GDF15 Regulates Malat-1 Circular RNA and Inactivates NFκB Signaling Leading to Immune Tolerogenic DCs for Preventing Alloimmune Rejection in Heart Transplantation

Proteome-Wide Mendelian Randomisation Identifies Causal Links of Plasma Proteins With Periodontitis

OBJECTIVE

Periodontitis is a complex and multifactorial disease and it is challenging to decipher its underlying causes and mechanisms. This study attempted to explore potential circulating proteins in connection to periodontitis through proteome-wide Mendelian randomisation (MR).

METHODS

We analysed 1722 circulating proteins to identify prospective drug targets for tackling periodontitis, using the genomic dataset from the FinnGen study. Two-sample MR was conducted to evaluate the bidirectional relationship between circulating proteins and periodontitis risk. A dataset from the UK Biobank was used to validate the findings. Single-cell analysis was performed to assess the cellular expression of the identified proteins within gingival tissues.

RESULTS

MR analyses found that genetically predicted circulating levels of von Willebrand factor A domain-containing 1 (von Willebrand factor A domain containing 1 [VWA1], odds ratios: 0.94, 95% CI 0.92-0.97, P = 1.28 × 10-5) were inversely associated with periodontitis. In contrast, the level of growth differentiation factor 15 (growth differentiation factor 15 [GDF15], odds ratios: 1.05, 95% CI 1.02-1.07, P = 2.12 × 10-5) might be associated with an increased risk of periodontitis. Single-cell analysis indicated that VWA1 was primarily expressed in endothelial cells of healthy gingival tissues, while the main source of GDF15 was not derived from periodontal cells.

CONCLUSIONS

The present study suggests that certain plasma proteins like VWA1 and GDF15 may be potentially indicative of the risk and susceptibility to periodontitis. These proteins could possibly be the potential therapeutic targets for treating periodontitis, and further investigation is highly warranted.

Growth differentiation factor 15 alleviates diastolic dysfunction in mice with experimental diabetic cardiomyopathy

Growth differentiation factor 15 (GDF15) is a peptide with utility in obesity, as it decreases appetite and promotes weight loss. Because obesity increases the risk for type 2 diabetes (T2D) and cardiovascular disease, it is imperative to understand the cardiovascular actions of GDF15, especially since elevated GDF15 levels are an established biomarker for heart failure. As weight loss should be encouraged in the early stages of obesity-related prediabetes/T2D, where diabetic cardiomyopathy is often present, we assessed whether treatment with GDF15 influences its pathology. We observed that GDF15 treatment alleviates diastolic dysfunction in mice with T2D independent of weight loss. This cardioprotection was associated with a reduction in cardiac inflammation, which was likely mediated via indirect actions, as direct treatment of adult mouse cardiomyocytes and differentiated THP-1 human macrophages with GDF15 failed to alleviate lipopolysaccharide-induced inflammation. Therapeutic manipulation of GDF15 action may thus have utility for both obesity and diabetic cardiomyopathy.

A novel protein encoded by circLARP1B promotes the proliferation and migration of vascular smooth muscle cells by suppressing cAMP signaling

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

Circular RNA (circRNA) is closely related to atherosclerosis (AS) incidence and progression, but its regulatory mechanism in AS needs further elucidation. AS development is significantly influenced by abnormal vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) growth and migration. This study explored the potential protein role of circLARP1B in VSMC proliferation and migration.

METHODS

We performed whole-transcriptome sequencing in human normal arterial intima and advanced atherosclerotic plaques to screen for differentially expressed circRNAs. The sequencing results were combined with database analysis to screen for circRNAs with coding ability. Real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction was utilized to assess circLARP1B expression levels in atherosclerotic plaque tissues and cells. circLARP1B-243aa function and pathway in VSMCs growth and migration were studied by scratch, transwell, 5-ethynyl-2'-deoxyuridine, cell counting kit-8, and Western blot experiments.

RESULTS

We found that circLARP1B was downregulated in atherosclerotic plaque tissue and promoted the proliferation and migration of VSMCs. circLARP1B encodes a novel protein with a length of 243 amino acids. Through functional experiments, we confirmed the role of circLARP1B-243aa in enhancing VSMCs migration and proliferation. Mechanistically, circLARP1B-243aa promotes VSMCs migration and growth by upregulating phosphodiesterase 4C to inhibit the cyclic adenosine monophosphate signaling pathway.

CONCLUSIONS

Our results suggested that circLARP1B could promote VSMCs growth and migration through the encoded protein circLARP1B-243aa. Therefore, it could be a treatment target and biomarker for AS.

Growth/differentiation factor 15 (GDF15) expression in the heart after myocardial infarction and cardioprotective effect of pre-ischemic rGDF15 administration

Growth/differentiation factor-15 (GDF15) is considered an unfavourable prognostic biomarker for cardiovascular disease in clinical data, while experimental studies suggest it has cardioprotective potential. This study focuses on the direct cardiac effects of GDF15 during ischemia-reperfusion injury in Wistar male rats, employing concentrations relevant to patients at high cardiovascular risk. Initially, we examined circulating levels and heart tissue expression of GDF15 in rats subjected to ischemia-reperfusion and sham operations in vivo. We then evaluated the cardiac effects of GDF15 both in vivo and ex vivo, administering recombinant GDF15 either before 30 min of ischemia (preconditioning) or at the onset of reperfusion (postconditioning). We compared infarct size and cardiac contractile recovery between control and rGDF15-treated rats. Contrary to our expectations, ischemia-reperfusion did not increase GDF15 plasma levels compared to sham-operated rats. However, cardiac protein and mRNA expression increased in the infarcted zone of the ischemic heart after 24 h of reperfusion. Notably, preconditioning with rGDF15 had a cardioprotective effect, reducing infarct size both in vivo (65 ± 5% in control vs. 42 ± 6% in rGDF15 groups) and ex vivo (60 ± 4% in control vs. 45 ± 4% in rGDF15 groups), while enhancing cardiac contractile recovery ex vivo. However, postconditioning with rGDF15 did not alter infarct size or the recovery of contractile parameters in vivo or ex vivo. These novel findings reveal that the short-term exogenous administration of rGDF15 before ischemia, at physiologically relevant levels, protects the heart against ischemia-reperfusion injury in both in vivo and ex vivo settings. The ex vivo results indicate that rGDF15 operates independently of the inflammatory, endocrine and nervous systems, suggesting direct and potent cardioprotective properties against ischemia-reperfusion injury.

GDF-15 Suppresses Puromycin Aminonucleoside-Induced Podocyte Injury by Reducing Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress and Glomerular Inflammation

GDF15, also known as MIC1, is a member of the TGF-beta superfamily. Previous studies reported elevated serum levels of GDF15 in patients with kidney disorder, and its association with kidney disease progression, while other studies identified GDF15 to have protective effects. To investigate the potential protective role of GDF15 on podocytes, we first performed in vitro studies using a Gdf15-deficient podocyte cell line. The lack of GDF15 intensified puromycin aminonucleoside (PAN)-triggered endoplasmic reticulum stress and induced cell death in cultivated podocytes. This was evidenced by elevated expressions of Xbp1 and ER-associated chaperones, alongside AnnexinV/PI staining and LDH release. Additionally, we subjected mice to nephrotoxic PAN treatment. Our observations revealed a noteworthy increase in both GDF15 expression and secretion subsequent to PAN administration. Gdf15 knockout mice displayed a moderate loss of WT1+ cells (podocytes) in the glomeruli compared to wild-type controls. However, this finding could not be substantiated through digital evaluation. The parameters of kidney function, including serum BUN, creatinine, and albumin-creatinine ratio (ACR), were increased in Gdf15 knockout mice as compared to wild-type mice upon PAN treatment. This was associated with an increase in the number of glomerular macrophages, neutrophils, inflammatory cytokines, and chemokines in Gdf15-deficient mice. In summary, our findings unveil a novel renoprotective effect of GDF15 during kidney injury and inflammation by promoting podocyte survival and regulating endoplasmic reticulum stress in podocytes, and, subsequently, the infiltration of inflammatory cells via paracrine effects on surrounding glomerular cells.

