LncRNA ANRIL knockdown relieves myocardial cell apoptosis in acute myocardial infarction by regulating IL-33/ST2

Long non-coding RNA ANRIL/p65 negative feedback loop protects intestinal barrier function in inflammatory bowel disease

Patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) demonstrate varying expression levels of long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) in their intestinal mucosa, which can potentially impact the function of the intestinal barrier. This impact may occur through the modulation of epithelial cell apoptosis, alteration of intestinal mucosal barrier permeability, and enhancement of inflammatory responses. The objective of this study was to explore the role and underlying mechanisms of the downregulated lncRNA ANRIL in modulating intestinal barrier function in IBD. Notably, ANRIL was found to be significantly downregulated in patients diagnosed with ulcerative colitis (UC), correlating strongly with disease progression. The overexpression of ANRIL in mice treated with dextran sulfate sodium (DSS) resulted in a significant reduction in colonic damage. This was accompanied by the suppression of pro-inflammatory cytokines such as IL-6, TNF-α, and IL-1β, and an improvement in intestinal barrier function. Transcriptome sequencing following overexpression of ANRIL revealed a significant enrichment of the NF-κB signaling pathway. In both DSS-induced mouse colitis and LPS-induced FHC cell models, the upregulation of ANRIL effectively suppressed the activation of the NF-κB pathway. Furthermore, our findings demonstrated that ANRIL competes with YY1 for binding, thereby inhibiting the interaction between YY1 and p65 subunit of NF-κB. This disruption in interaction results in the suppression of transcriptional activation of NF-κB p65, leading to a reduced expression of inflammatory cytokines and the promotion of intestinal barrier function in IBD.Additionally, we identified a negative feedback loop involving ANRIL and p65, wherein p65 binds to the ANRIL promoter, promoting ANRIL expression. In summary, the ANRIL/p65 negative feedback loop represents a potential therapeutic target for protecting intestinal barrier function in IBD.

Regulated cell death in acute myocardial infarction: Molecular mechanisms and therapeutic implications

Acute myocardial infarction (AMI), primarily caused by coronary atherosclerosis, initiates a series of events that culminate in the obstruction of coronary arteries, resulting in severe myocardial ischemia and hypoxia. The subsequent myocardial ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury further aggravates cardiac damage, leading to a decline in heart function and the risk of life-threatening complications. The complex interplay of multiple regulated cell death (RCD) pathways plays a pivotal role in the pathogenesis of AMI. Each RCD pathway is orchestrated by a symphony of molecular regulatory mechanisms, highlighting the dynamic changes and critical roles of key effector molecules. Strategic disruption or inhibition of these molecular targets offers a tantalizing prospect for mitigating or even averting the onset of RCD, thereby limiting the extensive loss of cardiomyocytes and the progression of detrimental myocardial fibrosis. This review systematically summarizes the mechanisms underlying various forms of RCD, provides an in-depth exploration of the pathogenesis of AMI through the lens of RCD, and highlights a range of promising therapeutic targets that hold the potential to revolutionize the management of AMI.

ANRIL's Epigenetic Regulation and Its Implications for Cardiovascular Disorders

Cardiovascular disorders (CVDs) are a major global health concern, but their underlying molecular mechanisms are not fully understood. Recent research highlights the role of long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs), particularly ANRIL, in cardiovascular development and disease. ANRIL, located in the human genome's 9p21 region, significantly regulates cardiovascular pathogenesis. It controls nearby tumor suppressor genes CDKN2A/B through epigenetic pathways, influencing cell growth and senescence. ANRIL interacts with epigenetic modifiers, leading to altered histone modifications and gene expression changes. It also acts as a transcriptional regulator, impacting key genes in CVD development. ANRIL's involvement in cardiovascular epigenetic regulation suggests potential therapeutic strategies. Manipulating ANRIL and its associated epigenetic modifiers could offer new approaches to managing CVDs and preventing their progression. Dysregulation of ANRIL has been linked to various cardiovascular conditions, including coronary artery disease, atherosclerosis, ischemic stroke, and myocardial infarction. This abstract provides insights from recent research, emphasizing ANRIL's significance in the epigenetic landscape of cardiovascular disorders. By shedding light on ANRIL's role in cellular processes and disease development, the abstract highlights its potential as a therapeutic target for addressing CVDs.

ANRIL upregulates TGFBR1 to promote idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis in TGF-β1-treated lung fibroblasts via sequestering let-7d-5p

Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a progressive and life-threatening respiratory disease characterized by worsening lung function due to excessive scarring. The objective of this study was to investigate the role of the long non-coding RNA ANRIL (antisense non-coding RNA in the INK4 locus) in the development of IPF. Our research revealed a significant increase in ANRIL expression in pulmonary fibrosis, consistent with prior studies indicating elevated ANRIL levels in fibrotic tissues. In vitro experiments demonstrated that elevated ANRIL expression promoted fibroblast activation, as evidenced by the upregulation of fibrosis-related markers. Mechanistically, we found that ANRIL interacts with let-7d-5p, a microRNA involved in gene regulation, acting as a sponge for let-7d-5p. Functional experiments confirmed a potential influence of let-7d-5p on fibroblast activation through direct interaction with ANRIL. Furthermore, our investigation identified TGFBR1 as a potential mediator of ANRIL's fibrogenic effects. Silence of TGFBR1 mitigated the fibrotic phenotype induced by ANRIL overexpression. Collectively, these results suggest that ANRIL promotes fibroblast activation and fibrosis development, possibly through the let-7d-5p/TGFBR1 axis, indicating that ANRIL could be a potential therapeutic target for pulmonary fibrosis.

The role of deubiquitinases in cardiac disease

Deubiquitinases are a group of proteins that identify and digest monoubiquitin chains or polyubiquitin chains attached to substrate proteins, preventing the substrate protein from being degraded by the ubiquitin-proteasome system. Deubiquitinases regulate cellular autophagy, metabolism and oxidative stress by acting on different substrate proteins. Recent studies have revealed that deubiquitinases act as a critical regulator in various cardiac diseases, and control the onset and progression of cardiac disease through a board range of mechanism. This review summarizes the function of different deubiquitinases in cardiac disease, including cardiac hypertrophy, myocardial infarction and diabetes mellitus-related cardiac disease. Besides, this review briefly recapitulates the role of deubiquitinases modulators in cardiac disease, providing the potential therapeutic targets in the future.

Lnc-ANRIL modulates the immune response associated with NF-κB pathway in LPS-stimulated bovine mammary epithelial cells

BACKGROUND

The antisense noncoding RNA in the INK4 locus (ANRIL) has been confirmed related to multiple disease progression, but the role and exact mechanisms of lnc-ANRIL in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced inflammation of bovine mammary epithelial cells (MAC-T) remain unclear.

AIMS

This manuscript focused on expounding the functional role of lnc-ANRIL through experiments performed in MAC-T.

METHODS

At the in vitro level, we established a Bovine mammary epithelial cell (BMEC) cell model of mastitis by LPS treatment. Transfection of siRNA was examined by immunofluorescence localization and RT-qPCR. CCK8, clonogenic assay and EdU were used to detect the proliferation ability of the cells. Cell cycle and apoptosis were detected by flow cytometry and Western blot. The levels of inflammatory factors and oxidative stress markers were detected by ELISA kits.

RESULTS

Cell Counting Kit-8, colony formation, and 5-ethynyl-20-deoxyuridine were adopted and the data illustrated that LPS could significantly suppress the cell proliferation, while knockdown of lnc-ANRIL expression obviously promoted MAC-T cell proliferation compared with LPS or LPS + si-NC group. Flow cytometry analysis demonstrated that lnc-ANRIL could induce MAC-T cell apoptosis. In addition, downregulation of lnc-ANRIL affected LPS-induced immune response by regulating inflammatory factor expressions and modulating the nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) axis in MAC-T cells.

CONCLUSION

Our results suggest that lnc-ANRIL is involved in the regulation of cell proliferation, cell cycle, and cell apoptosis of MAC-T cells, and plays an important role in the inflammatory and immune response of MAC-T cells through the regulation of the NF-κB pathway, proposing new therapeutic strategies for the treatment of innate immune response-related disease such as bovine mastitis.

