Rapamycin‑induced miR‑30a downregulation inhibits senescence of VSMCs by targeting Beclin1

RANBP1 Regulates NOTCH3-Mediated Autophagy in High Glucose-Induced Vascular Smooth Muscle Cells

BACKGROUND

Vascular smooth muscle cells(VSMCs) phenotypic switching under hyperglycemic conditions accelerates atherosclerotic progression. Notch receptor 3(NOTCH3), a critical stabilizer of VSMC homeostasis implicated in cerebral autosomal dominant arteriopathy with subcortical infarcts and leukoencephalopathy (CADASIL) pathogenesis, ensures vascular integrity; however, its interplay with RAN Binding Protein 1(RANBP1) during pathological hyperglycemia remains uncharacterized. We hypothesize that hyperglycemia-induced autophagic dysregulation is mechanistically governed by theNotch receptor 3 (NOTCH3)/RANBP1 axis, proliferative capacity, and apoptotic signaling in high glucose (HG)-stimulated VSMCs. The aim of this study was to elucidate the regulatory mechanisms of autophagy in VSMCs under HG conditions, with a focus on the NOTCH3/RANBP1 axis and its implications for vascular health.

METHODS

Bioinformatics analysis was performed on NOTCH3 sequencing data, including weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA), screening of differentially expressed genes (DEGs), and construction of a protein-protein interaction (PPI) network, to identify the key gene, RANBP1. In vitro experiments, including cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8) assays, quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR), Western blotting (WB), and flow cytometry, were conducted to examine the effects of NOTCH3 knockdown combined with RANBP1 overexpression on glucose-induced autophagy marker expression and cell viability in VSMCs.

RESULTS

NOTCH3 knockdown suppressed VSMC proliferation and induced apoptosis, and the cell cycle was stopped at the S phase. Analysis of VSMC sequencing data revealed 38 overlapping genes between the turquoise module and DEGs, 11 (HPF1, RANBP1, CRNKL1, LGALS3, RDX, ECM1, CXCL5, PA2G4, CENPS, ZNF830, and HIST1H4L) of which were significantly underexpressed in VSMC samples with si-NOTCH3. In a dose-dependent manner, HG therapy altered the expression of autophagy-related markers, upregulated NOTCH3, and downregulated phosphorylated mammalian target of rapamycin (p-mTOR). Downregulation of NOTCH3 aggravated the effects of HG on cell viability and autophagy, whereas overexpression of RANBP1 reversed these effects, suggesting an offsetting effect on HG-induced autophagy.

CONCLUSION

On the basis of sequencing technology, bioinformatics analysis and cell experiments, we conclude that the RANBP1/NOTCH3 axis is essential for the control of autophagy and survival of VSMCs under hyperglycemic stress and could provide new insight for the clinical treatment of VSMC-related diseases.

EZH2 Regulates ANXA6 Expression via H3K27me3 and Is Involved in Angiotensin II-Induced Vascular Smooth Muscle Cell Senescence

Objectives

Abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) has a high risk of rupture of the aorta and is one of the leading causes of death in older adults. This study is aimed at confirming the influence and mechanism of the abnormally expressed ANXA6 gene in AAA.

Methods

Clinical samples were collected for proteome sequencing to screen for differentially expressed proteins. An Ang II-induced vascular smooth muscle cell (VSMC) aging model as well as an AAA animal model was used. Using RT-qPCR to detect the mRNA levels of EZH2, ANXA6, IK-6, and IL-8 in cells and tissues were assessed. Western blotting and immunohistochemistry staining were used apply for the expression of associated proteins in cells and tissues. SA-β-gal staining, flow cytometry, and DHE staining were used to detect senescent cells and the level of ROS. The cell cycle was assessed by flow cytometry. Arterial pathology was observed by HE staining. The aging of VSMCs in arterial tissue was assessed by coimmunofluorescence for α-SMA and p53.

