LncRNA SNHG16 promotes pulmonary fibrosis by targeting miR-455-3p to regulate the Notch2 pathway

LncRNA SYISL promotes fibroblast myofibroblast transition via miR-23a-mediated TRIOBP regulation

Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) play critical roles in the process of lung tissue injury and repair which abnormal repair leads to disease including fibrosis, yet the physiopathology remains elusive. Here, we identified the lncRNA SYISL as a key regulator that is markedly upregulated in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) patients and bleomycin (BLM)-induced murine fibrotic lungs. Inhibition of SYISL significantly attenuates TGF-β1-driven fibroblast myofibroblast transition (FMT), a process confers to tissue injury repair and regeneration. Which demonstrates SYISL interaction with miR-23a function as a potent suppressor of fibrotic activation. Mechanistically, SYISL acts as a competing endogenous RNA (ceRNA) that directly binds miR-23a, thereby derepressing TRIO and F-actin binding protein (TRIOBP) via targeting its 3' untranslated region (UTR). Knockdown of TRIOBP amplifies the anti-fibrotic effects of miR-23a mimics while abolishing the pro-fibrotic activity of miR-23a inhibitors, establishing TRIOBP as a downstream effector of the SYISL/miR-23a axis. In vivo, intratracheal delivery of SYISL-targeting shRNA via adeno-associated virus (AAV) robustly reduces collagen deposition, hydroxyproline content, and expression of fibrotic markers in BLM-induced mice. Our findings elucidate a lncRNA-driven regulatory circuit in which SYISL promotes pulmonary fibrosis by sequestering miR-23a to elevate TRIOBP expression, nominating this axis as a novel therapeutic target for IPF.

Noncoding RNA network crosstalk in organ fibrosis

Fibrosis is a process involving excessive accumulation of extracellular matrix components, the severity of which interferes with the function of the organ in question. With the advances in RNA sequencing and in-depth molecular studies, a large number of current studies have pointed out the irreplaceable role of non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) in the pathophysiological development of organ fibrosis. Here, by summarizing the results of a large number of studies on the interactions between ncRNAs, some studies have found that long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) and circular RNAs (circRNAs), among others, are able to act as sponges or decoy decoys for microRNAs (miRNAs), act as competing endogenous RNAs (ceRNAs) to regulate the expression of miRNAs, and subsequently act on different mRNA targets, playing a role in the development of fibrosis in a wide variety of organs, including the heart, liver, kidneys, and spleen. parenchymal organs, including heart, liver, kidney, and spleen, play important roles in the development of fibrosis. These findings elucidate the intricate involvement of the lncRNA/circRNA-miRNA-mRNA axis in the pathophysiological processes underpinning organ fibrosis, thereby enhancing our comprehension of the onset and progression of this condition. Furthermore, they introduce novel potential therapeutic targets within the realm of ncRNA-based therapeutics, offering avenues for the development of innovative drugs aimed at mitigating or reversing the effects of organ fibrosis.

Advances in the Study of Non-Coding RNA in the Signaling Pathway of Pulmonary Fibrosis

Pulmonary fibrosis is a group of chronic, progressive, and irreversible interstitial lung diseases, which are common to most end-stage lung diseases and are one of the most difficult diseases of the respiratory system. In recent years, due to the frequent occurrence of air pollution and smog, the incidence of pulmonary fibrosis in China has increased year by year, the morbidity and mortality rates of pulmonary fibrosis have gradually increased and the age of the disease tends to be younger. However, the pathogenesis of pulmonary fibrosis is not yet fully understood and is needed to further explore new drug targets. Studies have shown that non-coding RNAs play an important role in regulating the process of pulmonary fibrosis, non-coding RNAs and their specifically expressed can promote or inhibit the process. Here, we review the role of some in the regulation of pulmonary fibrosis signaling pathways and provide new ideas for the clinical diagnosis and treatment of pulmonary fibrosis.

