oxidative stress, and inflammatory responses, contributing to neurodevelopmental disorders, cardiovascular diseases, and diabetes-related conditions. Genetic polymorphisms of SOX2-OT have also been linked to breast cancer, gastric cancer, recurrent miscarriage, sepsis, and eating disorders in patients with bipolar disorder. This review provides an overview of recent research progress on SOX2-OT in human diseases, highlights its substantial potential as a prognostic and diagnostic biomarker, and explores its future clinical applications.

NR3C2 activates LCN2 transcription to promote endoplasmic reticulum stress and cell apoptosis in ischemic cerebral infarction

Endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress can lead to cell death and worsen tissue damage during ischemic events. Nuclear receptor subfamily 3 group C member 2 (NR3C2) and lipocalin 2 (LCN2) are known to be associated with ER stress. In this study, we obtained a potential interaction between NR3C2 and LCN2 through bioinformatics. The primary objective was to investigate their roles and interactions in the context of ER stress in ischemic cerebral infarction (ICI). A mouse model of ICI was generated by middle cerebral artery occlusion, resulting in elevated levels of NR3C2 and LCN2 in brain tissues. NR3C2 bound to the LCN2 promoter, thereby activating its transcription. Either knockdown of LCN2 or NR3C2 led to an improvement in neurologic deficits in mice, along with a reduction in infract size, tissue damage, ER stress, inflammation, and cell apoptosis in their brain tissues. Similar results were reproduced in HT22 cells, where LCN2 or NR3C2 knockdown alleviated oxygen-glucose deprivation-induced ER stress, inflammation, and cell apoptosis while improving cell viability. However, the protective effects of NR3C2 knockdown were counteracted when LCN2 was overexpressed, both in vitro and in vivo. Overall, this study demonstrates that NR3C2 activates LCN2 transcription, ultimately promoting ER stress and cell apoptosis in the context of ICI.

Adiponectin inhibits LPS-induced nucleus pulposus cell pyroptosis through the miR-135a-5p/TXNIP signaling pathway

Pyroptosis, a newly discovered programmed cell death process, is characterized by NLRP3 inflammasome activation and pro-inflammatory mediator release. Nucleus pulposus (NP) cell pyroptosis is an important cause of intervertebral disc degeneration (IDD). Adiponectin (APN) is an adipokine and has an anti-inflammatory effect. However, whether and how APN protects against NP cell pyroptosis remains unexplored. Our results showed that human degenerated NP tissue displayed a significant increase in the protein levels of NLRP3, caspase-1 and GSDMD-N. APN expression was down-regulated in human degenerated NP tissue and NP cells challenged with lipopolysaccharide (LPS). Lentivirus-mediated overexpression of APN increased miR-135a-5p levels, decreased thioredoxin-interacting protein (TXNIP) expression and its interaction with NLRP3, and inhibited pyroptosis in human NP cells stimulated with LPS. TXNIP was identified as a direct target of miR-135a-5p. The inhibitory effects of APN on pyroptosis were reversed by pretreatment with miR-135a-5p inhibitor or lentiviral vector expressing TXNIP in LPS-treated human NP cells. In summary, these data suggest that APN restrains LPS-induced pyroptosis through the miR-135a-5p/TXNIP signaling pathway in human NP cells. Increasing APN levels could be a new approach to retard IDD.

NR3C2 mediates oxidised low-density lipoprotein-induced human coronary endothelial cells dysfunction via modulation of NLRP3 inflammasome activation