Strategies targeting IL-33/ST2 axis in the treatment of allergic diseases

Interleukin-33 (IL-33) and its receptor Serum Stimulation-2 (ST2, also called Il1rl1) are members of the IL-1 superfamily that plays a crucial role in allergic diseases. The interaction of IL-33 and ST2 mainly activates NF-κB signaling and MAPK signaling via the MyD88/IRAK/TRAF6 module, resulting in the production and secretion of pro-inflammatory cytokines. The IL-33/ST2 axis participates in the pathogenesis of allergic diseases, and therefore serves as a promising strategy for allergy treatment. In recent years, strategies blocking IL-33/ST2 through targeting regulation of IL-33 and ST2 or targeting the molecules involved in the signal transduction have been extensively studied mostly in animal models. These studies provide various potential therapeutic agents other than antibodies, such as small molecules, nucleic acids and traditional Chinese medicines. Herein, we reviewed potential targets and agents targeting IL-33/ST2 axis in the treatment of allergic diseases, providing directions for further investigations on treatments for IL-33 induced allergic diseases.

LncRNA AC125982.2 regulates apoptosis of cardiomyocytes through mir-450b-3p/ATG4B axis in a rat model with myocardial infarction

BACKGROUND

The occurrence and disability of myocardial infarction (MI) are on the rise globally, making it a significant contributor to cardiovascular mortality. Irreversible myocardial apoptosis plays a crucial role in causing MI. Long non-coding RNAs (LncRNAs) are key regulators of the cardiac remodeling process. Therefore, it is necessary to explore the effect of LncRNAs on cardiomyocyte apoptosis in MI.

METHODS

The rat-MI model was constructed, LncRNA-Seq and qPCR analyses were used to determine differentially expressed genes obtained from heart tissue of rats in the MI and sham groups. The miRanda software was used to predict the binding sites of LncRNA-miRNA and miRNA-mRNA, which were futhrer verified by dual luciferase assay. The LncRNA-miRNA-apoptosis pathway was further validated using hypoxia-exposed primary cardiomyocytes.

RESULTS

Compared to the sham group, 412 LncRNAs were upregulated and 501 LncRNAs were downregulated in MI-rat heart tissues. Among them, LncRNA AC125982.2 was most significantly upregulated in MI-rat heart tissues and hypoxic cardiomyocytes. Knockdown of AC125982.2 and ATG4B expression reversed hypoxia-induced apoptosis. In addition, transfection of mir-450b-3p inhibitor attenuated the protective effect of AC125982.2 knockdown. Moreover, we found that AC125982.2 modulated ATG4B expression by acting as a sponge for miR-450b-3p.

CONCLUSION

Upregulated AC125982.2 expression regulates ATG4B by sponging miR-450b-3p, promoting cardiomyocyte apoptosis and contributing to rat MI development.

Roles of IL-33 in the Pathogenesis of Cardiac Disorders

Interleukin-33 (IL-33) is a member of the IL-1 cytokine family and is believed to play important roles in different diseases by binding to its specific receptor suppression of tumorigenicity 2 (ST2). In the heart, IL-33 is expressed in different cells including cardiomyocytes, fibroblasts, endothelium, and epithelium. Although many studies have been devoted to investigating the effects of IL-33 on heart diseases, its roles in myocardial injuries remain obscure, and thus further studies are mandatory to unravel the underlying molecular mechanisms. We highlighted the current knowledge of the molecular and cellular characteristics of IL-33 and then summarized its major roles in different myocardial injuries, mainly focusing on infection, heart transplantation, coronary atherosclerosis, myocardial infarction, and diabetic cardiomyopathy. This narrative review will summarize current understanding and insights regarding the implications of IL-33 in cardiac diseases and its diagnostic and therapeutic potential for cardiac disease management.

Apoptosis and long non-coding RNAs: Focus on their roles in Heart diseases

Heart disease is one of the principal death reasons around the world and there is a growing requirement to discover novel healing targets that have the potential to avert or manage these illnesses. On the other hand, apoptosis is a strongly controlled, cell removal procedure that has a crucial part in numerous cardiac problems, such as reperfusion injury, MI (myocardial infarction), consecutive heart failure, and inflammation of myocardium. Completely comprehending the managing procedures of cell death signaling is critical as it is the primary factor that influences patient mortality and morbidity, owing to cardiomyocyte damage. Indeed, the prevention of heart cell death appears to be a viable treatment approach for heart illnesses. According to current researches, a number of long non-coding RNAs cause the heart cells death via different methods that are embroiled in controlling the activity of transcription elements, the pathways that signals transmission within cells, small miRNAs, and the constancy of proteins. When there is too much cell death in the heart, it can cause problems like reduced blood flow, heart damage after restoring blood flow, heart disease in diabetics, and changes in the heart after reduced blood flow. Therefore, studying how lncRNAs control apoptosis could help us find new treatments for heart diseases. In this review, we present recent discoveries about how lncRNAs are involved in causing cell death in different cardiovascular diseases.

Long Non-Coding RNAs in Venous Thromboembolism: Where Do We Stand?

Venous thromboembolism (VTE), a common condition in Western countries, is a cardiovascular disorder that arises due to haemostatic irregularities, which lead to thrombus generation inside veins. Even with successful treatment, the resulting disease spectrum of complications considerably affects the patient's quality of life, potentially leading to death. Cumulative data indicate that long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) may have a role in VTE pathogenesis. However, the clinical usefulness of these RNAs as biomarkers and potential therapeutic targets for VTE management is yet unclear. Thus, this article reviewed the emerging evidence on lncRNAs associated with VTE and with the activity of the coagulation system, which has a central role in disease pathogenesis. Until now, ten lncRNAs have been implicated in VTE pathogenesis, among which MALAT1 is the one with more evidence. Meanwhile, five lncRNAs have been reported to affect the expression of TFPI2, an important anticoagulant protein, but none with a described role in VTE development. More investigation in this field is needed as lncRNAs may help dissect VTE pathways, aiding in disease prediction, prevention and treatment.

Clinical Significance of MicroRNAs, Long Non-Coding RNAs, and CircRNAs in Cardiovascular Diseases

Based on recent research, the non-coding genome is essential for controlling genes and genetic programming during development, as well as for health and cardiovascular diseases (CVDs). The microRNAs (miRNAs), lncRNAs (long ncRNAs), and circRNAs (circular RNAs) with significant regulatory and structural roles make up approximately 99% of the human genome, which does not contain proteins. Non-coding RNAs (ncRNA) have been discovered to be essential novel regulators of cardiovascular risk factors and cellular processes, making them significant prospects for advanced diagnostics and prognosis evaluation. Cases of CVDs are rising due to limitations in the current therapeutic approach; most of the treatment options are based on the coding transcripts that encode proteins. Recently, various investigations have shown the role of nc-RNA in the early diagnosis and treatment of CVDs. Furthermore, the development of novel diagnoses and treatments based on miRNAs, lncRNAs, and circRNAs could be more helpful in the clinical management of patients with CVDs. CVDs are classified into various types of heart diseases, including cardiac hypertrophy (CH), heart failure (HF), rheumatic heart disease (RHD), acute coronary syndrome (ACS), myocardial infarction (MI), atherosclerosis (AS), myocardial fibrosis (MF), arrhythmia (ARR), and pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH). Here, we discuss the biological and clinical importance of miRNAs, lncRNAs, and circRNAs and their expression profiles and manipulation of non-coding transcripts in CVDs, which will deliver an in-depth knowledge of the role of ncRNAs in CVDs for progressing new clinical diagnosis and treatment.

Panax notoginseng saponins inhibits NLRP3 inflammasome-mediated pyroptosis by downregulating lncRNA-ANRIL in cardiorenal syndrome type 4

OBJECTIVE

Cardiorenal syndrome type 4 (CRS4) is a complication of chronic kidney disease. Panax notoginseng saponins (PNS) have been confirmed to be efficient in cardiovascular diseases. Our study aimed to explore the therapeutic role and mechanism of PNS in CRS4.

METHODS

CRS4 model rats and hypoxia-induced cardiomyocytes were treated with PNS, with and without pyroptosis inhibitor VX765 and ANRIL overexpression plasmids. Cardiac function and cardiorenal function biomarkers levels were measured by echocardiography and ELISA, respectively. Cardiac fibrosis was detected by Masson staining. Cell viability was determined by cell counting kit-8 and flow cytometry. Expression of fibrosis-related genes (COL-I, COL-III, TGF-β, α-SMA) and ANRIL was examined using RT-qPCR. Pyroptosis-related protein levels of NLRP3, ASC, IL-1β, TGF-β1, GSDMD-N, and caspase-1 were measured by western blotting or immunofluorescence staining.

