Identification of novel biomarkers for intracerebral hemorrhage via long noncoding RNA-associated competing endogenous RNA network

Clinical value of serum LncRNA MIAT in early diagnosis and prognosis assessment of traumatic brain injury

OBJECTIVE

This study aims to explore the clinical significance of long non-coding RNA, myocardial infarction-associated transcript (MIAT), in patients with traumatic brain injury (TBI).

METHODS

Retrospective inclusion of TBI patients meeting clinical criteria with complete data, alongside healthy controls. RT-qPCR was used to detect the expression of the serum MIAT. Based on the Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) scores, patients were categorized into mild, moderate, and severe TBI groups. The potential risk factors for severity were examined using logistic regression analysis. The one-year prognosis for TBI was determined using the Glasgow Outcome Scale (GOS) score. The correlation of MIAT levels with GCS scores and GOS scores was determined using Pearson correlation analysis. The effect of MIAT on the severity and poor prognosis was assessed using the receiver operating characteristic curve. Lastly, the dual-luciferase reporter assay confirmed the relationship between the MIAT and miR-221-3p.

RESULTS

110 patients with TBI and 106 healthy controls were included. Serum MIAT levels were strikingly higher in patients with TBI compared to controls, whereas miR-221-3p levels were lower. As the severity of TBI increases, the expression of MIAT gradually elevated. A notable negative correlation was observed between serum MIAT levels and both the GCS and GOS scores. MIAT levels were effective in distinguishing patients with moderate TBI from those with mild or severe TBI, with a sensitivity of 82.35 % and 88.64 % and a specificity of 86.67 % and 86.27 %. Furthermore, elevated MIAT levels, with a sensitivity of 85.00 % and a specificity of 75.56 %, can predict the clinical outcomes of patients with TBI. miR-221-3p levels were negatively correlated with MIAT expression in patients with TBI, and MIAT directly targeted miR-221-3p.

CONCLUSION

Serum MIAT could serve as a diagnostic marker of severity and may predict poor prognosis in patients with TBI. This study proposes fresh perspectives on the pursuit of biomarkers and the management of patients with TBI.

Protective effect of silencing lncRNA HCP5 against brain injury after intracerebral hemorrhage by targeting miR-195-5p

BACKGROUND

Intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) is a common subtype of stroke, characterized by a high mortality rate and a tendency to cause neurological damage. This study aims to investigate the role and mechanisms of lncRNA HCP5 in ICH.

METHODS

We simulated ICH in vivo by injecting collagenase into rats and established an in vitro model using hemoglobin-treated BV2 cells. HCP5 and miR-195-5p levels were quantified by RT-qPCR. mNSS score was used to evaluate neurological deficits in the rats. The dry-wet weight method assessed the degree of brain edema. Cell viability and apoptosis rates were determined using the CCK-8 assay and flow cytometry, respectively. The targeting relationship between HCP5 and miR-195-5p was confirmed using dual-luciferase reporter assays and RNA immunoprecipitation. ELISA was utilized to measure inflammatory factors, and commercial kits were used to detect MDA and ROS levels.

RESULTS

In the ICH model rats, HCP5 levels were significantly elevated. It was also found that silencing HCP5 significantly alleviated brain edema and neurological deficits in the ICH rats, and there was a marked improvement in ICH-induced neuroinflammation and oxidative stress. Moreover, HCP5 was found to sponge miR-195-5p, and inhibiting miR-195-5p could counteract the neuroprotective effects of silencing HCP5. Similar results were obtained in the in vitro experiments with BV2 cells.

CONCLUSIONS

Silencing HCP5 can alleviate brain edema, neurological dysfunction, neuroinflammation, and oxidative stress caused by ICH via miR-195-5p.

A novel strategy of integrating network pharmacology and transcriptome reveals antiapoptotic mechanisms of Buyang Huanwu Decoction in treating intracerebral hemorrhage

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Buyang Huanwu Decoction (BYHWD), as a traditional Chinese medical prescription, has been used to treat intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) for hundreds of years, but the antiapoptotic properties have not yet been studied.

AIM OF THE STUDY

This study aims to elucidate the antiapoptotic mechanism of BYHWD in ICH.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The therapeutic effect of BYHWD on ICH was assessed by modified neurological severity scores (mNSS), foot fault, and histopathological staining. Then, we used a modified comprehensive strategy by integrating transcriptome and network pharmacology to reveal the underlying mechanism. TUNEL assay, qRT-PCR, and western blot were further applied to evaluate the antiapoptotic effect of BYHWD on ICH. Dual-luciferase reporter assay and plasmid transfections were implemented to validate the potential competing endogenous RNAs (ceRNA) mechanism of Sh2b3.

RESULTS

Network pharmacology analysis indicated that the regulation of the apoptotic process was the highest enriched GO term, and that MAP kinase activity, ERK1, and ERK2 cascade were strongly correlated. Transcriptome analysis screened 180 differentially expressed mRNAs, which were highly enriched in the immune system process and negative regulation of programmed cell death. By checking the literature, we found that Sh2b3 was of great importance to apoptosis by modulating MAPK cascades. TUNEL assay validated the anti-apoptotic effect of BYHWD. Moreover, BYHWD was proven to regulate the Sh2b3-mediated ERK1/2 signaling pathway in ICH mice by qRT-PCR and western blot. We further explored the lncRNA-miRNA-mRNA network underlying the therapeutic effect, among which 4933404O12Rik/miR-185-5p is the upstream regulatory mechanism of Sh2b3.

