A multi-network comparative analysis of whole-transcriptome and translatome reveals the effect of high-fat diet on APP/PS1 mice and the intervention with Chinese medicine

A comprehensive analysis of microRNA alteration in an ApoE(-/-) mice model of white adipose tissue injury induced by chronic intermittent hypoxia

Background

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) represent a class of noncoding small RNAs and are implicated in many diseases. However, the role of miRNA in obstructive sleep apnea (OSA)-induced white adipose tissue (WAT) dysfunction remains to be fully elucidated. Using miRNA sequencing (miRNA-seq), we uncovered the miRNA expression profiles in chronic intermittent hypoxia (CIH)-induced WAT dysfunction mice.

Methods

We established an apolipoprotein-deficient (ApoE-/-) CIH mouse model and identified differentially expressed miRNAs (DEmiRs) using miRNA-seq technology. With the help of Gene Ontology (GO) functional enrichment and the Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway analyses, we determined the biological functions of these DEmiRs. In addition, RT-qPCR was performed for further evaluation of the sequencing data. Finally, we constructed a conserved negative correlation (CNC) network to expound the relationship between miRNA and target genes.

Results

Overall, 13 miRNAs were found to be upregulated and 18 miRNAs downregulated in the CIH-induced mouse model of WAT dysfunction. KEGG pathway analysis results indicated that the lysosome pathway participated in CIH-induced WAT dysfunction. Then, eight miRNAs were shortlisted for RT-qPCR validation. Based on the data, we chose these DEmiRs to construct a miRNA-mRNA regulatory network.

Conclusion

Overall, we identified 31 DEmiRs in the ApoE-/- CIH mouse model. Our findings may play a major role in explaining the pathophysiological mechanisms of WAT dysfunction induced by obstructive sleep apnea.

The Intersection of cerebral cholesterol metabolism and Alzheimer's disease: Mechanisms and therapeutic prospects

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a common neurodegenerative disease in the elderly, the exact pathogenesis of which remains incompletely understood, and effective preventive and therapeutic drugs are currently lacking. Cholesterol plays a vital role in cell membrane formation and neurotransmitter synthesis, and its abnormal metabolism is associated with the onset of AD. With the continuous advancement of imaging techniques and molecular biology methods, researchers can more accurately explore the relationship between cholesterol metabolism and AD. Elevated cholesterol levels may lead to vascular dysfunction, thereby affecting neuronal function. Additionally, abnormal cholesterol metabolism may affect the metabolism of β-amyloid protein, thereby promoting the onset of AD. Brain cholesterol levels are regulated by multiple factors. This review aims to deepen the understanding of the subtle relationship between cholesterol homeostasis and AD, and to introduce the latest advances in cholesterol-regulating AD treatment strategies, thereby inspiring readers to contemplate deeply on this complex relationship. Although there are still many unresolved important issues regarding the risk of brain cholesterol and AD, and some studies may have opposite conclusions, further research is needed to enrich our understanding. However, these findings are expected to deepen our understanding of the pathogenesis of AD and provide important insights for the future development of AD treatment strategies targeting brain cholesterol homeostasis.

microRNA Expression Profile in Obesity-Induced Kidney Disease Driven by High-Fat Diet in Mice

Obesity is one of the main causes of chronic kidney disease; however, the precise molecular mechanisms leading to the onset of kidney injury and dysfunction in obesity-associated nephropathy remain unclear. The present study aimed to unveil the kidney microRNA (miRNA) expression profile in a model of obesity-induced kidney disease in C57BL/6J mice using next-generation sequencing (NGS) analysis. High-fat diet (HFD)-induced obesity led to notable structural alterations in tubular and glomerular regions of the kidney, increased renal expression of proinflammatory and profibrotic genes, as well as an elevated renal expression of genes involved in cellular lipid metabolism. The miRNA sequencing analysis identified a set of nine miRNAs differentially expressed in the kidney upon HFD feeding, with miR-5099, miR-551b-3p, miR-223-3p, miR-146a-3p and miR-21a-3p showing the most significant differential expression between standard diet (STD) and HFD mice. A validation analysis showed that the expression levels of miR-5099, miR-551b-3p and miR-146a-3p were consistent with NGS results, while Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) and Gene Ontology (GO) enrichment analyses revealed that these three validated miRNAs modulated target genes involved in metabolic and adipocytokine pathways, fatty acid and lipid metabolism, and inflammatory, senescence and profibrotic pathways. Our results suggest that differentially expressed miRNAs play pivotal roles in the intricate pathophysiology of obesity-associated kidney disease and could potentially create novel treatment strategies to counteract the deleterious effects of obesity on kidney function.