Nuclear receptor subfamily 3 group C member 2 (NR3C2) has been revealed to affect the progression of multiple inflammatory diseases, while NR3C2's efficacy in coronary artery disease (CAD) remains largely unsolved. The study intended to elucidate the possible mechanisms of NR3C2 in oxidised low density lipoprotein (ox-LDL)-induced inflammation in human coronary endothelial cells (HCAECs) via regulating NACHT, LRR, and PYD domains-containing protein 3 (NLRP3). Patients who underwent CT angiography or coronary angiography for suspected CAD in our hospital were collected. The patients were divided into the CAD and the non-CAD (NCAD) groups. The expression of NR3C2 and NLRP3 in the peripheral blood of patients in both groups was examined by RT-qPCR. HCAECs were treated with ox-LDL to establish the model. The expression of NR3C2 and NLRP3 in ox-LDL-induced HCAECs was tested by RT-qPCR. The proliferation of HCAECs was measured using CCK-8 assay, the apoptosis of HCAECs was assessed by flow cytometry, and the levels of inflammation-related factors IL-1β and IL-18 in the cell supernatant were evaluated by ELISA. The molecular mechanisms of these factors in the proliferation and apoptosis of HCAECs and in the inflammatory response were further determined by knockdown and overexpression systems. The relationship between NR3C2 and NLRP3 was determined by ChIP and luciferase activity assays and bioinformatics analysis. NR3C2 and NLRP3 levels were elevated in the serum of CAD patients. The ox-LDL treatment elevated NR3C2 levels, evoked apoptosis and inflammation, and impeded cell viability in HCAECs, whereas downregulation of NR3C2 increased cell viability and reduced apoptosis and inflammatory response in ox-LDL-induced inflammation in HCAECs. NR3C2 levels were positively correlated with NLRP3, and NR3C2 elevated NLRP3 expression through transcription. Overexpression of NLRP3 counteracted the impacts of silencing NR3C2 on cell viability, cell apoptosis, and inflammatory response in ox-LDL-induced HCAECs. Our research stresses that NR3C2 transcription promotes NLRP3 to induce inflammatory responses in ox-LDL-induced HCAECs.

The Role of microRNAs in Epigenetic Regulation of Signaling Pathways in Neurological Pathologies

In recent times, there has been a significant increase in researchers' interest in the functions of microRNAs and the role of these molecules in the pathogenesis of many multifactorial diseases. This is related to the diagnostic and prognostic potential of microRNA expression levels as well as the prospects of using it in personalized targeted therapy. This review of the literature analyzes existing scientific data on the involvement of microRNAs in the molecular and cellular mechanisms underlying the development of pathologies such as Alzheimer's disease, cerebral ischemia and reperfusion injury, and dysfunction of the blood-brain barrier.

MicroRNAs in aldosterone production and action

Aldosterone is a cardiovascular hormone with a key role in blood pressure regulation, among other processes, mediated through its targeting of the mineralocorticoid receptor in the renal tubule and selected other tissues. Its secretion from the adrenal gland is a highly controlled process subject to regulatory influence from the renin-angiotensin system and the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis. MicroRNAs are small endogenous non-coding RNA molecules capable of regulating gene expression post-transcriptionally through stimulation of mRNA degradation or suppression of translation. Several studies have now identified that microRNA levels are changed in cases of aldosterone dysregulation and that microRNAs are capable of regulating the expression of various genes involved in aldosterone production and action. In this article we summarise the major studies concerning this topic. We also discuss the potential role for circulating microRNAs as diagnostic biomarkers for primary aldosteronism, a highly treatable form of secondary hypertension, which would be highly desirable given the current underdiagnosis of this condition.

Gli2-induced lncRNA Peg13 alleviates cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury by suppressing Yy1 transcription in a PRC2 complex-dependent manner