RESULTS

PNS improved cardiac function, and inhibited cardiac fibrosis and pyroptosis in a dose-dependent manner in model rats and injured H9c2 cells (p < 0.01). The expression of fibrosis-related genes (COL-I, COL-III, TGF-β, α-SMA) and pyroptosis-related proteins (NLRP3, ASC, IL-1β, TGF-β1, GSDMD-N, and caspase-1) was inhibited by PNS in injured cardiac tissues and cells (p < 0.01). Additionally, ANRIL was upregulated in model rats and injured cells, but PNS reduced its expression in a dose-dependent manner (p < 0.05). Additionally, the inhibitory effect of PNS on pyroptosis in injured H9c2 cells was enhanced by VX765 and reversed by ANRIL overexpression, respectively (p < 0.05).

CONCLUSION

PNS inhibits pyroptosis by downregulating lncRNA-ANRIL in CRS4.

Effect of combining sST2/HDL-C ratio with risk factors of coronary heart disease on the detection of angina pectoris in Chinese: a retrospective observational study

Background

Soluble suppression of tumorigenicity 2 (sST2), a member of the interleukin-1 receptor family, binds IL-33, preventing its interaction with membrane-bound form ST2 (ST2L), thereby blocking its protection against atherosclerosis. High-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), a variety of lipoproteins with mean size of 8-10 nm and density of 1.063-1.21 g/mL, not only acts as lipid transporters that transport cholesterol reversely, but also carries a variety of proteins and microRNAs endowing it with the ability to prevent cardiovascular disease. Most studies on the relationship between sST2 and coronary heart disease (CHD) are limited to acute myocardial infarction (AMI). The present study set out to investigate the association between the sST2/HDL-C ratio and angina pectoris.

Methods

A retrospective single-center cohort study was conducted and a total of 250 patients with chest pain that formed a convenience series, hospitalized between January 2018 and August 2020, were enrolled. Patients with AMI, acute and chronic heart failure, structural heart disease, renal insufficiency [estimate glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) <60 mL/min/1.73 m2], rheumatic immune diseases, malignant tumors and severe infections were excluded. Patients with missing data were also excluded. Two hundred and nine patients were finally enrolled. Levels of sST2, HDL-C and sST2/HDL-C ratio were measured and calculated after admission. The angina pectoris was diagnosed by combining clinical features, coronary angiography results and cardiac troponin I levels. The diagnosis value of sST2/HDL-C on angina pectoris was analyzed by binary logistic analysis and the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve and area under the ROC curve (AUC) assesses.

Results

Patients with stable angina pectoris (SAP) or unstable angina pectoris (UAP) accounted for a larger proportion (28.8% vs. 42.9%, P=0.035) in patients with the higher sST2/HDL-C ratio. Binary logistics regression showed that for every unit of sST2/HDL-C increase, the risk of angina pectoris increased by 38.8% (OR =1.388, P=0.018). By subgroup analysis, a stronger association was found in non-diabetic patients (OR =1.551, P=0.006), non-hypertension patients (OR =1.700, P=0.025), non-smokers (OR =1.527, P=0.049) and patients aged <65 y (OR =1.693, P=0.019). ROC curve showed that AUC was higher [0.643 (0.566, 0.719) vs. 0.618 (0.540, 0.696)] and the sensitivity of diagnosis increased significantly (84.0% vs. 49.3%) by combining sST2/HDL-C with risk factors of CHD.

Conclusions

A higher ratio of sST2/HDL-C was associated with an increased risk of angina pectoris. sST2/HDL-C combined with CHD risk factors showed increased diagnostic value in identifying angina pectoris.

Trial Registration

Clinical trial: ChiCTR-DDD-17013908.

LncRNA AC005332.7 Inhibited Ferroptosis to Alleviate Acute Myocardial Infarction Through Regulating miR-331-3p/CCND2 Axis

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES

Acute myocardial infarction (AMI) often occurs suddenly and leads to fatal consequences. Ferroptosis is closely related to the progression of AMI. However, the specific mechanism of ferroptosis in AMI remains unclear.

METHODS

We constructed a cell model of AMI using AC16 cells under oxygen and glucose deprivation (OGD) conditions and a mice model of AMI using the left anterior descending (LAD) ligation. The 3-(4, 5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2, 5 diphenyltetrazolium bromide was employed to determine cell viability. The levels of lactate dehydrogenase, creatine kinase, reactive oxygen species (ROS), glutathione (GSH), malondialdehyde (MDA), and iron were measured using corresponding kits. Dual luciferase reporter gene assay, RNA-binding protein immunoprecipitation, and RNA pull-down were performed to validate the correlations among AC005332.7, miR-331-3p, and cyclin D2 (CCND2). Hematoxylin and eosin staining was employed to evaluate myocardial damage.

RESULTS

AC005332.7 and CCND2 were lowly expressed, while miR-331-3p was highly expressed in vivo and in vitro models of AMI. AC005332.7 sufficiency reduced ROS, MDA, iron, and ACSL4 while boosting the GSH and GPX4, indicating that AC005332.7 sufficiency impeded ferroptosis to improve cardiomyocyte injury in AMI. Mechanistically, AC005332.7 interacted with miR-331-3p, and miR-331-3p targeted CCND2. Additionally, miR-331-3p overexpression or CCND2 depletion abolished the suppressive impact of AC005332.7 on ferroptosis in OGD-induced AC16 cells. Moreover, AC005332.7 overexpression suppressed ferroptosis in mice models of AMI.

CONCLUSIONS

AC005332.7 suppressed ferroptosis in OGD-induced AC16 cells and LAD ligation-operated mice through modulating miR-331-3p/CCND2 axis, thereby mitigating the cardiomyocyte injury in AMI, which proposed novel targets for AMI treatment.

Long Noncoding RNA SNHG4 Attenuates the Injury of Myocardial Infarction via Regulating miR-148b-3p/DUSP1 Axis

Objective

Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs), including some members of small nucleolar RNA host gene (SNHG), are important regulators in myocardial injury, while the role of SNHG4 in myocardial infarction (MI) is rarely known. This study is aimed at exploring the regulatory role and mechanisms of SNHG4 on MI.

Methods

Cellular and rat models of MI were established. The expression of relating genes was measured by qRT-PCR and/or western blot. In vitro, cell viability was detected by MTT assay, and cell apoptosis was assessed by caspase-3 level, Bax/Bcl-2 expression, and/or flow cytometry. The inflammation was evaluated by TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6 levels. The myocardial injury in MI rats was evaluated by echocardiography, TTC/HE/MASSON/TUNEL staining, and immunohistochemistry (Ki67). DLR assay was performed to confirm the target relationships.

Results

SNHG4 was downregulated in hypoxia-induced H9c2 cells and MI rats, and its overexpression enhanced cell viability and inhibited cell apoptosis and inflammation both in vitro and in vivo. SNHG4 overexpression also decreased infarct and fibrosis areas, relieved pathological changes, and improved heart function in MI rats. In addition, miR-148b-3p was an action target of SNHG4, and its silencing exhibited consistent results with SNHG4 overexpression in vitro. DUSP1 was a target of miR-148b-3p, which inhibited the apoptosis of hypoxia-induced H9c2 cells. Both miR-148b-3p overexpression and DUSP1 silencing weakened the effects of SNHG4 overexpression on protecting H9c2 cells against hypoxia.

Conclusions

Overexpression of SNHG4 relieved MI through regulating miR-148b-3p/DUSP1, providing potential therapeutic targets.

Illuminating the Molecular Intricacies of Exosomes and ncRNAs in Cardiovascular Diseases: Prospective Therapeutic and Biomarker Potential

Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are one of the leading causes of death worldwide. Accumulating evidences have highlighted the importance of exosomes and non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) in cardiac physiology and pathology. It is in general consensus that exosomes and ncRNAs play a crucial role in the maintenance of normal cellular function; and interestingly it is envisaged that their potential as prospective therapeutic candidates and biomarkers are increasing rapidly. Considering all these aspects, this review provides a comprehensive overview of the recent understanding of exosomes and ncRNAs in CVDs. We provide a great deal of discussion regarding their role in the cardiovascular system, together with providing a glimpse of ideas regarding strategies exploited to harness their potential as a therapeutic intervention and prospective biomarker against CVDs. Thus, it could be envisaged that a thorough understanding of the intricacies related to exosomes and ncRNA would seemingly allow their full exploration and may lead clinical settings to become a reality in near future.