GDF15 as a key disease target and biomarker: linking chronic lung diseases and ageing

Growth differentiation factor 15 (GDF15), a member of the transforming growth factor-beta superfamily, is expressed in several human organs. In particular, it is highly expressed in the placenta, prostate, and liver. The expression of GDF15 increases under cellular stress and pathological conditions. Although numerous transcription factors directly up-regulate the expression of GDF15, the receptors and downstream mediators of GDF15 signal transduction in most tissues have not yet been determined. Glial cell-derived neurotrophic factor family receptor α-like protein was recently identified as a specific receptor that plays a mediating role in anorexia. However, the specific receptors of GDF15 in other tissues and organs remain unclear. As a marker of cell stress, GDF15 appears to exert different effects under different pathological conditions. Cell senescence may be an important pathogenetic process and could be used to assess the progression of various lung diseases, including COVID-19. As a key member of the senescence-associated secretory phenotype protein repertoire, GDF15 seems to be associated with mitochondrial dysfunction, although the specific molecular mechanism linking GDF15 expression with ageing remains to be elucidated. Here, we focus on research progress linking GDF15 expression with the pathogenesis of various chronic lung diseases, including neonatal bronchopulmonary dysplasia, idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and pulmonary hypertension, suggesting that GDF15 may be a key biomarker for diagnosis and prognosis. Thus, in this review, we aimed to provide new insights into the molecular biological mechanism and emerging clinical data associated with GDF15 in lung-related diseases, while highlighting promising research and clinical prospects.

Growth differentiation factor-15 may be a novel biomarker in pancreatic cancer: A review

Pancreatic cancer is a highly malignant and invasive gastrointestinal tumor that is often diagnosed at an advanced stage with a poor prognosis and high mortality. Currently, carbohydrate antigen199(CA199) is the only biomarker approved by the FDA for the diagnosis of pancreatic cancer, but it has great limitations. Growth differentiation factor-15 (GDF-15) is expected to be a novel biomarker for the diagnosis, efficacy prediction, and prognosis assessment of pancreatic cancer patients. In this paper, we searched the keywords GDF-15, macrophage inhibitory cytokine-1 (MIC-1), CA199, pancreatic cancer, and tumor markers in PubMed and Web of Science, searched related articles, and read and analyzed the retrieved papers. Finally, we systematically described the characteristics, mechanism of action, and clinical value of GDF-15, aiming to provide help for the detection and treatment of pancreatic cancer.

Circular RNA MAP2K2-modified immunosuppressive dendritic cells for preventing alloimmune rejection in organ transplantation

Long-term patient and graft survival has been achieved in organ transplantation but at the expense of toxic side effects that are associated with long-term use of nonspecific immunosuppressive drugs. Discovering new regulators of dendritic cells is the key for development of an ideal treatment to prevent immune rejection. We hypothesized that knockdown of circMAP2K2 induces immunosuppressive DCs and that treatment with circMAP2K2 silenced-DCs can prevent alloimmune rejection. DCs were cultured and transfected with siRNA for circMAP2K2. circMAP2K2 levels were measured by qRT-PCR. DC's maturation and immune function were assessed by flow cytometry and mixed lymphocyte reactions. The function of circMAP2K2 was illustrated by a series of RIP and IP. The therapeutics of engineered DCs was tested in a mouse heart transplantation model. We found that circMAP2K2 was highly expressed in mature DCs. Knockdown of circMAP2K2 reduced expression of MHCII, CD40 and CD80, attenuated the ability of DCs to activate allogeneic naïve T cells, and enhanced CD4+CD25+FOXP3+ regulatory T cells (Treg). circMAP2K2-induced immunosuppressive DCs by interacting with SENP3. Treatment with circMAP2K2-knockdown DCs attenuated alloimmune rejection and prolonged allograft survival in a murine heart transplantation model. The immune suppression induced in vivo was donor-antigen specific. In conclusion, knockdown of circMAP2K2 can induce immunosuppressive DCs which are able to inhibit overactive immune response, highlighting a new promising therapeutic approach for immune disorder diseases.

GDF-15 Inhibits ADP-Induced Human Platelet Aggregation through the GFRAL/RET Signaling Complex

Growth differentiation factor-15 (GDF-15) is proposed to be strongly associated with several cardiovascular diseases, such as heart failure and atherosclerosis. Moreover, some recent studies have reported an association between GDF-15 and platelet activation. In this study, we isolated peripheral blood platelets from healthy volunteers and evaluated the effect of GDF-15 on adenosine diphosphate (ADP)-induced platelet activation using the platelet aggregation assay. Subsequently, we detected the expression of GDF-15-related receptors on platelets, including the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2), human epidermal growth factor receptor 3 (HER3), transforming growth factor-beta receptor I (TGF-βRI), transforming growth factor-beta receptor II (TGF-βRII), glial-cell-line-derived neurotrophic factor family receptor α-like (GFRAL), and those rearranged during transfection (RET). Then, we screened for GDF-15 receptors using the GDF-15-related receptor microarray comprising these recombinant proteins. We also performed the immunoprecipitation assay to investigate the interaction between GDF-15 and the receptors on platelets. For the further exploration of signaling pathways, we investigated the effects of GDF-15 on the extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK), protein kinase B (AKT), and Janus kinase 2 (JAK2) pathways. We also investigated the effects of GDF-15 on the ERK and AKT pathways and platelet aggregation in the presence or absence of RET agonists or inhibition. Our study revealed that GDF-15 can dose-independently inhibit ADP-induced human platelet aggregation and that the binding partner of GDF-15 on platelets is GFRAL. We also found that GDF-15 inhibits ADP-induced AKT and ERK activation in platelets. Meanwhile, our results revealed that the inhibitory effects of GDF-15 can be mediated by the GFRAL/RET complex. These findings reveal the novel inhibitory mechanism of ADP-induced platelet activation by GDF-15.

Bioinformatics and functional experiments reveal that MRC2 inhibits atrial fibrillation via the PPAR signaling pathway

Background

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is a prevalent cardiac arrhythmia that requires improved clinical markers to increase diagnostic accuracy and provide insight into its pathogenesis. Although some biomarkers are available, new ones need to be discovered to better capture the complex physiology of AF. However, their limitations are still not fully addressed. Bioinformatics and functional studies can help find new clinical markers and improve the understanding of AF, meeting the need for early diagnosis and individualized treatment.

Methods

To identify AF-related differentially expressed genes (DEGs), We applied the messenger RNA (mRNA) expression profile retrieved in Series Matrix File format from the GSE143924 microarray dataset obtained from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database, and then used weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA) to identify the overlapping genes. These genes were analyzed by enrichment analysis, expression analysis and others to obtain the hub gene. Additionally, the potential signaling pathway of hub gene in AF was explored and verified by functional experiments, like quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR), cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8), flow cytometry, and Western blotting (WB) assay.

Results

From the GSE143924 data (410 DEGs) and tan module (57 genes), 10 overlapping genes were identified. A central down-regulated gene in AF, MRC2, was identified through bioinformatics analysis. based on these results, it was hypothesized that the PPAR signaling pathway is related to the mechanism of action of MRC2 in AF. Moreover, over-MRC2 markedly reduced the growth speed of angiotensin II (Ang II)-induced human cardiac fibroblasts (HCFs) and increased apoptosis. Conversely, knockdown of MRC2 promoted HCFs cell proliferation number. Additionally, MRC2 over-expression increased the protein expression level of PPARα, PPARγ, CPT-1, and SIRT3 in Ang II-induced HCFs.

Conclusions

While meeting the need for new biomarkers in the diagnosis and prognosis of AF, this study reveals the inherent limitations of current biomarkers. We identified MRC2 as a key player as an inhibitory gene in AF, highlighting its role in suppressing AF progression through the PPAR signaling pathway. MRC2 may not only serve as a diagnostic indicator, but also as a promising therapeutic target for patients with AF, which is expected to be applied in clinical practice and open up new avenues for individualized interventions.

Novel ceRNA network construction associated with programmed cell death in acute rejection of heart allograft in mice

Background

T cell-mediated acute rejection(AR) after heart transplantation(HT) ultimately results in graft failure and is a common indication for secondary transplantation. It's a serious threat to heart transplant recipients. This study aimed to explore the novel lncRNA-miRNA-mRNA networks that contributed to AR in a mouse heart transplantation model.

Methods

The donor heart from Babl/C mice was transplanted to C57BL/6 mice with heterotopic implantation to the abdominal cavity. The control group was syngeneic heart transplantation with the same kind of mice donor. The whole-transcriptome sequencing was performed to obtain differentially expressed mRNAs (DEmRNAs), miRNAs (DEmiRNAs) and lncRNAs (DElncRNAs) in mouse heart allograft. The biological functions of ceRNA networks was analyzed by GO and KEGG enrichment. Differentially expressed ceRNA involved in programmed cell death were further verified with qRT-PCR testing.