Endothelial cell dysfunction plays an important role in cerebral ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) injury. LncRNA Peg13 is reported to be down-regulated in brain microvascular endothelial cells (BMVECs) induced by glucose-oxygen deprivation (OGD), but the mechanism of its involvement in I/R progression remains to be further explored. Here, mouse BMVECs (bEnd.3 cells) were treated with OGD / reoxygenation (OGD/R) to simulate I/R injury in vitro. Peg13 and Gli2 expression was decreased in OGD/R-treated bEnd.3 cells. And overexpression of Peg13 or Gli2 prevented OGD/R-induced reduction in cell migration and angiogenesis, as well as upregulation in cell apoptosis and oxidative stress levels. Mechanism exploration showed that Gli2 promoted the transcription of Peg13. And Peg13 repressed Yy1 transcription by binding to Ezh2 (a key subunit of PRC2 complex) and inducing the enrichment of H3K27me3 in Yy1 promoter region, thereby suppressing the transcriptional inhibition effect of Yy1 on Notch3 and promoting the expression of Notch3. Consistently, Notch3 overexpression hindered OGD/R-induced endothelium dysfunction. In addition, a brain I/R injury model was established using middle cerebral artery occlusion surgery. And lentivirus-mediated Gli2 and Peg13 overexpression vectors were injected into mice via the lateral ventricle one week before surgery. The results showed that overexpression of Peg13 or Gli2 alleviated I/R-induced neurological deficit, cerebral infarct and cerebral edema. And simultaneous overexpression of Peg13 and Gli2 showed a better protective effect than overexpression of Gli2 or Peg13 alone. In conclusion, Peg13 regulated by Gli2 inhibits Yy1 transcription in a PCR2 complex-dependent manner, and blocks the transcriptional repression of Notch3 by Yy1, thereby exerting neuroprotective effects on cerebral I/R injury.

Importance of Micromilieu for Pathophysiologic Mineralocorticoid Receptor Activity-When the Mineralocorticoid Receptor Resides in the Wrong Neighborhood

The mineralocorticoid receptor (MR) is a member of the steroid receptor family and acts as a ligand-dependent transcription factor. In addition to its classical effects on water and electrolyte balance, its involvement in the pathogenesis of cardiovascular and renal diseases has been the subject of research for several years. The molecular basis of the latter has not been fully elucidated, but an isolated increase in the concentration of the MR ligand aldosterone or MR expression does not suffice to explain long-term pathologic actions of the receptor. Several studies suggest that MR activity and signal transduction are modulated by the surrounding microenvironment, which therefore plays an important role in MR pathophysiological effects. Local changes in micromilieu, including hypoxia, ischemia/reperfusion, inflammation, radical stress, and aberrant salt or glucose concentrations affect MR activation and therefore may influence the probability of unphysiological MR actions. The surrounding micromilieu may modulate genomic MR activity either by causing changes in MR expression or MR activity; for example, by inducing posttranslational modifications of the MR or novel interaction with coregulators, DNA-binding sites, or non-classical pathways. This should be considered when developing treatment options and strategies for prevention of MR-associated diseases.

miR-135a-5p Suppresses TBK1 and Activates NRF2/TXNIP Antioxidant Pathway in LPS-Driven ALI in Mice

Objective. Acute inflammation and oxidative stress are present in large numbers in patients with acute lung injury (ALI). This investigation probed miR-135a-5p/TBK1 axis within ALI together with its new therapeutic target. Methods. MLE-12 cultures were treated with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and transfected with miR-135a-5p mimics or TBK1 vector. An ALI mouse model was also established. Analysis was done on the relationships between TBK1 and miR-135a-5p. Inflammatory components, SOD, MDA, and ROS content were all assessed. Results. Obvious inflammatory lesions were observed in lung tissues of ALI mice. Overexpression of miR-135a-5p or TBK1 knockdown remarkably decreased IL-1β, IL-6, and TNF-α serum concentrations and increased IL-10 level within lung tissues. Activated NRF2/TXNIP pathway and oxidative stress were additionally found within ALI murines, which were regulated by miR-315a-5p and TBK1. Further research revealed that miR-135a-5p negatively regulated TBK1 expression to mediate proinflammatory response and oxidative stress. Conclusion. miR-135a-5p targeted TBK1 to regulate inflammatory/oxidative stress responses in ALI. Such results might bring a new potential target for ALI treatment.

MiR-135a-5p suppresses trophoblast proliferative, migratory, invasive, and angiogenic activity in the context of unexplained spontaneous abortion

BACKGROUND

Spontaneous abortions (SA) is amongst the most common complications associated with pregnancy in humans, and the underlying causes cannot be identified in roughly half of SA cases. We found miR-135a-5p to be significantly upregulated in SA-associated villus tissues, yet the function it plays in this context has yet to be clarified. This study explored the function of miR-135a-5p and its potential as a biomarker for unexplained SA.