LncRNA ANRIL-mediated miR-181b-5p/S1PR1 axis is involved in the progression of uremic cardiomyopathy through activating T cells

This study aimed to explore the regulatory role of lncRNA ANRIL/miR-181b-5p/S1PR1 in UC. UC mouse model was established by 5/6th nephrectomy. We detected body weight, serum levels of renal function and inflammatory factors (biochemical analyzer/ELISA), and cardiac parameters (echocardiography). HE and Masson staining showed the pathological changes and fibrosis in myocardial and nephridial tissues. The expression of ANRIL, miR-181b-5p, and S1PR1 were detected by qRT-PCR or Western blot/immunofluorescence. T cells activation was analyzed by Flow cytometry. ANRIL/S1PR1 were up-regulated and miR-181b-5p was down-regulated in UC mice. ANRIL silencing up-regulated miR-181b-5p and down-regulated S1PR1 (a target of miR-181b-5p). ANRIL silencing increased the body weight, recovered renal function [decreased blood urea nitrogen (BUN) and serum creatinine (Scr)] and cardiac function [decreased left ventricular end-diastolic diameter (LVEDD), LV end-systolic diameter (LVESD), LV systolic anterior wall thickness (LVAWS), LV end-diastolic anterior wall thickness (LVAWD), myocardial performance index (MPI), and isovolumic relaxation time (IVRT); increased LV ejection fraction (LVEF), LVEF/MPI, fractional shortening (FS), and E- and A-waves (E/A)], inhibited the inflammation [decreased interferon (IFN)-γ, interleukin (IL)-2, IL-10, and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α], and relieved pathological injuries and fibrosis. ANRIL silencing also recovered the viability and inhibited the inflammation of activated T cells in vitro, and inhibited T cell activation in UC mice in vivo. In addition, miR-181b-5p overexpression exhibited same effects with ANRIL silencing in UC. ANRIL silencing inhibited T cell activation through regulating miR-181b-5p/S1PR1, contributing to the remission of UC.

Long noncoding RNA CASC2 protect ROS-induced oxidative stress in myocardial infarction by miR-18a/SIRT2

We aimed to investigate the function and its possible mechanisms of long noncoding RNA (lncRNA) in acute myocardial infarction (AMI) model. Patients with AMI and normal volunteers were selected from our hospital. Sprague-Dawley rats were induced into in vivo model of AMI. H9c2 cells were treated with H₂ O₂ to generate injury model. A significantly lower serum gene expression of lncRNA CASC2 was detected. In rat models of AMI, lncRNA CASC2 gene expressions in heart tissue of mice with AMI were decreased. In in vitro model, downregulation of lncRNA CASC2 increased reactive oxygen species (ROS)-induced oxidative stress; lncRNA CASC2 induced NADPH oxidase (NOX-2) expression and suppressed miR-18a expression; MiR-18a promoted ROS-induced oxidative stress; downregulation of miR-18a decreased ROS-induced oxidative stress. The inhibition of miR-18a reversed the effects of CASC2 downregulation on ROS-induced oxidative stress in in vitro model of AMI. The activation of miR-18a reversed the effects of CASC2 on ROS-induced oxidative stress in in vitro model of AMI. These data for the first time suggest that lncRNA CASC2 have better protective effects on AMI, which could reduce oxidative stress through their carried miR-18a and subsequently downregulating the SIRT2/ROS pathway.

Cardioprotection Attributed to Aerobic Exercise-Mediated Inhibition of ALCAT1 and Oxidative Stress-Induced Apoptosis in MI Rats

Cardiolipin (CL) plays a pivotal role in mitochondria-mediated apoptosis. Acyl-CoA: lysocardiolipin acyltransferase 1 (ALCAT1) can accelerate CL reactive oxygen production and cause mitochondrial damage. Although we have demonstrated that aerobic exercise significantly reduced ALCAT1 levels in MI mice, what is the temporal characteristic of ALCAT1 after MI? Little is known. Based on this, the effect of exercise on ALCAT1 in MI rats needs to be further verified. Therefore, this paper aimed to characterize ALCAT1 expression, and investigate the possible impact of exercise on ALCAT1 and its role in fibrosis, antioxidant capacity, and apoptosis in MI rats. Our results indicated that the potential utility of MI increased ALCAT1 expression within 1–6 h of MI, and serum CK and CKMB had significant effects in MI at 24 h, while LDH exerted an effect five days after MI. Furthermore, ALCAT1 expression was upregulated, oxidative capacity and excessive apoptosis were enhanced, and cardiac function was decreased after MI, and aerobic exercise can reverse these changes. These findings revealed a previously unknown endogenous cardiac injury factor, ALCAT1, and demonstrated that ALCAT1 damaged the heart of MI rats, and aerobic exercise reduced ALCAT1 expression, oxidative stress, and apoptosis after MI-induced cardiac injury in rats.

LncRNA ANRIL mediates endothelial dysfunction through BDNF downregulation in chronic kidney disease

Endothelial dysfunction is common in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD), but the mechanism is unknown. In this study, we found that the circulating ANRIL level was increased and correlated with vascular endothelial dysfunction in patients with CKD, also negatively correlated with plasma brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) concentration. We constructed the ANRIL knockout mice model, and found that ANRIL deficiency reversed the abnormal expression of BDNF, along with endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS), vascular adhesion molecule 1 (VCAM-1) and Von Willebrand factor (vWF). Meanwhile, mitochondrial dynamics-related proteins, Dynamin-related protein 1 (Drp1) and mitofusins (Mfn2) level were also recovered. In addition, in vitro, serum derived from CKD patients and uremia toxins induced abnormal expression of ANRIL. By making use of the gain- and loss-of-function approaches, we observed that ANRIL mediated endothelial dysfunction through BDNF downregulation. To explore the specific mechanism, RNA pull-down and RNA-binding protein immunoprecipitation (RIP) were used to explore the binding of ANRIL to histone methyltransferase Enhancer of zeste homolog 2 (EZH2). Further experiments found increased EZH2 and histone H3 lysine 27 trimethylation (H3K27me3) levels at the BDNF promoter region. Collectively, we demonstrated that ANRIL mediate BDNF transcriptional suppression through recruitment of EZH2 to the BDNF promoter region, then regulated the proteins expression related to endothelial function and mitochondrial dynamics. This study provides new insights for the study of endothelial dysfunction in CKD.

Molecular mechanism of CAIF inhibiting myocardial infarction by sponging miR‑488 and regulating AVEN expression

In recent years, the global incidence and mortality of myocardial infarction (MI) has increased and become one of the important diseases threatening public health. Long non-coding (lnc)RNAs are a type of ncRNA that serve critical roles in the progression of various types of disease. The present study aimed to investigate the effect and mechanism of lncRNA cardiac autophagy inhibitory factor (CAIF) on cardiac ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury. CAIF was downregulated in the myocardium of I/R rats and cardiomyocytes treated with hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂). Further experiments demonstrated that CAIF overexpression inhibited I/R-induced cardiac infarction and apoptosis in vivo. CAIF decreased H₂O₂-induced apoptosis and oxidative stress of cardiomyocytes. Mechanistically, CAIF sponged microRNA (miR)-488-5p; this interaction was confirmed by rescue experiments. Moreover, miR-488-5p targeted apoptosis and caspase activation inhibitor (AVEN) and inhibited its expression. In summary, the present data identified a novel CAIF/miR-488-5p/AVEN signaling axis as a key regulator of myocyte apoptosis, which may be a potential therapeutic target for the treatment of MI.

LINC01588 regulates WWP2-mediated cardiomyocyte injury by interacting with HNRNPL

Cardiomyocyte dysfunction and apoptosis induced by ischemia-hypoxia are common features of many acute and chronic heart diseases. WW domain-containing E3 ubiquitin ligase (WWP2) has been identified as an important regulator in pathogenesis of some health-threatening diseases. Although a couple of recent reports prompted the potential role of WWP2 in heart dysfunction, however, its exact role and how its expression was regulated in ischemic-hypoxic cardiomyocytes are still elusive. Here, we found that WWP2 protein level was induced in anoxia/reoxygenation (A/R) treated cardiomyocytes in a time-dependent manner, accompanied by synchronous expression of LINC01588 and HNRNPL. Knockdown of LINC01588 increased cardiomyocyte apoptosis, the level of oxidative stress, and expression of pro-inflammatory cytokine genes, down-regulated the expression of WWP2 and promoted expression of SEPT4 gene that contributed to cardiomyocyte dysfunction and was a target gene of WWP2. LINC01588 overexpression improved the functions of A/R treated cardiomyocytes, up-regulated WWP2 and reduced SEPT4 expression. In the mechanism exploration, we found that LINC01588 could directly bind with HNRNPL protein that could interact with WWP2, suggesting that WWP2 was involved in the regulation of LINC01588 in A/R treated cardiomyocytes. Moreover, WWP2 inhibition declined the protective role of LINC01588 in cardiomyocyte dysfunction induced by A/R. Finally, we demonstrated that LINC01588 overexpression improved acute myocardial infarction in mice in vivo. In conclusion, LINC01588 improved A/R-induced cardiomyocyte dysfunction by interacting with HNRNPL and promoting WWP2-mediated degradation of SEPT4.