Results

Lots of DEmRNAs, DEmiRNAs and DElncRNAs were identified in acute rejection and control after heart transplantation, including up-regulated 4754 DEmRNAs, 1634 DElncRNAs, 182 DEmiRNAs, and down-regulated 4365 DEmRNAs, 1761 DElncRNAs, 132 DEmiRNAs. Based on the ceRNA theory, lncRNA-miRNA-mRNA regulatory networks were constructed in allograft acute rejection response. The functional enrichment analysis indicate that the down-regulated mRNAs are mainly involved in cardiac muscle cell contraction, potassium channel activity, etc. and the up-regulated mRNAs are mainly involved in T cell differentiation and mononuclear cell migration, etc. The KEGG pathway enrichment analysis showed that the down-regulated DEmRNAs were mainly enriched in adrenergic signaling, axon guidance, calcium signaling pathway, etc. The up-regulated DEmRNAs were enriched in the adhesion function, chemokine signaling pathway, apoptosis, etc. Four lncRNA-mediated ceRNA regulatory pathways, Pvt1/miR-30c-5p/Pdgfc, 1700071M16Rik/miR-145a-3p/Pdgfc, 1700071M16Rik/miR-145a-3p/Tox, 1700071M16Rik/miR-145a-3p/Themis2, were finally validated. In addition, increased expression of PVT1, 1700071M16Rik, Tox and Themis2 may be considered as potential diagnostic gene biomarkers in AR.

Conclusion

We speculated that Pvt1/miR-30c-5p/Pdgfc, 1700071M16Rik/miR-145a-3p/Pdgfc, 1700071M16Rik/miR-145a-3p/Tox and 1700071M16Rik/miR-145a-3p/Themis2 interaction pairs may serve as potential biomarkers in AR after HT.

Identification of Colon Immune Cell Marker Genes Using Machine Learning Methods

Immune cell infiltration that occurs at the site of colon tumors influences the course of cancer. Different immune cell compositions in the microenvironment lead to different immune responses and different therapeutic effects. This study analyzed single-cell RNA sequencing data in a normal colon with the aim of screening genetic markers of 25 candidate immune cell types and revealing quantitative differences between them. The dataset contains 25 classes of immune cells, 41,650 cells in total, and each cell is expressed by 22,164 genes at the expression level. They were fed into a machine learning-based stream. The five feature ranking algorithms (last absolute shrinkage and selection operator, light gradient boosting machine, Monte Carlo feature selection, minimum redundancy maximum relevance, and random forest) were first used to analyze the importance of gene features, yielding five feature lists. Then, incremental feature selection and two classification algorithms (decision tree and random forest) were combined to filter the most important genetic markers from each list. For different immune cell subtypes, their marker genes, such as KLRB1 in CD4 T cells, RPL30 in B cell IGA plasma cells, and JCHAIN in IgG producing B cells, were identified. They were confirmed to be differentially expressed in different immune cells and involved in immune processes. In addition, quantitative rules were summarized by using the decision tree algorithm to distinguish candidate immune cell types. These results provide a reference for exploring the cell composition of the colon cancer microenvironment and for clinical immunotherapy.

Growth differentiation factor 15 (GDF-15) in endocrinology

Human growth differentiation factor 15 (GDF-15) is a widely distributed protein that has shown to play multiple roles in both physiological and pathological conditions. In healthy individuals, GDF-15 is mainly expressed in the placenta, followed by the prostate, although low levels of expression have also been detected in different organs. GDF-15 acts through a recently identified receptor called glial-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) receptor alpha-like (GFRAL) which signals through the rearranged during transfection (RET) tyrosine kinase receptor. The effects of GDF-15 are pleiotropic and include appetite regulation, and actions on metabolism, pregnancy, cell survival, immune response, and inflammation. GDF-15 also plays different roles in the pathophysiology of cardiovascular disease, autoimmunity, cancer-associated anorexia/cachexia, and diabetes. In recent years, several studies have reported a link between GDF-15 and the endocrine system. In this review, we up-date and summarize the relevant investigations of the relationships between GDF-15 and different endocrine conditions. We also assess the potential pathogenic role and potential therapeutic applications of GDF-15 in the field of endocrinology.

Tumor-derived GDF-15 blocks LFA-1 dependent T cell recruitment and suppresses responses to anti-PD-1 treatment

Immune checkpoint blockade therapy is beneficial and even curative for some cancer patients. However, the majority don't respond to immune therapy. Across different tumor types, pre-existing T cell infiltrates predict response to checkpoint-based immunotherapy. Based on in vitro pharmacological studies, mouse models and analyses of human melanoma patients, we show that the cytokine GDF-15 impairs LFA-1/β2-integrin-mediated adhesion of T cells to activated endothelial cells, which is a pre-requisite of T cell extravasation. In melanoma patients, GDF-15 serum levels strongly correlate with failure of PD-1-based immune checkpoint blockade therapy. Neutralization of GDF-15 improves both T cell trafficking and therapy efficiency in murine tumor models. Thus GDF-15, beside its known role in cancer-related anorexia and cachexia, emerges as a regulator of T cell extravasation into the tumor microenvironment, which provides an even stronger rationale for therapeutic anti-GDF-15 antibody development.

Decreasing GDF15 Promotes Inflammatory Signals and Neutrophil Infiltration in Psoriasis Models

Psoriasis is driven by the interplay between hyperproliferative keratinocytes and infiltrating inflammatory cells. GDF15, a member of the TGF-β superfamily, has been implicated in cachexia, metabolic control, and cancer invasion. However, the expression and immunomodulatory role of GDF15 in inflammatory diseases has not been clarified. In this study, we report that GDF15 is decreased in the epidermis of patients with psoriasis and in an imiquimod-induced psoriasis-like mouse model. TNF-α suppresses GDF15 expression in keratinocytes by inhibiting the protein level of the transcription factor GATA2. GDF15 deficiency aggravates the development of psoriatic lesions, as evidenced by more severe skin inflammation in imiquimod-treated Gdf15-knockout (Gdf15^‒/‒) mice compared with that in wild-type mice. Importantly, GDF15 limited the synthesis of a panel of keratinocyte cytokines and chemokines by inhibiting TAK1/NF-κB activation and directly inhibited neutrophil adhesion and migration by inhibiting the activation of the small GTPase Rap1. Epidermal hyperplasia, infiltration of neutrophils, and transcripts of psoriasis-related markers in imiquimod-induced psoriasiform dermatitis were significantly alleviated by a topical supplement of recombinant murine GDF15. In summary, our study revealed an unexpected role of GDF15 in keratinocyte and neutrophil function in the skin of psoriasis, implying its therapeutic potential in treating psoriasis.

Non-coding RNAs in immunoregulation and autoimmunity: Technological advances and critical limitations

Immune cell function is critically dependent on precise control over transcriptional output from the genome. In this respect, integration of environmental signals that regulate gene expression, specifically by transcription factors, enhancer DNA elements, genome topography and non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs), are key components. The first three have been extensively investigated. Even though non-coding RNAs represent the vast majority of cellular RNA species, this class of RNA remains historically understudied. This is partly because of a lag in technological and bioinformatic innovations specifically capable of identifying and accurately measuring their expression. Nevertheless, recent progress in this domain has enabled a profusion of publications identifying novel sub-types of ncRNAs and studies directly addressing the function of ncRNAs in human health and disease. Many ncRNAs, including circular and enhancer RNAs, have now been demonstrated to play key functions in the regulation of immune cells and to show associations with immune-mediated diseases. Some ncRNAs may function as biomarkers of disease, aiding in diagnostics and in estimating response to treatment, while others may play a direct role in the pathogenesis of disease. Importantly, some are relatively stable and are amenable to therapeutic targeting, for example through gene therapy. Here, we provide an overview of ncRNAs and review technological advances that enable their study and hold substantial promise for the future. We provide context-specific examples by examining the associations of ncRNAs with four prototypical human autoimmune diseases, specifically rheumatoid arthritis, psoriasis, inflammatory bowel disease and multiple sclerosis. We anticipate that the utility and mechanistic roles of these ncRNAs in autoimmunity will be further elucidated in the near future.

Targeting regulatory T cells for cardiovascular diseases

Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are the leading cause of death and disability worldwide. The CVDs are accompanied by inflammatory progression, resulting in innate and adaptive immune responses. Regulatory T cells (Tregs) have an immunosuppressive function and are one of the subsets of CD4⁺T cells that play a crucial role in inflammatory diseases. Whether using Tregs as a biomarker for CVDs or targeting Tregs to exert cardioprotective functions by regulating immune balance, suppressing inflammation, suppressing cardiac and vascular remodeling, mediating immune tolerance, and promoting cardiac regeneration in the treatment of CVDs has become an emerging research focus. However, Tregs have plasticity, and this plastic Tregs lose immunosuppressive function and produce toxic effects on target organs in some diseases. This review aims to provide an overview of Tregs' role and related mechanisms in CVDs, and reports on the research of plasticity Tregs in CVDs, to lay a foundation for further studies targeting Tregs in the prevention and treatment of CVDs.

