LncRNA COL1A2-AS1 promotes skin fibroblast apoptosis by repressing p-Smad3 and promoting β-catenin expression

Profiling of collagen and extracellular matrix deposition from cell culture using in vitro ExtraCellular matrix mass spectrometry imaging (ivECM-MSI)

While numerous approaches have been reported towards understanding single cell regulation, there is limited understanding of single cell production of extracellular matrix phenotypes. Collagens are major proteins of the extracellular microenvironment extensively used in basic cell culture, tissue engineering, and biomedical applications. However, identifying compositional regulation of collagen remains challenging. Here, we report the development of In vitro ExtraCellular Matrix Mass Spectrometry Imaging (ivECM-MSI) as a tool to rapidly and simultaneously define collagen subtypes from coatings and basic cell culture applications. The tool uses the mass spectrometry imaging platform with reference libraries to produce visual and numerical data types. The method is highly integrated with basic in vitro strategies as it may be used with conventional cell chambers on minimal numbers of cells and with minimal changes to biological experiments. Applications tested include semi-quantitation of collagen composition in culture coatings, time course collagen deposition, deposition altered by gene knockout, and changes induced by drug treatment. This approach provides new access to proteomic information on how cell types respond to and change the extracellular microenvironment and provides a holistic understanding of both the cell and extracellular response.

Peptide deregulated in hypertrophic scar-1 alleviates hypertrophic scar fibrosis by targeting focal adhesion kinase and pyruvate kinase M2 and remodeling the metabolic landscape

Hypertrophic scarring is a fibrotic skin disease characterized by excessive deposition of collagens. Emerging evidence has suggested important roles for peptides in fibrosis-related diseases. Here, we demonstrate that a skin-derived endogenous peptide, peptide deregulated in hypertrophic scar-1 (PDHS1), with the sequence IATTTASAATAAAIGATPRAK, inhibits cell proliferation, promotes apoptosis, decreases the proportion of cells in S phase, and decreases collagen synthesis in hypertrophic scar fibroblasts. Additionally, treatment with PDHPS1 alleviates hypertrophic scarring in a rabbit ear model. PDHPS1 was found to bind to focal adhesion kinase (FAK) and to decrease its activity. PDHPS1 was also shown to bind to pyruvate kinase M2 (PKM2) and to decreased its expression. Smad2 phosphorylation is also inhibited by treatment with PDHPS1. Overexpression of FAK rescues the decreased expression of COL3A1 induced by PDHPS1 treatment. Targeted metabolomics revealed that PDHPS1 reprogramed metabolism that related to amino acid synthesis, leading to decreases of the key glycolysis intermediates glucose-6-phosphate and fructose-6-phosphate. These results demonstrated that the endogenous peptide PDHPS1 alleviates hypertrophic scar fibrosis in vitro and in vivo by targeting FAK and PKM2 and remodeling the metabolic landscape. Overall, treatment with PDHPS1 is a potential therapeutic strategy for hypertrophic scarring.

Identification of lncRNA expression profiles in pediatric localized scleroderma

The role and potential molecular mechanism of inflammatory cells in pediatric localized scleroderma are poorly investigated. In this study, we first investigated the profiling of inflammatory cells in skin samples from pediatric localized scleroderma. Among them, CD4+ T-cells were up-regulated. Co-culture dermal fibroblasts with CD4+ T-cells promoted fibrosis of fibroblasts. Candidate lncRNAs were further explored by lncRNAs-seq between the normal skin tissues and pediatric localized scleroderma tissues, and the lncRNAs-seq between fibroblasts co-cultured with CD4+ T lymphocytes and control fibroblasts. By comparing the two datasets, we identified eight up-regulated and three down-regulated lncRNAs, which were the potential lncRNAs for the phenotype of pediatric localized scleroderma. Here, we identified the CD4+ T-cells infiltration in pediatric localized scleroderma and potential lncRNAs for the treatment of pediatric localized scleroderma.

Exploring Long Non-Coding RNAs Associated with IP3/DAG Signaling Pathway as Potential Biomarkers Involved in Mast Cell Degranulation in Chronic Spontaneous Urticaria with 2-Year Follow-Up

Purpose

Chronic spontaneous urticaria (CSU) pathogenesis involves mast cell degranulation induced by the inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate/diacylglycerol (IP3/DAG) pathway, but the condition lacks specific biomarkers. This study was performed to investigate long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) expression profiles, identify those associated with IP3/DAG pathway, and assess their diagnostic and prognostic value for CSU.

Methods

Ten samples were selected from CSU and control groups, and microarray was performed to screen differentially expressed (DE) lncRNAs and mRNAs. Bioinformatic and co-expression network analyses were used to identify lncRNAs associated with IP3/DAG pathway. Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction was used to validate lncRNA expression levels. Combined with disease characteristics and serum indices detected with enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays, Spearman analysis and logistic regression were applied to analyze lncRNA-associated disease risk. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves and 2-year follow-up data were applied to evaluate lncRNA diagnostic and prognostic value.

Results

A total of 678 up- and 573 downregulated DE lncRNAs and 609 up- and 176 downregulated DE mRNAs were identified. Seven lncRNAs (upregulated T264761, T280622, ENST00000587970, T224062, ENST00000562459, and his-1_RNA_dna; downregulated ENST00000417930) were associated with the IP3/DAG pathway. D-dimer and histamine levels were significantly different between the two groups. Correlation analysis showed that his-1_RNA_dna positively correlated with the frequency of symptom appearance, while his-1_RNA_dna, ENST00000417930, T264761, and T280622 negatively correlated with the maximum wheal diameter. Regression analysis showed T264761 was associated with CSU risk. ROC analysis showed that the specificity of T264761 was 90%, with an area under the curve of 0.666. In follow-up, the rate of well-controlled disease in the low T264761 expression group was 82.61%.

Conclusion

This study established lncRNA and mRNA expression profiles in CSU and identified lncRNAs associated with IP3/DAG pathway, which is mechanistically involved in this disease. T264761 may be a novel biomarker for CSU, but further study is needed to confirm its specific mechanism.