Long non-coding RNA lincRNA-erythroid prosurvival attenuates inflammation by enhancing myosin heavy chain 6 stability through recruitment of heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoprotein L in myocardial infarction

Myocardial infarction (MI), a prevalent cardiac disorder with high mortality, leads to severe heart injury associated with inflammation and cardiomyocyte apoptosis. Long non-coding RNAs have been widely found to participate in the progression of MI. Here, we aimed to explore the impact of lincRNA-erythroid prosurvival (EPS) on MI-induced inflammation and cardiomyocyte apoptosis. Significantly, lincRNA-EPS was lowly expressed in MI mice and in oxygen and glucose deprivation (OGD)-treated HL-1 cells. Echocardiography analysis revealed that lincRNA-EPS overexpression increased left ventricular ejection fraction and left ventricular fraction shortening, and decreased left ventricular internal diameter at end systole and left ventricular internal diameter at end diastole in a mouse model. In our study, the expression levels of interleukin-6, tumor necrosis factor-alpha, interleukin-1β, and interleukin-18 were upregulated in the MI mice and OGD-treated HL-1 cells, while lincRNA-EPS overexpression reversed these phenotypes. Meanwhile, lincRNA-EPS reduced MI-induced cardiomyocyte apoptosis in vivo and in vitro. Mechanically, lincRNA-EPS interacted with myosin heavy chain 6 (MYH6) and heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoprotein L (HNRNPL), and the depletion of lincRNA-EPS and HNRNPL inhibited MYH6 mRNA stability in HL-1 cells. HNRNPL knockdown blocked lincRNA-EPS overexpression-induced MYH6 expression in the system. The depletion of MYH6 and HNRNPL could rescue lincRNA-EPS overexpression-reduced inflammation and apoptosis in HL-1 cells. Thus, we conclude that lincRNA-EPS attenuates inflammation and apoptosis in MI-induced myocardial injury by maintaining MYH6 stability through the recruitment of HNRNPL.

Targeting Circulating lncRNA ENST00000538705.1 Relieves Acute Coronary Syndrome via Modulating ALOX15

Objective

Acute coronary syndrome (ACS) is the most dangerous and deadly form of coronary heart disease. Herein, we aimed to explore ACS-specific circulating lncRNAs and their regulatory mechanisms.

Methods

This study collected serum samples from ACS patients and healthy controls for microarray analysis. Dysregulated circulating lncRNAs and mRNAs were determined with |log2fold − change| > 1 and p < 0.05. lncRNA-mRNA coexpression analysis was carried out. ENST00000538705.1 and ALOX15 expression was further verified in serum specimens. In human coronary artery endothelial cells (HCAECs), ENST00000538705.1 and ALOX15 were knocked out through transfecting specific siRNAs. Thereafter, proliferation and migration were investigated with CCK-8 and wound-healing assays. Myocardial infarction rat models were established and administrated with siRNAs against ENST00000538705.1 or ALOX15. Myocardial damage was investigated with H&E staining, and serum TC, LDL, and HDL levels were measured.

Results

Microarray analysis identified 353 dysregulated circulating lncRNAs and 441 dysregulated circulating mRNAs in ACS. Coexpression analysis indicated the interaction between ENST00000538705.1 and ALOX15. RT-qPCR confirmed the remarkable upregulation of circulating ENST00000538705.1 and ALOX15 in ACS patients. In HCAECs, ENST00000538705.1 knockdown lowered the expression of ALOX15 but ALOX15 did not alter the expression of ENST00000538705.1. Silencing ENST00000538705.1 or ALOX15 weakened the proliferation and migration of HCAECs. Additionally, knockdown of ENST00000538705.1 or ALOX15 relieved myocardial damage, decreased serum TC and LDL levels, and elevated HDL levels in myocardial infarction rats.

Conclusion

Collectively, our findings demonstrate that circulating ENST00000538705.1 facilitates ACS progression through modulating ALOX15, which provide potential targets for ACS treatment.

Predictive Value of Soluble Growth Stimulator Gene 2 Protein for Coronary Slow Flow/No-Reflow in ST-Elevation Myocardial Infarction Patients Receiving Percutaneous Coronary Intervention

Background

Soluble growth stimulator gene 2 protein (sST2) is associated with heart failure and myocardial infarction; however, the predictive value of plasma sST2 level for coronary slow flow/no-reflow (CSF/NRF) is unclear. This study aimed to explore the predictive value of plasma sST2 levels for CSF/NRF in patients with ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) who underwent emergency percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI).

Methods

A total of 242 STEMI patients who underwent emergency PCI at our hospital between November 2020 and July 2021 were enrolled in this study. According to the postprocedural procedure, these patients were divided into the CSF/NRF and control groups. Clinical data were collected from both groups and were used to explore the predictive value of serum sST2 levels for CSF/NRF.

Results

Of the total 242 patients, CSF/NRF was observed in 50 patients (20.7%). Statistically significant differences (P < 0.05) were observed in age, diabetes mellitus, sST2 level, neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), fasting blood sugar, preprocedural blood pressure, intraprocedural hypotension, N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide, MB isoenzyme of creatine kinase (CK-MB), and cardiac troponin I (cTNI). Multivariate analysis showed that the sST2 level, NLR, and intraoperative hypotension were independent risk factors for CSF/NRF. ROC curve analysis showed that the sensitivity and specificity of the sST2 level for predicting CSF/NRF were 68.0% and 75.5%, respectively, when the sST2 level was more than 64.6 ng/mL (AUC = 0.780, 95% CI: 1.003–1.020, P=0.009).

Conclusion

For STEMI patients, preprocedural sST2 levels significantly correlated with CSF/NRF occurring in PCI. sST2 level is a potential predictor for CSF/NRF occurrence.

LINC00936 exacerbated myocardial infarction progression via miR-4795-3p/Wnt3a signaling pathway based on biological and imaging methods

OBJECTIVE

LncRNAs show great potential in diagnosing and treating myocardial infarction (MI). Clarifying the mechanism of lncRNAs on MI is of great significance for the application of MI biomarkers. Therefore, this report intended to determine the role and mechanism of LINC00936 on MI by biological and imaging methods.

METHODS

Hypoxia H9C2 model was established by hypoxia treatment. Flow cytometry and terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick end labeling assay detected the apoptosis of H9C2. H2DCFDA staining and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was used to detect the reactive oxygen species (ROS) accumulation and Lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) contents, respectively. Quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) was used to detect LINC00936, Wnt3a and miR-4795-3p levels. Western blot detected Wnt3a protein expression. Dual luciferase reporter assays detected the relationship of miR-4795-3p to LINC00936 or Wnt3a. Echocardiography analysis detected cardiac function. 2,3,5-Triphenyltetrazolium chloride (TTC) detected the infarct size. Masson staining detected the pathological changes.

RESULTS

LINC00936 level was elevated in the MI patients compared with the controls. Overexpression of LINC00936 promoted apoptosis and ROS accumulation in hypoxia H9C2 model and exacerbated MI progression in vivo. miR-4795-3p bound with LINC00936 in H9C2 cells and miR-4795-3p mimics inhibited apoptosis and ROS accumulation in hypoxia H9C2 model regulated by LINC00936. Wnt3a was targeted by miR-4795-3p and Wnt3a elevation promoted apoptosis and ROS accumulation in hypoxia H9C2 model.

CONCLUSION

In this report, we illustrated that LINC00936 exacerbated MI progression via the miR-4795-3p/Wnt3a signaling pathway based on biological and imaging methods. These findings might provide potential molecular target for the diagnosis and treatment of MI.