SNHG16/miR-205/HDAC5 is involved in the progression of renal fibrosis

Renal interstitial fibrosis (RIF) represents an irreversible and progressive pathological manifestation of chronic renal disease, which ultimately leads to end-stage renal disease. Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) have been suggested to be involved in the progression of RIF. Small nucleolar RNA host gene 16 (SNHG16), a member of lncRNAs, has been found to be involved in the progression of pulmonary fibrosis. This paper first researched the effect of SNHG16 on renal fibrosis. We established a unilateral ureteral obstruction (UUO)-induced mouse RIF model by ligation of the left ureter to evaluate the biological function of SNHG16 in RIF. As a result, SNHG16 was upregulated in UUO-induced renal fibrotic tissues. Knockdown of SNHG16 inhibited RIF and reduced alpha-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA), fibronectin, and college IV expression. miR-205 was a target of SNHG16, and downregulated in UUO-induced renal fibrotic tissues. Inhibition of miR-205 promoted RIF and increased the expression of α-SMA, college IV, and fibronectin. Overexpression of SNHG16 promoted the UUO-induced RIF, but miR-205 abrogated this effect of SNHG16. Histone deacetylase 5 (HDAC5) showed high expression in UUO-induced renal fibrotic tissues. Knockdown of HDAC5 significantly reduced α-SMA, fibronectin, and college IV expression in renal tissues of UUO-induced mice. Inhibition of miR-205 promoted HDAC5 expression, but knockdown of SNHG16 inhibited HDAC5 expression in renal tissues of UUO-induced mice. In conclusion, SHNG16 is highly expressed in renal fibrotic tissues of UUO-induced mice. Knockdown of SHNG16 may prevent UUO-induced RIF by indirectly upregulating HDAC5 via targeting miR-205. SHNG16 may be novel target for treating renal fibrosis.

Long noncoding RNA SNHG16 regulates TLR4-mediated autophagy and NETosis formation in alveolar hemorrhage associated with systemic lupus erythematosus

BACKGROUND

Dysregulated long noncoding RNA (lncRNA) expression with increased apoptosis has been demonstrated in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients with alveolar hemorrhage (AH). SNHG16, a lncRNA, can enhance pulmonary inflammation by sponging microRNAs, and upregulate toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) expression via stabilizing its mRNAs. TRAF6, a TLR4 downstream signal transducer, can induce autophagy and NETosis formation. In this study, we investigated whether SNHG16 could regulate TLR4-mediated autophagy and NETosis formation in SLE-associated AH.

METHODS

Expression of SNHG16, TLR4 and TRAF6 and cell death processes were examined in lung tissues and peripheral blood (PB) leukocytes from AH patients associated with SLE and other autoimmune diseases, and in the lungs and spleen from a pristane-induced C57BL/6 mouse AH model. SNHG16-overexpressed or -silenced alveolar and myelocytic cells were stimulated with lipopolysaccharide (LPS), a TLR4 agonist, for analyzing autophagy and NETosis, respectively. Pristane-injected mice received the intra-pulmonary delivery of lentivirus (LV)-SNHG16 for overexpression and prophylactic/therapeutic infusion of short hairpin RNA (shRNA) targeting SNHG16 to evaluate the effects on AH. Renal SNHG16 expression was also examined in lupus nephritis (LN) patients and a pristane-induced BALB/c mouse LN model.

RESULTS

Up-regulated SNHG16, TLR4 and TRAF6 expression with increased autophagy and NETosis was demonstrated in the SLE-AH lungs. In such patients, up-regulated SNHG16, TLR4 and TRAF6 expression was found in PB mononuclear cells with increased autophagy and in PB neutrophils with increased NETosis. There were up-regulated TLR4 expression and increased LPS-induced autophagy and NETosis in SNHG16-overexpressed cells, while down-regulated TLR4 expression and decreased LPS-induced autophagy and NETosis in SNHG16-silenced cells. Pristane-injected lung tissues had up-regulated SNHG16, TLR4/TRAF6 levels and increased in situ autophagy and NETosis formation. Intra-pulmonary LV-SNHG16 delivery enhanced AH through up-regulating TLR4/TRAF6 expression with increased cell death processes, while intra-pulmonary prophylactic and early therapeutic sh-SNHG16 delivery suppressed AH by down-regulating TLR4/TRAF6 expression with reduced such processes. In addition, there was decreased renal SNHG16 expression in LN patients and mice.

CONCLUSIONS

Our results demonstrate that lncRNA SNHG16 regulates TLR4-mediated autophagy and NETosis formation in the human and mouse AH lungs, and provide a therapeutic potential of intra-pulmonary delivery of shRNA targeting SNHG16 in this SLE-related lethal manifestation.

IL-27 induces autophagy through regulation of the DNMT1/lncRNA MEG3/ERK/p38 axis to reduce pulmonary fibrosis

PURPOSE

Previous studies have shown that interleukin-27 (IL-27) can reduce bleomycin (BLM)-induced pulmonary fibrosis (PF). However, the underlying mechanism by which IL-27 attenuates PF is not fully clear.

METHODS

In this research, we used BLM to construct a PF mouse model, and MRC-5 cells stimulated by transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1) were used to construct a PF model in vitro. The lung tissue status was observed by Masson and hematoxylin and eosin (HE) staining. To detect gene expression, RT‒qPCR was used. The protein levels were detected by western blotting and immunofluorescence staining. EdU and ELISA were used to detect cell proliferation viability and hydroxyproline (HYP) content, respectively.