CONCLUSIONS

We explored the antiapoptotic mechanism of BYHWD in treating ICH by a novel integrated strategy, which involved the 4933404O12Rik/miR-185-5p/Sh2b3 ceRNAs axis.

BCL-3 Promotes Intracerebral Hemorrhage Progression by Increasing Blood-Brain Barrier Permeability, Inflammation, and Cell Apoptosis via Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress

Background

Intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) is among the common types of stroke with high mortality and morbidity. Molecular biomarker selection is crucial for ICH diagnosis and treatment. However, the identification of ICH-related biomarkers remains inadequate.

Materials and Methods

In vivo and in vitro ICH models were generated and transfected with silenced B-cell lymphoma-3 (BCL-3 and siRNA BCL-3), overexpressed BCL-3, and endoplasmic reticulum stress (ERS) agonist (2-CLHA). Hematoxylin-eosin staining and transmission electron microscopy were used to observe the transfected cells. RNA sequencing was performed in vivo on the sham and ICH groups. The blood-brain barrier (BBB) permeability was evaluated by determining Evans blue dye extravasation, transendothelial electrical resistance, and paracellular permeability. Moreover, tight junction-, cell apoptosis-, and endoplasmic reticulum stress- (ERS-) related proteins were evaluated through real-time quantitative PCR, western blotting, immunohistochemistry, and TUNEL staining. The levels of inflammatory cytokines were measured through the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.

Results

RNA-seq revealed that BCL-3 acts as a key player. BCL-3 promotes ICH progression by increasing BBB permeability, ERS, inflammation, and cell apoptosis. Silencing of BCL-3 slows ICH progression by reducing BBB permeability and inflammation and terminating cell apoptosis and ERS in vitro and in vivo.

Conclusion

Our study identified ICH biomarkers and elucidated the role of BCL-3 in ICH for the first time.

Long non-coding RNAs in intracerebral hemorrhage

Intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH), a subtype of stroke, can lead to long-term disability and is one of the leading causes of death. Unfortunately, the effectiveness of pharmacological therapy for ICH is still uncertain. Long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) was defined as an RNA molecule that consists of more than 200 nt without translational activity. As a vital class of diverse molecules, lncRNAs are involved in developmental and pathological processes and have been attractive for decades. LncRNAs have also become potential targets for therapies, as they were massively identified and profiled. In particular, emerging evidence has revealed the critical role of lncRNAs in ICH while attempts were made to treat ICH via regulating lncRNAs. But the latest evidence remains to be summarized. Thus, in this review, we will summarize the recent advances in lncRNA in ICH, highlighting the regulatory role of lncRNAs and their potential as therapeutic targets.

The use of multiple datasets to identify autophagy-related molecular mechanisms in intracerebral hemorrhage

Background: Intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) is a stroke syndrome with high mortality and disability rates, but autophagy’s mechanism in ICH is still unclear. We identified key autophagy genes in ICH by bioinformatics methods and explored their mechanisms.

Methods: We downloaded ICH patient chip data from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database. Based on the GENE database, differentially expressed genes (DEGs) for autophagy were identified. We identified key genes through protein–protein interaction (PPI) network analysis and analyzed their associated pathways in Gene Ontology (GO) and the Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG). Gene-motif rankings, miRWalk and ENCORI databases were used to analyze the key gene transcription factor (TF) regulatory network and ceRNA network. Finally, relevant target pathways were obtained by gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA).

Results: Eleven autophagy-related DEGs in ICH were obtained, and IL-1B, STAT3, NLRP3 and NOD2 were identified as key genes with clinical predictive value by PPI and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis. The candidate gene expression level was significantly correlated with the immune infiltration level, and most of the key genes were positively correlated with the immune cell infiltration level. The key genes are mainly related to cytokine and receptor interactions, immune responses and other pathways. The ceRNA network predicted 8,654 interaction pairs (24 miRNAs and 2,952 lncRNAs).

Conclusion: We used multiple bioinformatics datasets to identify IL-1B, STAT3, NLRP3 and NOD2 as key genes that contribute to the development of ICH.

Genetics and Epigenetics of Spontaneous Intracerebral Hemorrhage

Intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) is a complex and heterogeneous disease, and there is no effective treatment. Spontaneous ICH represents the final manifestation of different types of cerebral small vessel disease, usually categorized as: lobar (mostly related to cerebral amyloid angiopathy) and nonlobar (hypertension-related vasculopathy) ICH. Accurate phenotyping aims to reflect these biological differences in the underlying mechanisms and has been demonstrated to be crucial to the success of genetic studies in this field. This review summarizes how current knowledge on genetics and epigenetics of this devastating stroke subtype are contributing to improve the understanding of ICH pathophysiology and their potential role in developing therapeutic strategies.