Long noncoding RNA ANRIL up-regulates CCND1 via sponging miR-98-5p to promote TGF-β1-induced human airway smooth muscle cell proliferation, migration, and extracellular matrix deposition

Excessive proliferation and migration of airway smooth muscle cell (ASMC) contribute to asthma pathogenesis. Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) are reported to take part in asthma pathogenesis. This study is targeted at deciphering the role of the lncRNA antisense noncoding RNA in the INK4 locus (ANRIL) in ASMC proliferation, migration and extracellular matrix (ECM) deposition. qRT-PCR was performed to determine ANRIL, miR-98-5p, and cyclin D1 (CCND1) mRNA expression levels in transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1)-treated ASMCs. CCK-8 and Transwell assays were employed to examine ASMC proliferation and migration, respectively. Dual-luciferase reporter gene assay and RNA immunoprecipitation assay were carried out for analyzing the targeted relationship of miR-98-5p with ANRIL or CCND1 mRNA 3'-UTR. The levels of CCND1 and ECM proteins (such as fibronectin, COL3A1, and COL1A2) in ASMCs were detected through Western blot. In this work, we found that ANRIL and CCND1 were up-regulated in TGF-β1-treated ASMCs, whereas miR-98-5p was down-regulated. ANRIL overexpression facilitated the proliferation, ECM deposition and migration of TGF-β1-induced ASMCs, while knocking down ANRIL had the opposite effect. Furthermore, ANRIL targeted miR-98-5p directly, and CCND1 was miR-98-5p's downstream target. ANRIL indirectly increased CCND1 expression in ASMCs via competitively binding to miR-98-5p. MiR-98-5p inhibition or CCND1 overexpression counteracted the inhibiting effect that ANRIL knockdown had on TGF-β1-stimulated ASMC proliferation, migration and ECM deposition. In conclusion, ANRIL indirectly up-regulates CCND1 expression by targeting miR-98-5p to promote ASMC proliferation, migration and ECM deposition, thus facilitating the pathogenesis of asthma.

LncRNA NORAD promotes the progression of myocardial infarction by targeting the miR-22-3p/PTEN axis

NORAD is a newly identified long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) that plays an important role in cancers. NORAD has been found to be highly expressed in the mouse model of acute myocardial infarction (AMI). However, the role of NORAD in the regulation of AMI remains unknown. In the present study, we aimed to investigate the function of NORAD in AMI and explore the potential regulatory mechanisms. A mouse model of AMI was established and NORAD was knocked-down. The infarcted size of heart tissues and the cardiac function were evaluated. In addition, two cardiomyocyte cell lines were treated with hypoxia/re-oxygenation (H/R) to mimic AMI . Luciferase reporter assay, RNA pull-down assay, fluorescence hybridization, qRT-PCR, and western blot analysis were performed. Apoptotic cells and the levels of L-lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and malondialdehyde (MDA) were detected. Our results show that downregulation of NORAD efficiently attenuates heart damage in the AMI mouse model. NORAD interacts with miR-22-3p. Knock-down of NORAD inhibits H/R-induced cell apoptosis and reduces LDH and MDA levels, while its effects are abolished by miR-22-3p inhibitor. MiR-22-3p interacts with PTEN and inhibits its expression. Overexpression of miR-22-3p inhibits H/R-induced cell apoptosis and reduces LDH and MDA levels, while its effects are abolished by overexpression of PTEN. Finally, overexpression of NORAD inhibits the AKT/mTOR signaling pathway, and its effects are attenuated by overexpression of miR-22-3p. Taken together, our study reveals that NORAD promotes the progression of AMI by regulating the miR-22-3p/PTEN axis, and the AKT/mTOR signaling may also be involved in the regulatory processes.

Circular RNA Rbms1 inhibited the development of myocardial ischemia reperfusion injury by regulating miR-92a/BCL2L11 signaling pathway

Acute myocardial infarction (AMI) is characterized by high morbidity and mortality rates. Circular RNAs collectively participate in the initiation and development of AMI. The purpose of this study was to investigate the role of circRbms1 in AMI. Ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) was performed to establish an AMI model. RT-qPCR and Western blotting were performed to detect mRNA and analyze protein expression, respectively. The interaction between miR-92a and circRbms1/BCL2L11 was confirmed by luciferase and RNA pull-down assays. circRbms1 is overexpressed in AMI. However, circRbms1 knockdown alleviated H9c2 cell apoptosis and reduced the release of reactive oxygen species. circRbms1 targeted miR-92a, the downregulation of which alleviated the effects of circRbms1 knockdown and increased oxidative stress and H9c2 cell apoptosis. Moreover, circRbms1 sponged miR-92a to upregulate BCL2L11, which modulated the expression of apoptosis-related genes. circRbms1 participated in myocardial I/R injury by regulating the miR-92a/BCL2L11 signaling pathway, which may provide a new strategy for the treatment of AMI.

LncRNA HOTTIP Knockdown Attenuates Acute Myocardial Infarction via Regulating miR-92a-2/c-Met Axis

Increasing investigations have focused on long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) in various human diseases, including acute myocardial infarction (AMI). Although lncRNA HOTTIP has been identified to play an important role in coronary artery diseases, its role and specific mechanism in AMI remain unclear. To investigate the potential role of HOTTIP in MI, HOTTIP expression in hypoxia-treated cardiomyocytes and myocardial tissues of MI mice was evaluated. The potential targets of HOTTIP and miR-92a-2 were predicted using Starbase and Targetscan. To further determine the cardio-protective effects of HOTTIP in vivo, si-HOTTIP and miR-92a-2 mimics were individually or co-injected into mice through intramyocardial injection. Moreover, their roles were further confirmed in rescue experiments. HOTTIP was significantly upregulated in ischemic myocardium of MI mice and hypoxia-induced cardiomyocytes. Moreover, HOTTIP knockdown markedly promoted cardiomyocyte growth and inhibited cardiomyocyte apoptosis in vitro. Luciferase reporter assay showed that HOTTIP could directly sponge miR-92a-2 to negatively regulate miR-92a-2 expression. In addition, c-Met was identified as a direct target of miR-92a-2, and their correlation was confirmed by luciferase reporter assay. MiR-92a-2 overexpression significantly enhanced the protective effect of HOTTIP knockdown against AMI through partially inhibiting c-Met expression. Our results demonstrated that HOTTIP downregulation attenuated AMI progression via the targeting miR-92a-2/c-Met axis and suggested that HOTTIP might be a potential therapeutic target for AMI.

Long non-coding RNA muscleblind like splicing regulator 1 antisense RNA 1 (LncRNA MBNL1-AS1) promotes the progression of acute myocardial infarction by regulating the microRNA-132-3p/SRY-related high-mobility-group box 4 (SOX4) axis

Long non-coding RNA muscleblind like splicing regulator 1 antisense RNA 1 (LncRNA MBNL1-AS1) exerts vital role in various physiological processes. However, its functions in acute myocardial infarction (AMI) are not elucidated. AMI model was constructed using Wistar rats and it was found that LncRNA MBNL1-AS1 was upregulated in AMI model according to the quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) results. The left ventricular systolic pressure (LVSP), left ventricular end diastolic pressure (LVEDP) and maximum rate of rise/fall of left ventricle pressure (±dp/dt max) were detected through hemodynamics test, which showed that knockdown of MBNL1-AS1 improved cardiac function in AMI model. Next, the myocardial infarction area was estimated by triphenyltetrazole chloride (TTC) staining, and the levels of cardiac troponin I (cTn-I) and creatine kinase-MB (CK-MB) were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) kit. The results revealed that silencing MBLN1-AS1 alleviated myocardial injury in AMI model. Additionally, MBNL1-AS1 knockdown inhibited apoptosis of myocardial cells and reduced the expression of apoptotic proteins. According to DIANA database and luciferase reporter assay, miR-132-3p was the direct target of MBNL1-AS1 and was negatively regulated by MBNL1-AS1. Furthermore, Targetscan database predicted that SRY-related high-mobility-group box 4 (SOX4) was the direct target of miR-132-3p and was regulated by MBNL1-AS1 through miR-132-3p. Moreover, overexpression of SOX4 partially eliminated effects of MBNL1-AS1 on myocardial cells. In conclusion, this investigation for the first time revealed that LncRNA MBNL1-AS1 was the potential target for treating AMI and expounded the underlying mechanisms of it.

lncRNA NRON knockdown alleviates hypoxia/reoxygenation (H/R)-induced cardiomyocyte apoptosis by upregulating HIF-1α expression

ABSTRACT

Acute myocardial infarction (AMI) has become the most common cause of death in the developed countries. However, its pathogenesis is poorly understood. Increasing studies have revealed that lncRNAs are important modulators of AMI development. This study aimed to explore the function of lncRNA noncoding repressor of nuclear factor of activated T cells (NRON) in hypoxia/reoxygenation (HR)-stimulated H9c2 cells. NRON expression in peripheral blood of AMI patients and H/R-stimulated H9c2 cells was measured by qRT-PCR. H9c2 cells were transfected with si-NRON or co-transfected with si-NRON and si-hypoxia-inducible factor-1 alpha (HIF-1α). The viability and apoptosis of these cells were evaluated by MTT assay and flow cytometer, respectively. In addition, HIF-1α, AKT/mTOR signal pathways, and ERK1/2 were detected by Western blot. NRON knockdown in the MI mouse model was conducted through adeno-associated virus (AAV) injection, and cardiac function was evaluated by motion-mode echocardiography. The results showed that NRON was highly expressed in peripheral blood of AMI patients and H/R-stimulated H9c2 cells. NRON knockdown promoted cell viability and inhibited cell apoptosis of H/R-stimulated H9c2 cells. Meanwhile, NRON knockdown also significantly attenuated heart damage and improved cardiac function in an AMI mouse model. Further, compared with si-normal control (NC), NRON knockdown increased the levels of HIF-1α, p-AKT, p-mTOR, and p-ERK1/2. HIF-1α knockdown reversed the effects of NRON knockdown in H/R-stimulated-H9c2 cells damage. Overall, our study revealed that NRON knockdown alleviated H/R-induced cardiomyocyte apoptosis by upregulating HIF-1α expression, suggesting that NRON might be a novel therapeutic target for AMI.