Role of circular RNA cdr1as in modulation of macrophage phenotype

AIMS

Macrophages are crucial for the initiation and resolution of an inflammatory response. Non-coding circular RNAs are ubiquitously expressed in mammalian tissue, highly conserved among species, and recently implicated in the regulation of macrophage activation. We sought to determine whether circRNAs modulate monocyte/macrophage biology and function.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We performed circRNA microarray analyses to assess transcriptome changes using RNA isolated from bone marrow derived macrophages polarized to a pro-inflammatory phenotype (INFγ + TNFα) or an anti-inflammatory phenotype (IL-10, IL-4, and TGF-β). Among differentially expressed circRNAs, circ-Cdr1as was chosen for further investigation. Additionally, we performed loss or gain of function studies to investigate if circ-Cdr1as is involved in phenotypic switching. For gain of function, we overexpressed circ-Cdr1as using pc3.1 plasmid with laccase2 flanking regions to promote circularization. For loss of function, we used a lentiviral short hairpin RNA targeting the circ-Cdr1as splicing junction.

KEY FINDINGS

Among circRNAs that are highly conserved and differentially expressed in pro- and anti-inflammatory lineages, circ-Cdr1as was one of the most downregulated in pro-inflammatory macrophages and significantly upregulated in anti-inflammatory macrophages in vitro. Overexpression of circ-Cdr1as increased transcription of anti-inflammatory markers and percentage of CD206+ cells in naïve and pro-inflammatory macrophages in vitro. Meanwhile, knockdown decreased transcription of anti-inflammatory markers and increased the percentage of CD86+ cells in naïve and anti-inflammatory macrophages in vitro.

SIGNIFICANCE

This study suggests that circ-Cdr1as plays a key role in regulating anti-inflammatory phenotype of macrophages and may potentially be developed as an anti-inflammatory regulator in tissue inflammation.

Function and Clinical Significance of Circular RNAs in Thyroid Cancer

Thyroid cancer (TC) is the leading cause and mortality of endocrine malignancies worldwide. Tumourigenesis involves multiple molecules including circular RNAs (circRNAs). circRNAs with covalently closed single-stranded structures have been identified as a type of regulatory RNA because of their high stability, abundance, and tissue/developmental stage-specific expression. Accumulating evidence has demonstrated that various circRNAs are aberrantly expressed in thyroid tissues, cells, exosomes, and body fluids in patients with TC. CircRNAs have been identified as either oncogenic or tumour suppressor roles in regulating tumourigenesis, tumour metabolism, metastasis, ferroptosis, and chemoradiation resistance in TC. Importantly, circRNAs exert pivotal effects on TC through various mechanisms, including acting as miRNA sponges or decoys, interacting with RNA-binding proteins, and translating functional peptides. Recent studies have suggested that many different circRNAs are associated with certain clinicopathological features, implying that the altered expression of circRNAs may be characteristic of TC. The purpose of this review is to provide an overview of recent advances on the dysregulation, functions, molecular mechanisms and potential clinical applications of circRNAs in TC. This review also aimes to improve our understanding of the functions of circRNAs in the initiation and progression of cancer, and to discuss the future perspectives on strategies targeting circRNAs in TC.

Transplanted allogeneic cardiac progenitor cells secrete GDF-15 and stimulate an active immune remodeling process in the ischemic myocardium

BACKGROUND

Despite promising results in clinical studies, the mechanism for the beneficial effects of allogenic cell-based therapies remains unclear. Macrophages are not only critical mediators of inflammation but also critical players in cardiac remodeling. We hypothesized that transplanted allogenic rat cardiac progenitor cells (rCPCs) augment T-regulatory cells which ultimately promote proliferation of M2 like macrophages by an as-yet undefined mechanism.

METHODS AND RESULTS

To test this hypothesis, we used crossover rat strains for exploring the mechanism of myocardial repair by allogenic CPCs. Human CPCs (hCPCs) were isolated from adult patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting, and rat CPCs (rCPCs) were isolated from male Wistar-Kyoto (WKY) rat hearts. Allogenic rCPCs suppressed the proliferation of T-cells observed in mixed lymphocyte reactions in vitro. Transplanted syngeneic or allogeneic rCPCs significantly increased cardiac function in a rat myocardial infarct (MI) model, whereas xenogeneic CPCs did not. Allogeneic rCPCs stimulated immunomodulatory responses by specifically increasing T-regulatory cells and M2 polarization, while maintaining their cardiac recovery potential and safety profile. Mechanistically, we confirmed the inactivation of NF-kB in Treg cells and increased M2 macrophages in the myocardium after MI by transplanted CPCs derived GDF15 and it's uptake by CD48 receptor on immune cells.

CONCLUSION

Collectively, these findings strongly support the active immunomodulatory properties and robust therapeutic potential of allogenic CPCs in post-MI cardiac dysfunction.

Roles of Non-Coding RNAs in Primary Biliary Cholangitis

Primary biliary cholangitis (PBC) is an autoimmune-mediated chronic cholestatic liver disease, fatigue, and skin itching are the most common clinical symptoms. Its main pathological feature is the progressive damage and destruction of bile duct epithelial cells. Non-coding RNA (NcRNA, mainly including microRNA, long non-coding RNA and circular RNA) plays a role in the pathological and biological processes of various diseases, especially autoimmune diseases. Many validated ncRNAs are expected to be biomarkers for the diagnosis or treatment of PBC. This review will elucidate the pathogenesis of PBC and help to identify potential ncRNA biomarkers for PBC.

The Footprint of Kynurenine Pathway in Cardiovascular Diseases

Kynurenine pathway is the main route of tryptophan metabolism and produces several metabolites with various biologic properties. It has been uncovered that several cardiovascular diseases are associated with the overactivation of kynurenine pathway and kynurenine and its metabolites have diagnostic and prognostic value in cardiovascular diseases. Furthermore, it was found that several kynurenine metabolites can differently affect cardiovascular health. For instance, preclinical studies have shown that kynurenine, xanthurenic acid and cis-WOOH decrease blood pressure; kynurenine and 3-hydroxyanthranilic acid prevent atherosclerosis; kynurenic acid supplementation and kynurenine 3-monooxygenase (KMO) inhibition improve the outcome of stroke. Indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase (IDO) overactivity and increased kynurenine levels improve cardiac and vascular transplantation outcomes, whereas exacerbating the outcome of myocardial ischemia, post-ischemic myocardial remodeling, and abdominal aorta aneurysm. IDO inhibition and KMO inhibition are also protective against viral myocarditis. In addition, dysregulation of kynurenine pathway is observed in several conditions such as senescence, depression, diabetes, chronic kidney disease (CKD), cirrhosis, and cancer closely connected to cardiovascular dysfunction. It is worth defining the exact effect of each metabolite of kynurenine pathway on cardiovascular health. This narrative review is the first review that separately discusses the involvement of kynurenine pathway in different cardiovascular diseases and dissects the underlying molecular mechanisms.

Genetically modified immunomodulatory cell-based biomaterials in tissue regeneration and engineering

To date, the wide application of cell-based biomaterials in tissue engineering and regeneration is remarkably hampered by immune rejection. Reducing the immunogenicity of cell-based biomaterials has become the latest direction in biomaterial research. Recently, genetically modified cell-based biomaterials with immunomodulatory genes have become a feasible solution to the immunogenicity problem. In this review, recent advances and future challenges of genetically modified immunomodulatory cell-based biomaterials are elaborated, including fabrication approaches, mechanisms of common immunomodulatory genes, application and, more importantly, current preclinical and clinical advances. The fabrication approaches can be categorized into commonly used (e.g., virus transfection) and newly developed approaches. The immunomodulatory mechanisms of representative genes involve complicated cell signaling pathways and metabolic activities. Wide application in curing multiple end-term diseases and replacing lifelong immunosuppressive therapy in multiple cell and organ transplantation models is demonstrated. Most significantly, practices of genetically modified organ transplantation have been conducted on brain-dead human decedent and even on living patients after a series of experiments on nonhuman primates. Nevertheless, uncertain biosecurity, nonspecific effects and overlooked personalization of current genetically modified immunomodulatory cell-based biomaterials are shortcomings that remain to be overcome.

Past, Present and Future: The Relationship Between Circular RNA and Immunity

The immune system has evolved since the birth of humans. However, immune-related diseases have not yet been overcome due to the lack of expected indicators and targeting specificity of current medical technology, subjecting patients to very uncomfortable physical and mental experiences and high medical costs. Therefore, the requirements for treatments with higher specificity and indicative ability are raised. Fortunately, the discovery of and continuous research investigating circular RNAs (circRNAs) represent a promising method among numerous methods. Although circRNAs wear regarded as metabolic wastes when discovered, as a type of noncoding RNA (ncRNA) with a ring structure and wide distribution range in the human body, circRNAs shine brilliantly in medical research by virtue of their special nature and structure-determined functions, such as high stability, wide distribution, high detection sensitivity, acceptable reproducibility and individual differences. Based on research investigating the role of circRNAs in immunity, we systematically discuss the hotspots of the roles of circRNAs in immune-related diseases, including expression profile analyses, potential biomarker research, ncRNA axis/network construction, impacts on phenotypes, therapeutic target seeking, maintenance of nucleic acid stability and protein binding research. In addition, we summarize the current situation of and problems associated with circRNAs in immune research, highlight the applications and prospects of circRNAs in the treatment of immune-related diseases, and provide new insight into future directions and new strategies for laboratory research and clinical applications.