RESULTS

Aberrant IL-27 expression was observed in BLM-induced mouse lung tissues, and the use of IL-27 attenuated mouse lung tissue fibrosis. TGF-β1 induced autophagy inhibition in MRC-5 cells, and IL-27 alleviated MRC-5 cell fibrosis by activating autophagy. The mechanism is inhibition of DNA methyltransferase 1 (DNMT1)-mediated lncRNA MEG3 methylation and ERK/p38 signaling pathway activation. Overexpression of DNMT1, knockdown of lncRNA MEG3, autophagy inhibitor or ERK/p38 signaling pathway inhibitors reversed the positive effect of IL-27 in a lung fibrosis model in vitro.

CONCLUSION

In conclusion, our study shows that IL-27 upregulates MEG3 expression through inhibition of DNMT1-mediated lncRNA MEG3 promoter methylation, which in turn inhibits ERK/p38 signaling pathway-induced autophagy and attenuates BLM-induced PF, providing a contribution to the elucidation of the potential mechanisms by which IL-27 attenuates PF.

Long noncoding RNAs: glycolysis regulators in gynaecologic cancers

The three most common gynaecologic cancers that seriously threaten female lives and health are ovarian cancer, cervical cancer, and endometrial cancer. Glycolysis plays a vital role in gynaecologic cancers. Several long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) are known to function as oncogenic molecules. LncRNAs impact downstream target genes by acting as ceRNAs, guides, scaffolds, decoys, or signalling molecules. However, the role of glycolysis-related lncRNAs in regulating gynaecologic cancers remains poorly understood. In this review, we emphasize the functional roles of many lncRNAs that have been found to promote glycolysis in gynaecologic cancers and discuss reasonable strategies for future research.

LncRNA AC108925 promotes osteoblast differentiation of tendon-derived stem cells by targeting miR-146a-3p

It has been reported that tendon-derived stem cells(TDSCs) conduce to the ostosis in tendon diseases, and the molecular mechanism needs to be discussed. To investigate the function and mechanism of LncRNA in tendinopathy. Tendon of tendinopathy patients and health controls were obtained, and sequencing analysis have been performed to detect the significantly expressed genes and non-coding RNAs. Moreover, to further discuss LncRNA AC108925 in tendinopathy, tendinopathy animal models have been established, and the expression of LncRNA AC108925 expression was examined by RT-qPCR methods. Furthermore, hTDSCs have been treated by osteogenic medium, and the modulating function of LncRNA AC108925 on the osteoblast differentiation of hTDSCs have been examined. Sequencing analysis showed that AC108925 a dramatically elevated LncRNA, and results of animal and cells studies confirmed the finding. Knockdown AC108925 inhibited the osteogenic differentiation of osteogenic medium treated TDSCs by decreasing the expression of osteogenic markers. Furthermore, miR-146a-3p is a target of AC108925 in TDSCs, and miR-146a-3p is a negative modulator of osteogenic differentiation of hTDSCs by inhibiting the effects of AC108925 shRNA on osteogenic differentiation of hTDSCs. AC108925 can regulate the osteogenic differentiation of hTDSCs via regulating the miR-146a-3p. Targeting the AC108925/miR-146a-3p axis might be a latent way to treat tendinopathy.

The silencing of lnc-NONHSAT071210 suppresses the proliferation, fibrosis, migration, and invasion of TGFβ1-treated lung epithelial cells

Background

Pulmonary fibrosis, which is a frequent manifestation of connective tissue disease (CTD), is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality. However, the role of long non-coding ribonucleic acids (lncRNAs) in CTD-associated pulmonary fibrosis requires clarification. This study sought to examine the effects of lnc-NONHSAT071210 on the phenotypes of transforming growth factor β1 (TGFβ1)-treated lung epithelial cells.

Methods

The GeneChip was used to identify differentially expressed lncRNAs in CTD-associated pulmonary fibrosis patients. After lnc-NONHSAT071210 was knocked down in the TGFβ1-challenged lung epithelial cells, cell viability, cell cycle, migration, and invasion were estimated by Cell Counting Kit-8 assays, a flow cytometry analysis, wound-healing assays, and transwell assays, respectively. The expression and levels of the fibrosis-associated factors were examined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays, RT-qPCR, and western blots.