METHOD

RT-qPCR was employed for appraising miR-135a-5p expression within villus tissues with its clinical diagnostic values being assessed using ROC curves. The effects of miR-135a-5p in HTR-8/SVneo cells were analyzed via wound healing, Transwell, flow cytometry, EdU, CCK-8, and tube formation assays. Moreover, protein expression was examined via Western blotting, and interactions between miR-135a-5p and PTPN1 were explored through RIP-PCR, bioinformatics analyses and luciferase reporter assays.

RESULTS

Relative to normal pregnancy (NP), villus tissue samples from pregnancies that ended in unexplained sporadic miscarriage (USM) or unexplained recurrent SA (URSA) exhibited miR-135a-5p upregulation. When this miRNA was overexpressed in HTR-8/SVneo cells, their migration, proliferation, and cell cycle progression were suppressed, as were their tube forming and invasive activities. miR-135a-5p over-expression also downregulated the protein level of cyclins, PTPN1, MMP2 and MMP9. In RIP-PCR assays, the Ago2 protein exhibited significant miR-135a-5p and PTPN1 mRNA enrichment, and dual-luciferase reporter assays indicated PTPN1 to be a bona fide miR-135a-5p target gene within HTR-8/SVneo cells.

CONCLUSION

miR-135a-5p may suppress trophoblast migratory, invasive, proliferative, and angiogenic activity via targeting PTPN1, and it may thus offer value as a biomarker for unexplained SA.

LncRNA SOX2-OTinhibitionprotects against myocardialischemia/reperfusion-inducedinjury via themicroRNA-186-5p (miR-186-5p)/Yin Yang 1 (YY1)pathway

Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) exert essential effects in regulating myocardial ischemia/reperfusion (MI/R)-induced injury. This work intended to explore the functions of lncRNA SOX2-OT and its regulatory mechanism within MI/R-induced injury. In this study, gene expression was determined by RT-qPCR. Western blotting was applied for the detection of protein levels. Pro-inflammatory cytokine concentrations, cardiomyocyte viability, and apoptosis were detected via ELISA, CCK-8 and flow cytometry. In the in vitro model, SOX2-OT and YY1 were both upregulated, while miR-186-5p was downregulated. SOX2-OT knockdown attenuated oxygen-glucose deprivation/reoxygenation (OGD/R)-induced cardiomyocyte dysregulation through relieving inflammation, promoting proliferation, and reducing apoptosis in OGD/R-treated H2C9 cells. SOX2-OT positively regulated YY1 expression via miR-186-5p. Moreover, miR-186-5p inhibition or YY1 upregulation abolished the effects of SOX2-OT blocking on the inflammatory responses, proliferation, and apoptosis of OGD/R-challenged H2C9 cells. In conclusion, our results, for the first time, demonstrated that SOX2-OT inhibition attenuated MI/R injury in vitro via regulating the miR-186-5p/YY1 axis, offering potential therapeutic targets for MI/R injury treatment.

Emerging Role of LncRNAs in Ischemic Stroke-Novel Insights into the Regulation of Inflammation

As a crucial kind of pervasive gene, long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) are abundant and key players in brain function as well as numerous neurological disorders, especially ischemic stroke. The mechanisms underlying ischemic stroke include angiogenesis, autophagy, apoptosis, cell death, and neuroinflammation. Inflammation plays a vital role in the pathological process of ischemic stroke, and systemic inflammation affects the patient’s prognosis. Although a great deal of research has illustrated that various lncRNAs are closely relevant to regulate neuroinflammation and microglial activation in ischemic stroke, the specific interactional relationships and mechanisms between lncRNAs and neuroinflammation have not been described clearly. This review aimed to summarize the therapeutic effects and action mechanisms of lncRNAs on ischemia by regulating inflammation and microglial activation. In addition, we emphasize that lncRNAs have the potential to modulate inflammation by inhibiting and activating various signaling pathways, such as microRNAs, NF‐κB and ERK.