Extracellular Vesicle-Derived circITGB1 Regulates Dendritic Cell Maturation and Cardiac Inflammation via miR-342-3p/NFAM1

Acute myocardial infarction (AMI) is a complication of atherosclerosis-related cardiovascular illness that is caused by prolonged ischemia. Circular RNAs (circRNAs) are concentrated in extracellular vesicles (EVs) and have been linked to cardiovascular disease. However, additional research is needed into the expression and function of circRNAs in AMI. In this study, circITGB1 (has_circRNA_0018146), derived from exon 1 of the ITGB1 gene localized on chromosome 10, was shown to be considerably increased in plasma from patients with AMI compared to healthy controls, as demonstrated by the comparison of EV-circRNA expression patterns. Using a luciferase screening assay and a biotin-labeled circITGB1 probe to identify microRNA(s) complementary to circITGB1 sequences, we discovered that circITGB1 competitively binds to miR-342-3p and inhibits its expression, which in turn increase the expression of NFAT activating molecule 1 (NFAM1). Based on western blotting and immunological studies, circITGB1 controls dendritic cell maturation by targeting miR-342-3p and NFAM1. circITGB1 also exacerbated cardiac damage and regulated miR-342-3p and NFAM1 expression in a mouse AMI model. This implies that EV-circITGB1 is involved in dendritic cell maturation and cardiac damage via miR-342-3p/NFAM1, and that is linked to AMI-associated pathogenic processes.

MALAT1 Induces Food Allergy by Promoting Release of IL-6 from Dendritic Cells and Suppressing the Immunomodulatory Function of Tregs

Background

Dendritic cells (DCs) comprise a valuable target for immune-modulation in food allergy (FA). Long noncoding RNA (lncRNA), metastasis associated lung adenocarcinoma transcript 1 (MALAT1) has immunomodulatory capacities and may influence the outcome of DC antigen presentation. However, the precise molecular mechanisms underlying the implication of MALAT1 in FA remain unclear.

Methods

BALB/c mice were sensitized to ovalbumin in accordance with a model of FA protocol and injected with adenovirus. After modeling, immunohistochemistry was performed to analyze the jejunal tissues of FA mice and hematoxylin-eosin staining and toluidine blue staining were performed to detect inflammation and mast cell numbers. Ovalbumin-sensitized mice were monitored for symptoms of diarrhea and rectal temperature. Immature DCs were stimulated by oxidized low density lipoprotein to trigger their maturation.

Results

MALAT1 was found highly expressed in mice with FA, and its silencing relieved allergic reactions with reduction in intestinal inflammatory cells and mast cells in FA mice. MALAT1 aggravated symptoms by downregulating zinc finger protein 36 (ZFP36). MALAT1 also downregulated ZFP36 expression to promote interleukin-6 (IL-6) secretion by DCs and maturation of DCs, with increased serum-specific immunoglobulin E (IgE) and IgG1 levels.

Conclusion

Together, these data suggested that therapeutically blocking MALAT1 in FA could reduce the severity of FA by decreasing secretion of IL-6 by DCs and suppressing the immunomodulation of Tregs.

Response of Circulating Inflammatory Markers to Intermittent Hypoxia-Hyperoxia Training in Healthy Elderly People and Patients with Mild Cognitive Impairment

Intermittent hypoxia-hyperoxia training (IHHT) is a non-pharmacological therapeutic modality for management of some chronic- and age-related pathologies, such as Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Our previous studies demonstrated significant improvement of cognitive function after IHHT in the patients with mild cognitive impairment (MCI). The present study further investigated the effects of IHHT on pro-inflammatory factors in healthy elderly individuals and patients with early signs of AD. Twenty-nine subjects (13 healthy subjects without signs of cognitive impairment syndrome and 16 patients diagnosed with MCI; age 52 to 76 years) were divided into four groups: Healthy+Sham (n = 7), Healthy+IHHT (n = 6), MCI+Sham (n = 6), and MCI+IHHT (n = 10). IHHT was carried out 5 days per week for 3 weeks (total 15 sessions), and each daily session included 4 cycles of 5-min hypoxia (12% FIO2) and 3-min hyperoxia (33% FIO2). Decline in cognitive function indices was observed initially in both MCI+Sham and MCI+IHHT groups. The sham training did not alter any of the parameters, whereas IHHT resulted in improvement in latency of cognitive evoked potentials, along with elevation in APP110, GDF15 expression, and MMP9 activity in both healthy subjects and those with MCI. Increased MMP2 activity, HMGB1, and P-selectin expression and decreased NETs formation and Aβ expression were also observed in the MCI+IHHT group. There was a negative correlation between MoCA score and the plasma GDF15 expression (R = −0.5799, p < 0.05) before the initiation of IHHT. The enhanced expression of GDF15 was also associated with longer latency of the event-related potentials P330 and N200 (R = 0.6263, p < 0.05 and R = 0.5715, p < 0.05, respectively). In conclusion, IHHT upregulated circulating levels of some inflammatory markers, which may represent potential triggers for cellular adaptive reprogramming, leading to therapeutic effects against cognitive dysfunction and neuropathological changes during progression of AD. Further investigation is needed to clarify if there is a causative relationship between the improved cognitive function and the elevated inflammatory markers following IHHT.

Coping With Stress: The Mitokine GDF-15 as a Biomarker of COVID-19 Severity

Growth differentiation factor 15 (GDF-15) is a transforming growth factor (TGF)-β superfamily cytokine that plays a central role in metabolism regulation. Produced in response to mitochondrial stress, tissue damage or hypoxia, this cytokine has emerged as one of the strongest predictors of disease severity during inflammatory conditions, cancers and infections. Reports suggest that GDF-15 plays a tissue protective role via sympathetic and metabolic adaptation in the context of mitochondrial damage, although the exact mechanisms involved remain uncertain. In this review, we discuss the emergence of GDF-15 as a distinctive marker of viral infection severity, especially in the context of COVID-19. We will critically review the role of GDF-15 as an inflammation-induced mediator of disease tolerance, through metabolic and immune reprogramming. Finally, we discuss potential mechanisms of GDF-15 elevation during COVID-19 cytokine storm and its limitations. Altogether, this cytokine seems to be involved in disease tolerance to viral infections including SARS-CoV-2, paving the way for novel therapeutic interventions.

Growth Differentiation Factor-15 in Immunity and Aging

Aging increases susceptibility to and severity of a variety of chronic and infectious diseases. Underlying this is dysfunction of the immune system, including chronic increases in low-grade inflammation (inflammaging) and age-related immunosuppression (immunosenescence). Growth differentiation factor-15 (GDF-15) is a stress-, infection-, and inflammation-induced cytokine which is increased in aging and suppresses immune responses. This mini review briefly covers existing knowledge on the immunoregulatory and anti-inflammatory roles of GDF-15, as well as its potential importance in aging and immune function.

Long Noncoding RNA and Circular RNA Expression Profiles of Monocyte-Derived Dendritic Cells in Autoimmune Hepatitis

Autoimmune hepatitis (AIH) is a chronic liver disease caused by disruption of liver immune homeostasis. The effect of dendritic cells (DCs) on the pathogenesis of AIH is not fully understood. Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs), circular RNAs (circRNAs), and microRNAs (miRNAs) have been shown to play critical roles in the regulation of cell function. In this study, we analyzed the immunophenotypic characteristics of DCs in the peripheral blood. The percentage of mature DCs was higher in AIH patients than in healthy controls (HCs), and the proportion of mature DCs decreased after treatment. We isolated monocyte-derived DCs (moDCs) from the peripheral blood, obtained whole RNA-sequencing (RNA-seq) data for the moDCs from the two groups, and identified differentially expressed (DE) lncRNAs, circRNAs, miRNAs and mRNAs. In addition, we performed Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway analyses for the DE mRNAs and constructed competing endogenous RNA (ceRNA) networks. ENST00000543334, hsa_circ_0000279, and hsa_circ_0005076 were selected and validated by RT-qPCR. These results provide a possible molecular mechanism of DCs in the pathogenesis of AIH and identify some potential therapeutic targets.