Results

The expression of the top 7 most significantly upregulated lncRNAs in the CTD-associated pulmonary fibrosis patients was depicted in a heat map and examined by reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR). The results showed that the expression of lnc-NONHSAT071210 was significantly increased in the tissues of the CTD-associated pulmonary fibrosis patients (P<0.001). The silencing of Lnc-NONHSAT071210 suppressed proliferation, migration, and invasion in the TGFβ1-exposed alveolar epithelial cells (P<0.001).

Conclusions

Thus, lnc-NONHSAT071210 expression was increased in the tissues of the CTD-associated pulmonary fibrosis patients and TGFβ1-treated lung epithelial cells, and TGFβ1-induced lung epithelial cell injury was alleviated by impeding the expression of lnc-NONHSAT071210.

LncRNA HOTAIRM1 Involved in Nano NiO-Induced Pulmonary Fibrosis via Regulating PRKCB DNA Methylation-Mediated JNK/c-Jun Pathway

Nickel oxide nanoparticles (Nano NiO) lead to pulmonary fibrosis, and the mechanisms are associated with epigenetics. This study aimed to clarify the regulatory relationship among long noncoding RNA HOXA transcript antisense RNA myeloid-specific 1 (HOTAIRM1), DNA methylation and expression of protein kinase C beta (PRKCB), and JNK/c-Jun pathway in Nano NiO-induced pulmonary fibrosis. Therefore, we constructed the rat pulmonary fibrosis model by intratracheal instillation of Nano NiO twice a week for 9 weeks and established the collagen deposition model by treating BEAS-2B cells with Nano NiO for 24 h. Here, the DNA methylation pattern was analyzed by whole-genome bisulfite sequencing in rat fibrotic lung tissues. Then, we integrated mRNA transcriptome data and found 93 DNA methylation genes with transcriptional significance. Meanwhile, the data showed that Nano NiO caused the down-regulation of lncRNA HOTAIRM1, the hypomethylation, and up-regulation of PRKCB2, JNK/c-Jun pathway activation, and collagen deposition (the up-regulated Col-I and α-SMA) both in vivo and in vitro. DNMTs inhibitor 5-AZDC attenuated Nano NiO-induced PRKCB2 expression, JNK/c-Jun pathway activation, and collagen deposition, but overexpression of PRKCB2 aggravated the changes mentioned indicators in Nano NiO-induced BEAS-2B cells. Furthermore, JNK/c-Jun pathway inhibitor (SP600125) alleviated Nano NiO-induced excessive collagen formation. Additionally, overexpression of HOTAIRM1 restrained the PRKCB hypomethylation, the activation of JNK/c-Jun pathway, and collagen formation induced by Nano NiO in BEAS-2B cells. In conclusion, these findings demonstrated that HOTAIRM1 could arrest Nano NiO-induced pulmonary fibrosis by suppressing the PRKCB DNA methylation-mediated JNK/c-Jun pathway.

Long non-coding RNA SNHG16 silencing inhibits proliferation and inflammation in Mycobacterium tuberculosis-infected macrophages by targeting miR-140-5p expression

OBJECTIVE

The study investigated the clinical diagnostic value of long non-coding RNA (LncRNA) small nucleolar RNA host gene 16 (SNHG16) and explored its underlying molecular mechanism through Mycobacterium tuberculosis (M. tuberculosiinfection of macrophages.

METHODS

RT-qPCR analysis of the serum SNHG16 levels of the 66 healthy individuals, 67 latent TB (LTB) patients, and 67 active TB (ATB) patients. The receiver-operating characteristic (ROC) curve to detect the clinical diagnostic value of SNHG16 in TB patients. In vitro, M. tuberculosis-infected macrophages, CCK-8 and ELISA to detect cell proliferation and inflammatory factor levels. Luciferase reported assay was performed to analyze the targeting relationship between SNHG16 and miR-140-5p.

RESULTS

SNHG16 was significantly elevated in TB patients, and among them, ATB patients were higher than LTB patients. ROC confirmed that SNHG16 could distinguish LTB patients from healthy controls, and ATB patients from LTB patients, and can be used as a good diagnostic biomarker for TB. M. tuberculosis infection increased SNHG16 levels and promoted the proliferation and inflammation in macrophages. However, SNHG16 silencing significantly reversed the effect of infection. miR-140-5p, a direct target miRNA of SNHG16, was down-regulated in TB patients and was negatively correlated with SNHG16. When miR-140-5p was inhibited, the alleviating effect of SNHG16 silencing on M. tuberculosis infection proliferation and inflammation was significantly reversed.

CONCLUSION

The present results suggested that SNHG16 may be a new diagnostic biomarker for TB patients and SNHG16 silencing may alleviate TB by inhibiting the proliferation of macrophages in TB by regulation miR-140-5p.