Results

There were 24 differentially expressed proteins in the AAA clinical samples, including 10 upregulated protein and 14 downregulated protein, and the differential expression of ANXA6 was associated with vascular disease. Our study found that ANXA6 was highly expressed and EZH2 was lowly expressed in an Ang II-induced VSMC aging model. Knockdown of ANXA6 or overexpression of EZH2 inhibited Ang II-induced ROS, inhibited cell senescence, decreased Ang II evoked G1 arrest, and increased cells in G2 phase, while overexpression of ANXA6 played the opposite role. Overexpression of EZH2 inhibited ANXA6 expression by increasing H3K27me3 modification at the ANXA6 promoter. Simultaneous overexpression of EZH2 and the protective effect of EZH2 on cell senescence were partially reversed by ANXA6. Similarly, ANXA6 was highly expressed and EZH2 was lowly expressed in an Ang II-induced AAA animal model. Knockdown of ANXA6 and overexpression of EZH2 alleviated Ang II-induced VSMC senescence and inhibited AAA progression, while simultaneous overexpression of EZH2 and ANXA6 partially reversed the protective effect of EZH2 on AAA.

Conclusion

EZH2 regulates the ANXA6 promoter H3K27me3 modification, inhibits ANXA6 expression, alleviates Ang II-induced VSMC senescence, and inhibits AAA progression.

Emerging Role of Non-Coding RNAs in Senescence

Senescence is defined as a gradual weakening of functional features of a living organism. Cellular senescence is a process that is principally aimed to remove undesirable cells by prompting tissue remodeling. This process is also regarded as a defense mechanism induced by cellular damage. In the course of oncogenesis, senescence can limit tumor progression. However, senescence participates in the pathoetiology of several disorders such as fibrotic disorders, vascular disorders, diabetes, renal disorders and sarcopenia. Recent studies have revealed contribution of different classes of non-coding RNAs in the cellular senescence. Long non-coding RNAs, microRNAs and circular RNAs are three classes of these transcripts whose contributions in this process have been more investigated. In the current review, we summarize the available literature on the impact of these transcripts in the cellular senescence.

A potential role of autophagy-mediated vascular senescence in the pathophysiology of HFpEF

Heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) is one of the most complex and most prevalent cardiometabolic diseases in aging population. Age, obesity, diabetes, and hypertension are the main comorbidities of HFpEF. Microvascular dysfunction and vascular remodeling play a major role in its development. Among the many mechanisms involved in this process, vascular stiffening has been described as one the most prevalent during HFpEF, leading to ventricular-vascular uncoupling and mismatches in aged HFpEF patients. Aged blood vessels display an increased number of senescent endothelial cells (ECs) and vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs). This is consistent with the fact that EC and cardiomyocyte cell senescence has been reported during HFpEF. Autophagy plays a major role in VSMCs physiology, regulating phenotypic switch between contractile and synthetic phenotypes. It has also been described that autophagy can regulate arterial stiffening and EC and VSMC senescence. Many studies now support the notion that targeting autophagy would help with the treatment of many cardiovascular and metabolic diseases. In this review, we discuss the mechanisms involved in autophagy-mediated vascular senescence and whether this could be a driver in the development and progression of HFpEF.

Epigenetics and Vascular Senescence-Potential New Therapeutic Targets?

Epigenetics is defined as the heritable alterations of gene expression without changes to the coding sequence of DNA. These alterations are mediated by processes including DNA methylation, histone modifications, and non-coding RNAs mechanisms. Vascular aging consists of both structural and functional changes in the vasculature including pathological processes that drive progression such as vascular cell senescence, inflammation, oxidation stress, and calcification. As humans age, these pathological conditions gradually accumulate, driven by epigenetic alterations, and are linked to various aging-related diseases. The development of drugs targeting a spectrum of epigenetic processes therefore offers novel treatment strategies for the targeting of age-related diseases. In our previous studies, we identified HDAC4, JMJD3, Fra-1, and GATA4 as potential pharmacological targets for regulating vascular inflammation, injury, and senescence.