A pair of long intergenic non-coding RNA LINC00887 variants act antagonistically to control Carbonic Anhydrase IX transcription upon hypoxia in tongue squamous carcinoma progression

Background

Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) are important regulators in tumor progression. However, their biological functions and underlying mechanisms in hypoxia adaptation remain largely unclear.

Results

Here, we established a correlation between a Chr3q29-derived lncRNA gene and tongue squamous carcinoma (TSCC) by genome-wide analyses. Using RACE, we determined that two novel variants of this lncRNA gene are generated in TSCC, namely LINC00887_TSCC_short (887S) and LINC00887_TSCC_long (887L). RNA-sequencing in 887S or 887L loss-of-function cells identified their common downstream target as Carbonic Anhydrase IX (CA9), a gene known to be upregulated by hypoxia during tumor progression. Mechanistically, our results showed that the hypoxia-augmented 887S and constitutively expressed 887L functioned in opposite directions on tumor progression through the common target CA9. Upon normoxia, 887S and 887L interacted. Upon hypoxia, the two variants were separated. Each RNA recognized and bound to their responsive DNA cis-acting elements on CA9 promoter: 887L activated CA9’s transcription through recruiting HIF1α, while 887S suppressed CA9 through DNMT1-mediated DNA methylation.

Conclusions

We provided hypoxia-permitted functions of two antagonistic lncRNA variants to fine control the hypoxia adaptation through CA9.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12915-021-01112-2.

The Clinical Significance of Serum IL-33 and sST2 Alterations in the Post-Stroke Depression

Introduction

This study was to test whether the serum levels of IL-33 and sST2 are correlated with the development of depression after acute ischemic stroke.

Methods

Patients diagnosed with acute ischemic stroke were selected. This study took the 24-item Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAMD) (score ≥20) as the diagnostic criteria for depression. On the 21st day after admission, patients who met the depression diagnostic criteria were included in the depression group, and patients who failed to meet the diagnostic criteria were included in the non-depression group. The serum levels of IL-33, sST2 and hsCRP were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).

Results

On 1st day after stroke, compared with the non-depression group, there was no significant difference in the serum IL-33, sST2 and hsCRP levels in the depression group; on 21st day after stroke, compared with the non-depression group, the serum IL-33 and hsCRP levels were significantly increased, while the sST2 level was significantly decreased in the depression group. Correlation analysis showed that IL-33 was positively correlated with the depression quantitative score and hsCRP, while sST2 was negatively correlated with the depression quantitative score and hsCRP. Regression analysis showed that IL-33 and sST2 were independent risk factors for the depression after acute ischemic stroke.

Discussion

The abnormal alterations of serum IL-33 and sST2 levels in the stroke patients may serve as one of the risk factors for the occurrence and exacerbation of the depression, and its mechanism may be related to the promotion of inflammatory factor production in vivo.

Correlation of Long Non-coding RNA LncRNA-FA2H-2 With Inflammatory Markers in the Peripheral Blood of Patients With Coronary Heart Disease

Objective: To characterize the expression of long non-coding RNA LncRNA-FA2H-2 in coronary heart disease (CHD) and its correlation with inflammatory markers.

Methods: From December 2018 to December 2020, 316 patients at Henan Provincial People's Hospital who complained of chest tightness or chest pain and had coronary angiography to clarify their coronary artery conditions for definitive diagnoses were selected as the study subjects. Plasma was collected to detect white blood cells (WBCs), total cholesterol (TG), triglyceride cholesterol (TC), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), apolipoprotein A1 (ApoA1), and C-reactive protein (CRP) levels. Tumor necrosis factor (TNF-α), monocyte chemotactic protein 1 (MCP-1), vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1), intercellular cell adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1), and interleukin-6 (IL-6) levels were also measured using ELISA. The expression levels of lncRNA-FA2H-2 were measured using quantitative real-time PCR. The data obtained were analyzed by independent sample t-tests, rank sum tests, regression analyses, Pearson's or Spearman's correlation analyses, and receiver operating characteristic curves.

Results: (1) Compared with the control group, the differences in age, sex, diabetes, smoking, drinking, body mass index (BMI), WBC, TC, and LDL-C in CHD were not statistically significant, while the differences in hypertension, TG, HDL-C, ApoA1, and CRP were statistically significant. (2) In the grouping of coronary lesion branches, patients with age, sex, hypertension, diabetes, smoking, drinking, BMI, WBC, TC, LDL-C, HDL-C, and ApoA1 differences were not statistically significant, but TG and CRP differences were statistically significant. (3) The relative expressions of TNF-α, MCP-1, VCAM-1, ICAM-1, and IL-6 were significantly upregulated in the CHD group (P < 0.001). (4) The results showed that the relative levels of TNF-α, MCP-1, VCAM-1, ICAM-1, and IL-6 between the two comparative analyses (high risk, moderate risk, and low risk groups) were statistically significant. In addition, positive correlations were found between the Gensini score and TNF-α, MCP-1, VCAM-1, ICAM-1, and IL-6 in CHD patients. (5) LncRNA-FA2H-2 relative expression in the CHD group was significantly downregulated (P < 0.001). (6) The differences in the expression levels of LncRNA-FA2H-2 were statistically significant between the two comparative analyses (P < 0.01), except between the 2-branch lesion and 3-branch lesion groups. (7) LncRNA-FA2H-2 was not associated with age, sex, hypertension, diabetes, smoking, drinking, BMI, WBC, TG, TC, LDL-C, HDL-C, and ApoA1 (P > 0.05). (8) A correlation was found between LncRNA-FA2H-2 and MCP-1, and VCAM-1, ICAM-1, IL-6, and Gensini. (9) The results indicated that the relative levels of LncRNA-FA2H-2 between the two comparative analyses (high risk, moderate risk, and low risk groups) were statistically significant. A negative correlation was found between the Gensini score and LncRNA-FA2H-2. (10) ROC curve analyses of TNF-α, MCP-1, VCAM-1, ICAM-1, and IL-6 in CHD showed the area under the curve (AUC) = 0.832 (0.77, 0.893) with a cut-off value of 290.5, a sensitivity of 73%, and a specificity of 64%; AUC = 0.731 (0.653, 0.809) with a cut-off value of 396 and with a sensitivity of 59% and specificity of 79%; AUC = 0.822 (0.757, 0.887) with a cut-off value of 264 and with a sensitivity of 72% and specificity of 83%; AUC = 0.794 (0.715, 0.874) with a cut-off value of 201.5 and with a sensitivity of 75% and specificity of 65%; AUC = 0.760 (0.685, 0.834) with a cut-off value of 328 and with a sensitivity of 55% and specificity of 90%. (11) ROC curve analysis of LncRNA-FA2H-2 in CHD patients showed AUC = 0.834 (0.688, 0.85) with a cut-off value of 3.155 and with a sensitivity of 85% and specificity of 82%. (12) Logistic analyses showed that TNF-α, MCP-1, VCAM-1, IL-6, and LncRNA-FA2H-2 were independent risk factors for CHD.

Conclusions: The expression of LncRNA-FA2H-2 was reduced and inversely correlated with inflammation-related factors in CHD patients. LncRNA-FA2H-2 may have potential as an inflammatory marker for risk assessment of CHD development.