Titanium Nanoparticles Enhance Production and Suppress Stabilin-1-Mediated Clearance of GDF-15 in Human Primary Macrophages

Macrophages are key innate immune cells that mediate implant acceptance or rejection. Titanium implants degrade over time inside the body, which results in the release of implant wear-off particles. Titanium nanoparticles (TiNPs) favor pro-inflammatory macrophage polarization (M1) and lower tolerogenic activation (M2). GDF-15 regulates immune tolerance and fibrosis and is endocytosed by stabilin-1. How TiNPs affect the healing activities of macrophages and their release of circulating cytokines is an open question in regenerative medicine. In this study for the first time, we identified the transcriptional program induced and suppressed by TiNPs in human pro-inflammatory and healing macrophages. Microarray analysis revealed that TiNPs altered the expression of 5098 genes in M1 (IFN-γ-stimulated) and 4380 genes in M2 (IL-4–stimulated) macrophages. 1980 genes were differentially regulated in both M1 and M2. Affymetrix analysis, confirmed by RT-PCR, demonstrated that TiNPs upregulate expression of GDF-15 and suppress stabilin-1, scavenger receptor of GDF-15. TiNPs also significantly stimulated GDF-15 protein secretion in inflammatory and healing macrophages. Flow cytometry demonstrated, that scavenging activity of stabilin-1 was significantly suppressed by TiNPs. Confocal microscopy analysis showed that TiNPs impair internalization of stabilin-1 ligand acLDL and its transport to the endocytic pathway. Our data demonstrate that TiNPs have a dual effect on the GDF-15/stabilin-1 interaction in macrophage system, by increasing the production of GDF-15 and suppressing stabilin-1-mediated clearance function. In summary, this process can result in a significant increase of GDF-15 in the extracellular space and in circulation leading to unbalanced pro-fibrotic reactions and implant complications.

Pathophysiological role of growth differentiation factor 15 (GDF15) in obesity, cancer, and cachexia

Growth differentiation factor 15 or macrophage inhibitory cytokine-1 (GDF15/MIC-1) is a divergent member of the transforming growth factor β superfamily and has a diverse pathophysiological roles in cancers, cardiometabolic disorders, and other diseases. GDF15 controls hematopoietic growth, energy homeostasis, adipose tissue metabolism, body growth, bone remodeling, and response to stress signals. The role of GDF15 in cancer development and progression is complicated and depends on the specific cancer type, stage, and tumor microenvironment. Recently, research on GDF15 and GDF15-associated signaling has accelerated due to the identification of the GDF15 receptor: glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) family receptor α-like (GFRAL). Therapeutic interventions to target GDF15 and/or GFRAL revealed the mechanisms that drive its activity and might improve overall outcomes of patients with metabolic disorders and cancer. This review highlights the structure and functions of GDF15 and its receptor, emphasizing the pleiotropic role of GDF15 in obesity, tumorigenesis, metastasis, immunomodulation, and cachexia.

Combination of matrine and tacrolimus alleviates acute rejection in murine heart transplantation by inhibiting DCs maturation through ROS/ERK/NF-κB pathway

Matrine, an alkaloid derived from traditional Chinese herbs, has been confirmed to regulate immunity and exert anti-inflammatory effects. Matrine injection has been widely used in clinic therapy for anti-tumor and anti-inflammatory diseases. Heart transplantation(HT) is the only solution for the end-stage heart failure, but it is restricted by the cardiac allograft rejection. One of the important pathophysiological processes of post-transplantation rejection is inflammatory cell infiltration. Matrine has been shown to exert a positive protective effect against oxidative stress injury and inflammation, which likely benefits allograft survival. However, it remains unclear whether matrine inhibits alloimmunity or allograft rejection. In this study, we established the heart transplantation model in mouse and extracted bone marrow-derived dendritic cells (BMDCs) to explore the function and mechanism of matrine in heart transplantation. Moreover, combination treatment with matrine and tacrolimus(FK506) had a synergistic effect in preventing acute rejection of heart transplants. Here we found that matrine can prolong the survival of post-transplant and inhibit inflammatory cell infiltration in transplanted hearts of mice. At the same time, matrine increased Treg ratio and decreased CD4+/CD8 + ratio in mice. More importantly, matrine inhibited DCs maturation in mice and reduced oxidative damage and apoptosis in allograft hearts. Furthermore, matrine also downregulated NF-κB pathway and upregulated ERK1/2 signaling pathway. Overall, our study reveals a novel immunosuppressive agent that has the potential to reduce the side effects of existing immunosuppressive agents when used in combination with them.

Immunomodulatory Role and Therapeutic Potential of Non-Coding RNAs Mediated by Dendritic Cells in Autoimmune and Immune Tolerance-Related Diseases

Dendritic cells (DCs) are professional antigen-presenting cells that act as a bridge between innate immunity and adaptive immunity. After activation, DCs differentiate into subtypes with different functions, at which point they upregulate co-stimulatory molecules and produce various cytokines and chemokines. Activated DCs also process antigens for presentation to T cells and regulate the differentiation and function of T cells to modulate the immune state of the body. Non-coding RNAs, RNA transcripts that are unable to encode proteins, not only participate in the pathological mechanisms of autoimmune-related diseases but also regulate the function of immune cells in these diseases. Accumulating evidence suggests that dysregulation of non-coding RNAs contributes to DC differentiation, functions, and so on, consequently producing effects in various autoimmune diseases. In this review, we summarize the main non-coding RNAs (miRNAs, lncRNAs, circRNAs) that regulate DCs in pathological mechanisms and have tremendous potential to give rise to novel therapeutic targets and strategies for multiple autoimmune diseases and immune tolerance-related diseases.

Preventing alloimmune rejection using circular RNA FSCN1-silenced dendritic cells in heart transplantation

BACKGROUND

While heart transplantation is used as a standard treatment for heart failure, transplant rejection continues to pose a challenge. Recent evidence has shown that circular RNA (circRNA) is a new type of gene regulator in cell development. Our aim was to demonstrate that treatment with tolerogenic dendritic cells (Tol-DCs) generated by circular RNA FSCN1 (circFSCN1) silencing could prevent alloimmune rejection and prolong heart graft survival in heart transplantation.

METHODS

Bone marrow-derived DCs were transfected with circFSCN1 siRNA in vitro. The circFSCN1 level was measured by qRT-PCR. DC maturation was determined by flow cytometry. Mixed lymphocyte reactions (MLRs) were conducted to assess the function of DCs to activate T cells and to generate regulatory T cells (Tregs). In situ RNA hybridization and fluorescent microscopy were performed to detect the distribution of circFSCN1 in DCs. A heterotopic allogeneic murine heart transplantation was conducted where recipients were pre-treated with donor derived circFSCN1-silenced Tol-DCs. Heartbeat was monitored to assess immune rejection.

RESULTS

Exonic circFSCN1 was highly expressed in the cytoplasm of mature DCs. Knockdown of circFSCN1 using siRNA arrested DCs at an immature state, impaired DC's ability to activate T cells and enhanced Treg generation. Treatment with circFSCN1-silenced Tol-DCs prevented alloimmune rejection, prolonged allograft survival, reduced fibrosis, and induced Tregs in vivo.

CONCLUSIONS

Knockdown of circFSCN1 induces Tol-DCs and treatment with these Tol-DCs prevents alloimmune rejection and prolongs allograft survival. This is a promising therapeutic target to combat transplant rejection in heart transplantation and increases our understanding of circRNA in the immune system.

Non-coding RNAs in cardiac inflammation: key drivers in the pathophysiology of heart failure

Heart failure is among the most progressive diseases and a leading cause of morbidity. Despite several advances in cardiovascular therapies, pharmacological treatments are limited to relieve symptoms without curing cardiac injury. Multiple observations point to the involvement of immune cells as key drivers in the pathophysiology of heart failure. In particular, there is a growing recognition that heart failure is related to a prolonged and insufficiently repressed inflammatory response leading to molecular, cellular, and functional cardiac alterations. Over the last decades, non-coding RNAs are recognized as prominent mediators of the cardiac inflammation, affecting the function of several immune cells. In the current review, we explore the contribution of the diverse immune cells in the progression of heart failure, revealing mechanistic functions for non-coding RNAs in cardiac immune cells as a new and exciting field of investigation.

Functional genomics of autoimmune diseases

For more than a decade, genome-wide association studies have been applied to autoimmune diseases and have expanded our understanding on the pathogeneses. Genetic risk factors associated with diseases and traits are essentially causative. However, elucidation of the biological mechanism of disease from genetic factors is challenging. In fact, it is difficult to identify the causal variant among multiple variants located on the same haplotype or linkage disequilibrium block and thus the responsible biological genes remain elusive. Recently, multiple studies have revealed that the majority of risk variants locate in the non-coding region of the genome and they are the most likely to regulate gene expression such as quantitative trait loci. Enhancer, promoter and long non-coding RNA appear to be the main target mechanisms of the risk variants. In this review, we discuss functional genetics to challenge these puzzles.