LncRNA HOTAIR induces sunitinib resistance in renal cancer by acting as a competing endogenous RNA to regulate autophagy of renal cells

Background

Cell autophagy has been proposed to be involved in drug resistance therapy. However, how the long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) reduces risks of drug resistance in renal cancer (RC) cells needs a thorough inquiry. This study was assigned to probe the effect and mechanism of HOTAIR on sunitinib resistance of RC.

Methods

Clinical RC tissues and para-carcinoma tissues were obtained to detect the expressions of miR-17-5p, HOTAIR and Beclin1. Sunitinib-resistant cells (786-O-R and ACHN-R) were constructed using parental RC cells (786-O and ACHN). The resistance of 786-O-R and ACHN-R cells to sunitinib was examined. Western blot and qRT-PCR were assayed to obtain the expressions of miR-17-5p, HOTAIR and Beclin1. The effects of HOTAIR knockdown or miR-17-5p overexpression/knockdown on cell autophagy and sunitinib resistance were measured by MDC staining, immunofluorescence and Western blot. The sensitivity of RC cells to sunitinib and change in cell clone formation after sunitinib treatment were assessed by CCK-8 assay and colony formation assay, respectively. The relationships among HOTAIR, miR-17-5p and Beclin1 were verified by dual-luciferase reporter gene and RIP assay. The role of HOTAIR knockdown in sunitinib resistance was verified in nude mice.

Results

HOTAIR expression in sunitinib-resistant cells is higher than that in parental cells. Knockdown of HOTAIR in sunitinib-resistant cells lead to refrained sunitinib resistance and cell autophagy both in vivo and in vitro. Activation of autophagy could raise resistance to sunitinib in RC cells, while inhibition of autophagy could improve the sensitivity of sunitinib-resistant cells to sunitinib. HOTAIR could compete with miR-17-5p to regulate Beclin1 expression. Knockdown of miR-17-5p in parental cells increases cell resistant to sunitinib, and overexpression of miR-17-5p in sunitinib-resistant cells increases cell sensitive to sunitinib.

Conclusion

HOTAIR negatively targets miR-17-5p to activate Beclin1-mediated cell autophagy, thereby enhancing sunitinib resistance in RC cells.

Noncoding RNAs in Vascular Aging

Increases in age are accompanied by vascular aging, which can lead to a variety of chronic diseases, including atherosclerosis and hypertension. Noncoding RNAs (ncRNAs) have become a research hotspot in different fields of life sciences in recent years. For example, these molecules have been found to have regulatory roles in many physiological and pathological processes. Many studies have shown that microRNAs (miRNAs) and long ncRNAs (lncRNAs) also play a regulatory role in vascular aging. Endothelial cells (ECs) and vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) are important components of blood vessels, and the senescence of both cell types promotes the occurrence of vascular aging. This review provides a contemporary update on the molecular mechanisms underlying the senescence of ECs and VSMCs and the regulatory role of miRNAs and lncRNAs in this process.

[Autophagy regulates the function of vascular smooth muscle cells in the formation and rupture of intracranial aneurysms]

Vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMC) are the main cellular component of vessel wall. The changes of VSMC functions including phenotypic transformation and apoptosis play a critical role in the pathogenesis of intracranial aneurysm (IA). Autophagy can participate in the regulation of vascular function by regulating cell function. In the initial stage of IA, the activation of autophagy can accelerate the phenotypic transformation of VSMC and inhibit VSMC apoptosis. With the progress of IA, the relationship between autophagy and apoptosis changes from antagonism to synergy or promotion, and a large number of apoptotic VSMC lead to the rupture of IA. In this review, we describe the role of autophagy regulating the function of VSMC in the occurrence, development and rupture of IA, for further understanding the pathogenesis of IA and finding molecular targets to prevent the formation and rupture of IA.