The Role of Long Non-coding RNAs in Sepsis-Induced Cardiac Dysfunction

Sepsis is a syndrome with life-threatening organ dysfunction induced by a dysregulated host response to infection. The heart is one of the most commonly involved organs during sepsis, and cardiac dysfunction, which is usually indicative of an extremely poor clinical outcome, is a leading cause of death in septic cases. Despite substantial improvements in the understanding of the mechanisms that contribute to the origin and responses to sepsis, the prognosis of sepsis-induced cardiac dysfunction (SICD) remains poor and its molecular pathophysiological changes are not well-characterized. The recently discovered group of mediators known as long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) have presented novel insights and opportunities to explore the mechanisms and development of SICD and may provide new targets for diagnosis and therapeutic strategies. LncRNAs are RNA transcripts of more than 200 nucleotides with limited or no protein-coding potential. Evidence has rapidly accumulated from numerous studies on how lncRNAs function in associated regulatory circuits during SICD. This review outlines the direct evidence of the effect of lncRNAs on SICD based on clinical trials and animal studies. Furthermore, potential functional lncRNAs in SICD that have been identified in sepsis studies are summarized with a proven biological function in research on other cardiovascular diseases.

The LINC01410/miR-122-5p/NDRG3 axis is involved in the proliferation and migration of osteosarcoma cells

PURPOSE

It is generally accepted that long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) function as vital regulators of tumor development and progression. Long intergenic non-coding RNA 1410 (LINC01410) is a newly discovered lncRNA, and its role in osteosarcoma (OS) is yet to be determined.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The expression of LINC01410, microRNA-122-5p (miR-122-5p), and N-myc downstream-regulated gene 3 (NDRG3) in OS tissues was determined using reverse transcription-quantitative PCR. Interactions between LINC01410, miR-122-5p, and NDRG3 were predicted and verified using bioinformatics tools and luciferase assays. Cell proliferation, migration, and invasion were detected using cell counting Kit-8 and Transwell assays.

RESULTS

LINC01410 was overexpressed in OS tissues. Furthermore, it was confirmed that LINC01410 facilitated OS cell proliferation and migration. Our studies also showed that LINC01410 binds to miR-122-5p, and miR-122-5p binds to NDRG3. Finally, we observed that LINC01410 knockdown inhibited the proliferation, invasion, and migration of OS cells. Knockdown of LINC01410 resulted in the upregulation of miR-122-5p and downregulation of NDRG3.

CONCLUSION

Our results demonstrated that the LINC01410/miR-122-5p/NDRG3 axis is involved in the progression of OS.

LncRNA FAM83H-AS1 maintains intervertebral disc tissue homeostasis and attenuates inflammation-related pain via promoting nucleus pulposus cell growth through miR-22-3p inhibition

Background

Intervertebral disc degeneration (IVDD) is regarded as the leading cause of low back pain, resulting in disability and a heavy burden on public health. Several studies have unveiled that long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) play a key role in the pathogenesis and progression of IVDD. In this study, we aimed to investigate the biological function and latent molecular mechanism of the lncRNA FAM83H antisense RNA 1 (FAM83H-AS1) in IVDD development.

Methods

Firstly, we established an IVDD model in rats using advanced glycation end products (AGEs) intradiscal injection. Subsequently, gain-of-function assays were conducted to investigate the role of FAM83H-AS1 in the progression of IVDD. Bioinformatics analysis, RNA pull down assay and rescue experiments were employed to shed light on the molecular mechanism underlying FAM83H-AS1 involving in IVDD.

Results

Our findings verified that AGEs treatment aggravated IVDD damage, and FAM83H-AS1 was downregulated in the IVDD group. Additionally, overexpression of FAM83H-AS1 contributed to the growth of nucleus pulposus (NP) cells and ameliorated IVDD injury. It was revealed that FAM83H-AS1 possessed the speculated binding sites of miR-22-3p. More importantly, we confirmed that FAM83H-AS1 functioned as a sponge of miR-22-3p in IVDD. Lastly, we demonstrated that miR-22-3p mediated the impact of FAM83H-AS1 on cell proliferation, ECM degradation, and inflammation.

Conclusions

Our study indicated that FAM83H-AS1 relieved IVDD deterioration through sponging miR-22-3p, and provides novel insights into the mechanisms underlying FAM83H-AS1 in IVDD progression.

Moringa oleifera seeds mitigate myocardial injury and prevent ventricular failure induced by myocardial infarction

Moringa oleifera (MOI), an edible plant in the family of Moringaceae, has been used as food and medicine in many Asian countries. MOI exhibits neuroprotective, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and hypoglycemic functions. However, whether MOI seeds play a significant role in ischemic heart diseases has not been investigated. In this study, we found MOI seeds could improve the 28-day survival rate and the cardiac functions of myocardial infarction (MI) mice, with significantly increased ejection fraction and fractional shortening by day 28 post-MI. Correspondingly, the infarctional areas of heart were markedly decreased. Mechanistically, MOI seeds inhibited MI-induced apoptosis and repressed the degree of cardiac fibrosis. Further mechanistic studies indicated cardioprotective the effects of MOI seeds mainly via the suppression of oxidative and nitrosative stress. Taken together, our work suggested a beneficial role of MOI seeds in MI-induced myocardial damage and cardiac remodeling by suppressing cardiomyocyte apoptosis and reducing collagen production, highlighting a promising therapeutic strategy for MI.

SP1-induced SNHG14 aggravates hypertrophic response in in vitro model of cardiac hypertrophy via up-regulation of PCDH17

Cardiac hypertrophy (CH) is a common cardiac disease and is closely associated with heart failure. Protocadherin 17 (PCDH17) was reported to aggravate myocardial infarction. Present study was designed to illustrate the impact of PCDH17 and the mechanism of PCDH17 expression regulation in CH. CH model in vivo and in vitro was established by transverse aortic constriction (TAC) and Ang‐II treatment. Hypertrophy was evaluated in PMC and H9c2 cells by examining cell surface area and hypertrophic markers. Results demonstrated that PCDH17 was up‐regulated in CH in vivo and in vitro. PCDH17 knock‐down alleviated hypertrophic response in Ang‐II‐induced cardiomyocytes. By means of ENCORI database and a series of mechanism assays, miR‐322‐5p and miR‐384‐5p were identified to interact with and inhibit PCDH17. Next, lncRNA SNHG14 (small nucleolar RNA host gene 14) was validated to sponge both miR‐322‐5p and miR‐384‐5p to elevate PCDH17 level. The subsequent rescue assays revealed that miR‐322‐5p and miR‐384‐5p restored SNHG14 depletion‐mediated suppression on hypertrophy in Ang‐II‐induced cardiomyocytes. Besides, Sp1 transcription factor (SP1) was verified as the transcription factor activating both SNHG14 and PCDH17. Both SNHG14 and PCDH17 reversed SP1 knock‐down‐mediated repression on hypertrophy in Ang‐II‐induced cardiomyocytes. Together, present study first uncovered ceRNA network of SNHG14/miR‐322‐5p/miR‐384‐5p/PCDH17 in Ang‐II‐induced cardiomyocytes.

LncRNA Kcnq1ot1 renders cardiomyocytes apoptosis in acute myocardial infarction model by up-regulating Tead1

Acute myocardial infarction (AMI) is a major cardiovascular disease with high mortality worldwide. Hypoxia is a key inducing factor for AMI. We aimed to examine the expression and functions of Kcnq1ot1 (KCNQ1 overlapping transcript 1) in hypoxia-induced cardiomyocytes in the process of AMI. The left anterior descending coronary artery ligation (LAD) was used for inducing in-vivo AMI model and the primary cardiomyocytes were extracted; in-vitro H9c2 cell model was simulated by hypoxia treatment. TUNEL, flow cytometry and JC-1 assay were carried out to evaluate cell apoptosis. Mechanism assays including luciferase reporter assay and RIP assay revealed interplays between RNAs. To begin with, Kcnq1ot1 was revealed to be conspicuously upregulated in myocardium infracted zone and border zone within 2 days since establishment of the model. Moreover, inhibition of Kcnq1ot1 protected cardiomyocytes against hypoxia-triggered cell apoptosis during the process of AMI. Then, miR-466k and miR-466i-5p were proved to bind with Kcnq1ot1 and participated in Kcnq1ot1-mediated cardiomyocyte injury under hypoxia. Subsequently, Kcnq1ot1 was found to elevate Tead1 (TEA domain transcription factor 1) expression via sponging miR-466k and miR-466i-5p. Finally, it was verified that Kcnq1ot1 regulated hypoxia-induced cardiomyocyte injury dependent on Tead1. In conclusion, Kcnq1ot1 sponged miR-466k and miR-466i-5p to up-regulate Tead1, thus triggering cardiomyocyte injury in the process of AMI.