Emerging roles of long non-coding RNAs in allotransplant rejection

Allotransplantation has extensively been employed for managing end-stage organ failure and malignant tumors. Acute and chronic post-transplant rejections are major causes of late morbidity and mortality after allotransplantation. However, there are no objective diagnostic criteria and specific therapy for post-transplant rejections. Owing to key advances in high-throughput RNA sequencing techniques, a wealth of studies have disclosed that long noncoding RNA (lncRNA) expression increased or decreased evidently in biopsies, blood, plasma, urine and specific cells of rejecting patients, and the dysregulated lncRNAs affected the cellular functions and differentiation of the immune system. Hence, we present an overview of the functions of lncRNAs expressed in various immune cells related to allotransplant rejection. Moreover, our review explores the regulatory interplay of relevant lncRNAs and recipients with or without allograft rejection after solid organ transplantations or hematopoietic stem cell transplantation, then discuss whether these relevant lncRNAs can be molecular biomarkers for diagnosis and new therapeutic targets in the management of post-transplanted patients.

Growth and differentiation factor 15 and NF-κB expression in benign prostatic biopsies and risk of subsequent prostate cancer detection

Growth and differentiation factor 15 (GDF‐15), also known as macrophage inhibitory cytokine 1 (MIC‐1), may act as both a tumor suppressor and promotor and, by regulating NF‐κB and macrophage signaling, promote early prostate carcinogenesis. To determine whether expression of these two inflammation‐related proteins affect prostate cancer susceptibility, dual immunostaining of benign prostate biopsies for GDF‐15 and NF‐κB was done in a study of 503 case‐control pairs matched on date, age, and race, nested within a historical cohort of 10,478 men. GDF‐15 and NF‐κB expression levels were positively correlated (r = 0.39; p < 0.0001), and both were significantly lower in African American (AA) compared with White men. In adjusted models that included both markers, the odds ratio (OR) for NF‐κB expression was statistically significant, OR =0.87; p = 0.03; 95% confidence interval (CI) =0.77–0.99, while GDF‐15 expression was associated with a nominally increased risk, OR =1.06; p = 0.27; 95% CI =0.96–1.17. When modeling expression levels by quartiles, the highest quartile of NF‐κB expression was associated with almost a fifty percent reduction in prostate cancer risk (OR =0.51; p = 0.03; 95% CI =0.29–0.92). In stratified models, NF‐κB had the strongest negative association with prostate cancer in non‐aggressive cases (p = 0.03), older men (p = 0.03), and in case‐control pairs with longer follow‐up (p = 0.02). Risk associated with GDF‐15 expression was best fit using nonlinear regression modeling where both first (p = 0.02) and second (p = 0.03) order GDF‐15 risk terms were associated with significantly increased risk. This modeling approach also revealed significantly increased risk associated with GDF‐15 expression for subsamples defined by AA race, aggressive disease, younger age, and in case‐control pairs with longer follow‐up. Therefore, although positively correlated in benign prostatic biopsies, NF‐κB and GDF‐15 expression appear to exert opposite effects on risk of prostate tumor development.

Growth differentiation factor-15 promotes immune escape of ovarian cancer via targeting CD44 in dendritic cells

Immune escape is the main cause of the low response rate to immunotherapy for cancer, including ovarian cancer. Growth differentiation factor-15 (GDF-15) inhibits immune cell function. However, only few reports described the mechanism. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate the mechanism of immune escape regulated by GDF-15 in ovarian cancer. Ovarian cancer patients and healthy women were enrolled in this study. Immunohistochemistry and ELISA were performed to measure GDF-15 expression. Immunoprecipitation combined with mass spectrometry, surface plasmon resonance, and co-immunoprecipitation assay were used to evaluate the interaction between GDF-15 and the surface molecules of DCs. Immunofluorescence analysis, flow cytometry and transwell assay were used to evaluate additional effects of GDF-15 on DCs. The results showed that GDF-15 expression was higher in the ovarian cancer patients compared to that in the healthy women. The TIMER algorithm revealed that highly GDF-15 expression is associated with immune DC infiltration in immunoreactive high-grade serous carcinoma. A further study showed that GDF-15 suppressed DCs maturation, as well as IL-12p40 and TNF-α secretion, the length and number of protrusions and the migration. More importantly, CD44 in the surface of DCs interacted with GDF-15. The overexpression of CD44 in DCs resulted in the suppression of the inhibitory effect of GDF-15 on the length and number of DC synapses. In DCs overexpressing CD44 the inhibition of GDF-15 on the expression of CD11c, CD83 and CD86 was decreased, while in DCs with a knockdown of CD44 the inhibition was further enhanced. Knockdown of CD44 in DCs enhanced the inhibitory effect of GDF-15 on DC migration, while the overexpression of CD44 inhibited the inhibitory effect of GDF-15 on DC migration. In conclusion, the present study suggested that GDF-15 might facilitate ovarian cancer immune escape by interacting with CD44 in DCs to inhibit their function.

Lack of Mucosal Cholinergic Innervation Is Associated With Increased Risk of Enterocolitis in Hirschsprung's Disease

BACKGROUND & AIMS

Hirschsprung's disease (HSCR) is a congenital intestinal motility disorder defined by the absence of enteric neuronal cells (ganglia) in the distal gut. The development of HSCR-associated enterocolitis remains a life-threatening complication. Absence of enteric ganglia implicates innervation of acetylcholine-secreting (cholinergic) nerve fibers. Cholinergic signals have been reported to control excessive inflammation, but the impact on HSCR-associated enterocolitis is unknown.

METHODS

We enrolled 44 HSCR patients in a prospective multicenter study and grouped them according to their degree of colonic mucosal acetylcholinesterase-positive innervation into low-fiber and high-fiber patient groups. The fiber phenotype was correlated with the tissue cytokine profile as well as immune cell frequencies using Luminex analysis and fluorescence-activated cell sorting analysis of colonic tissue and immune cells. Using confocal immunofluorescence microscopy, macrophages were identified in close proximity to nerve fibers and characterized by RNA-seq analysis. Microbial dysbiosis was analyzed in colonic tissue using 16S-rDNA gene sequencing. Finally, the fiber phenotype was correlated with postoperative enterocolitis manifestation.

RESULTS

The presence of mucosal nerve fiber innervation correlated with reduced T-helper 17 cytokines and cell frequencies. In high-fiber tissue, macrophages co-localized with nerve fibers and expressed significantly less interleukin 23 than macrophages from low-fiber tissue. HSCR patients lacking mucosal nerve fibers showed microbial dysbiosis and had a higher incidence of postoperative enterocolitis.

CONCLUSIONS

The mucosal fiber phenotype might serve as a prognostic marker for enterocolitis development in HSCR patients and may offer an approach to personalized patient care and new therapeutic options.

Emerging roles of circular RNAs in systemic lupus erythematosus

Circular RNAs (circRNAs) are a class of non-coding RNAs with covalently closed single-stranded structures lacking 5'-3' polarity and a polyadenine tail. Over recent years, a growing body of studies have been conducted to explore the roles of circRNAs in human diseases. Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a severe autoimmune disorder characterized by the presence of autoantibodies and excessive inflammation, which impact multiple organs. Recent advances have begun to shed light on the roles of circRNAs in SLE, providing fresh insights into the pathogenesis of SLE and the latent capacity for translation into clinical applications. Here, we briefly introduce these "star molecules" and summarize their roles in SLE. In addition, we outline the limitations of the current studies and raise prospects for future research.

Gene Expression Profiles Reveal Extracellular Matrix and Inflammatory Signaling in Radiation-Induced Premature Differentiation of Human Fibroblast in vitro

Purpose

Fibroblasts are considered to play a major role in the development of fibrotic reaction after radiotherapy and premature radiation-induced differentiation has been proposed as a cellular basis. The purpose was to relate gene expression profiles to radiation-induced phenotypic changes of human skin fibroblasts relevant for radiogenic fibrosis.

Materials and Methods

Exponentially growing or confluent human skin fibroblast strains were irradiated in vitro with 1–3 fractions of 4 Gy X-rays. The differentiated phenotype was detected by cytomorphological scoring and immunofluorescence microscopy. Microarray analysis was performed on Human Genome U133 plus2.0 microarrays (Affymetrix) with JMP Genomics software, and pathway analysis with Reactome R-package. The expression levels and kinetics of selected genes were validated with quantitative real-time PCR (qPCR) and Western blotting.

Results

Irradiation of exponentially growing fibroblast with 1 × 4 Gy resulted in phenotypic differentiation over a 5-day period. This was accompanied by downregulation of cell cycle-related genes and upregulation of collagen and other extracellular matrix (ECM)-related genes. Pathway analysis confirmed inactivation of proliferation and upregulation of ECM- and glycosaminoglycan (GAG)-related pathways. Furthermore, pathways related to inflammatory reactions were upregulated, and potential induction and signaling mechanisms were identified. Fractionated irradiation (3 × 4 Gy) of confluent cultures according to a previously published protocol for predicting the risk of fibrosis after radiotherapy showed similar downregulation but differences in upregulated genes and pathways.

Conclusion

Gene expression profiles after irradiation of exponentially growing cells were related to radiation-induced differentiation and inflammatory reactions, and potential signaling mechanisms. Upregulated pathways by different irradiation protocols may reflect different aspects of the fibrogenic process thus providing a model system for further hypothesis-based studies of radiation-induced fibrogenesis.

Growth differentiation factor-15 and its role in diabetes and cardiovascular disease

Growth differentiation factor-15 (GDF-15) is cytokine involved in the regulation of multiple systems. Because it has regularly been shown to be increased in cardiovascular disease (CVD) and diabetes, it has been suggested that GDF-15 could be used as a biomarker for these diseases and their severity. However, several studies have demonstrated that GDF-15 has a protective role in regulation of inflammation, endothelial cell function, insulin sensitivity, weight gain, and is cardioprotective in myocardial infarction (MI). While GDF-15 has been implicated in the pathophysiology of many conditions including cancer, this review focuses on the potential functions of GDF-15 and signaling pathways implicated in its role regulating metabolism, insulin sensitivity, and the cardiovascular system.

Circ_0020397 regulates the viability of vascular smooth muscle cells by up-regulating GREM1 expression via miR-502-5p in intracranial aneurysm

AIMS

Circ_0020397 has been found to be down-regulated in intracranial aneurysm (IA), and deregulation of circ_0020397 involved in the regulation of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) proliferation. However, the mechanism by which circ_0020397 implicates in VSMC dysfunction in IA remains vague.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The expression of circ_0020397, miR-502-5p and Gremlin 1 (GREM1) was detected using quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction. Cell viability was analyzed using 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay. Protein levels of proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) and GREM1 were measured using western blot. The interaction between miR-502-5p and circ_0020397 or GREM1 was confirmed by dual-luciferase reporter, RNA pull-down and RNA immunoprecipitation assay.

KEY FINDINGS

Circ_0020397 or GREM1 expression was decreased in VSMCs isolated from IA patients, and overexpression of circ_0020397 or GREM1 promoted VSMC viability and elevated PCNA expression level, while inhibition of them showed opposite effects. MiR-502-5p was confirmed to directly bind to circ_0020397 or GREM1, and miR-502-5p reversed the effects of circ_0020397 on VSMC viability and PCNA level. Besides, miR-502-5p overexpression suppressed VSMC viability and reduced PCNA level, while these effects were attenuated by GREM1 up-regulation. Importantly, circ_0020397 could regulate GREM1 expression via miR-502-5p in VSMCs.

SIGNIFICANCE

Circ_0020397 played an important role in phenotypic modulation in IA by promoting VSMC viability via miR-502-5p/GREM1 axis, suggesting a novel insight into IA pathogenesis and new targets for IA molecular therapy.

Circ_0010729 knockdown protects cardiomyocytes against hypoxic dysfunction via miR-370-3p/TRAF6 axis

Few studies have addressed the mechanism by which circ_0010729 regulates hypoxia-induced cell injury in cardiovascular diseases. However, its role and its regulatory mechanism in myocardial infarction remain to be explored. Cell viability, cycle, apoptosis, and migration were analyzed using cell counting kit-8 assay, flow cytometry, caspase-3 activity assay kit and transwell assay, respectively. Tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), and interleukin-6 (IL-6) concentrations were examined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Glucose metabolism was calculated by detecting ATP production, glucose uptake and lactate production. Levels of circ_0010729, miR-370-3p and TNF Receptor Associated Factor 6 (TRAF6) were detected using quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction or western blot. The direct interaction between circ_0010729 and TRAF6 or miR-370-3p was verified using dual-luciferase reporter assay and RNA immunoprecipitation assay. Under hypoxia condition, cardiomyocytes suffered from cell viability suppression, cell cycle arrest, cell apoptosis promotion, migration reduction, increase of inflammatory factor IL-6 and TNF-α, as well as glycolysis inhibition. Circ_0010729 expression was up-regulated in the cardiomyocytes at different hypoxia-exposed time points. Circ_0010729 knockdown protected cardiomyocytes against hypoxic dysfunction, while circ_0010729 overexpression showed inverse effects. MiR-370-3p was confirmed to directly bind to circ_0010729 or TRAF6. MiR-370-3p inhibition attenuated the protective effects of circ_0010729 knockdown on hypoxia-modulated cardiomyocyte dysfunction. MiR-370-3p restoration protected cardiomyocytes against hypoxic injury via targeting TRAF6. Besides, circ_0010729 indirectly regulated TRAF6 expression via miR-370-3p. This study demonstrated that circ_0010729 knockdown attenuated hypoxia-induced cardiomyocyte dysfunction via miR-370-3p/TRAF6 axis, indicating a potential therapeutic target for myocardial infarction.

Tolerogenic Dendritic Cells: The Pearl of Immunotherapy in Organ Transplantation

Over a half century, organ transplantation has become an effective method for the treatment of end-stage visceral diseases. Although the application of immunosuppressants (IS) minimizes the rate of allograft rejection, the common use of IS bring many adverse effects to transplant patients. Moreover, true transplant tolerance is very rare in clinical practice. Dendritic cells (DCs) are thought to be the most potent antigen-presenting cells, which makes a bridge between innate and adaptive immunity. Among their subsets, a small portion of DCs with immunoregulatory function was known as tolerogenic DC (Tol-DC). Previous reports demonstrated the ability of adoptively transferred Tol-DC to approach transplant tolerance in animal models. In this study, we summarized the properties, ex vivo generation, metabolism, and clinical attempts of Tol-DC. Tol-DC is expected to become a substitute for IS to enable patients to achieve immune tolerance in the future.

Molecular Markers of Regulatory T Cells in Cancer Immunotherapy with Special Focus on Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML) - A Systematic Review

The next-generation immunotherapy can only be effective if researchers have an in-depth understanding of the function and regulation of Treg cells in antitumor immunity combined with the discovery of new immunity targets. This can enhance clinical efficacy of future and novel therapies and reduces any adverse reactions arising from the latter. This review discusses tumor treatment strategies using regulatory T (Treg) cell therapy in a Tumor Microenvironment (TME). It also discusses factors affecting TME instability as well as relevant treatments to prevent future immune disorders. It is prognosticated that PD-1 inhibitors are risky and their adverse effects should be taken into account when they are administered to treat Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML), lung adenocarcinoma, and prostate adenocarcinoma. In contrast, Treg molecular markers FoxP3 and CD25 analyzed here have stronger expression in almost all kinds of cancers compared with normal people. However, CD25 inhibitors are more effective compared to FoxP3 inhibitors, especially in combination with TGF-β blockade, in predicting patient survival. According to the data obtained from the Cancer Genome Atlas, we then concentrate on AML immunotherapy and discuss different therapeutic strategies including anti-CD25/IL-2, anti-CTLA-4, anti-IDO, antityrosine kinase receptor, and anti-PI3K therapies and highlight the recent advances and clinical achievements in AML immunotherapy. In order to prognosticate the risk and adverse effects of key target inhibitors (namely against CTLA-4, FoxP3, CD25, and PD-1), we finally analyzed and compared the Cancer Genome Atlas derived from ten common cancers. This review shows that Treg cells are strongly increased in AML and the comparative review of key markers shows that Tregbased immunotherapy is not effective for all kinds of cancer. Therefore, blocking CD25(+)FoxP3(+) Treg cells is suggested in AML more than other kinds of cancer; meanwhile, Treg markers studied in other cancers have also great lessons for AML immunotherapy.

Growth Differentiation Factor 15 Ameliorates Anti-Glomerular Basement Membrane Glomerulonephritis in Mice

Growth differentiation factor 15 (GDF15) is a member of the transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) cytokine family and an inflammation-associated protein. Here, we investigated the role of GDF15 in murine anti-glomerular basement membrane (GBM) glomerulonephritis. Glomerulonephritis induction in mice induced systemic expression of GDF15. Moreover, we demonstrate the protective effects for GDF15, as GDF15-deficient mice exhibited increased proteinuria with an aggravated crescent formation and mesangial expansion in anti-GBM nephritis. Herein, GDF15 was required for the regulation of T-cell chemotactic chemokines in the kidney. In addition, we found the upregulation of the CXCR3 receptor in activated T-cells in GDF15-deficient mice. These data indicate that CXCL10/CXCR3-dependent-signaling promotes the infiltration of T cells into the organ during acute inflammation controlled by GDF15. Together, these results reveal a novel mechanism limiting the migration of lymphocytes to the site of inflammation during glomerulonephritis.