CTBP1‑AS2 inhibits proliferation and induces autophagy in ox‑LDL‑stimulated vascular smooth muscle cells by regulating miR‑195‑5p/ATG14

Non-coding RNAs to treat vascular smooth muscle cell dysfunction

Vascular smooth muscle cell (vSMC) dysfunction is a critical contributor to cardiovascular diseases, including atherosclerosis, restenosis and vein graft failure. Recent advances have unveiled a fascinating range of non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) that play a pivotal role in regulating vSMC function. This review aims to provide an in-depth analysis of the mechanisms underlying vSMC dysfunction and the therapeutic potential of various ncRNAs in mitigating this dysfunction, either preventing or reversing it. We explore the intricate interplay of microRNAs, long-non-coding RNAs and circular RNAs, shedding light on their roles in regulating key signalling pathways associated with vSMC dysfunction. We also discuss the prospects and challenges associated with developing ncRNA-based therapies for this prevalent type of cardiovascular pathology.

KLF15 Transcriptionally Activates ATG14 to Promote Autophagy and Attenuate Damage of ox-LDL-Induced HAECs

Kruppel-like factor 15 (KLF15) is involved in many cardiovascular diseases and is abnormally expressed in atherosclerosis (AS), but the regulatory mechanism of KLF15 in AS has not been reported so far. RT-qPCR was used to detect the expression of KLF15 and ATG14 in AS patients. Subsequently, human aortic endothelial cells (HAECs) were induced by oxidized low densitylipoprotein (ox-LDL), and the expression of KLF15 in model cells was detected. KLF15 was overexpressed in cells by lipofection transfection, and then CCK8, flow cytometry, Western blot, ELISA, and related assay kits were used to detect cell viability, apoptosis, inflammatory response as well as oxidative stress, respectively. The targeted regulatory relationship between KLF15 and autophagy-related 14 (ATG14) was detected by ChIP and luciferase reporter assays. Following ATG14 silencing in KLF15-overexpressing cells, immunofluorescence and Western blot were used to detect the autophagy. Finally, after the addition of 3-Methyladenine (3-MA), an autophagy inhibitor, the aforementioned experiments were conducted again to further explore the mechanism. The expression of KLF15 and ATG14 were decreased in AS patients and ox-LDL-induced HAECs. Overexpression of KLF15 protected ox-LDL-induced HAECs from damage, which might be achieved through transcriptional regulation of ATG14. In addition, KLF15 could promote autophagy through transcriptional activation of ATG14. KLF15 transcriptionally activated ATG14 to promote autophagy and attenuate damage of ox-LDL-induced HAECs.

Long non‑coding RNA PEG13 regulates endothelial cell senescence through the microRNA‑195/IRS1 axis

Atherosclerosis is a chronic inflammatory disease characterized by endothelial dysfunction and plaque formation. The present study aimed to elucidate the pathological role of the long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) paternally expressed 13 (PEG13) in the onset and progression of atherosclerosis. Specifically, its effects on human umbilical vein endothelial cell (HUVEC) proliferation, angiogenesis, senescence and senescence-associated secretory phenotype (SASP)-related factors were investigated using cell proliferation, cellular angiogenesis, β-galactosidase staining, reverse transcription-quantitative PCR and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays. The results showed that oxidized low-density lipoprotein (ox-LDL) inhibited lncRNA PEG13 expression and HUVEC viability in a dose-dependent manner and PEG13 overexpression partially reversed these effects. Additionally, PEG13 overexpression ameliorated the ox-LDL-induced impairment of angiogenesis, cellular senescence and SASP. Furthermore, lncRNA PEG13 directly targeted microRNA (miR/miRNA)-195-5p, suppressing the ox-LDL-induced upregulation of the miRNA. The gene coding for insulin receptor substrate 1 (IRS1), an activator of the phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K)/protein kinase B (AKT) signaling pathway, was confirmed as a direct target of miR-195. PEG13 overexpression attenuated the ox-LDL-induced inhibition of IRS1 expression and PI3K/AKT signaling and its protective effects on HUVEC viability, angiogenesis and senescence were partially reversed by small interfering RNAs targeting IRS1. The present study demonstrated that lncRNA PEG13 attenuates ox-LDL-induced senescence in HUVECs by modulating the miR-195/IRS1/PI3K/AKT signaling pathway, suggesting a potential therapeutic target for the treatment of atherosclerosis.

Gingival Tissue MiRNA Expression Profiling and an Analysis of Periodontitis-Specific Circulating MiRNAs

This study aimed to identify the microRNAs (miRNAs) associated with periodontitis (PD) in gingival tissues, and to evaluate the levels of these selected miRNAs in the saliva and blood plasma among participants with and without rheumatoid arthritis (RA). A genome-wide miRNA expression analysis in 16 gingival tissue samples revealed 177 deregulated miRNAs. The validation of the miRNA profiling results in 80 gingival tissue samples revealed that the PD-affected tissues had a higher expression of miR-140-3p and -145-5p, while the levels of miR-125a-3p were significantly lower in inflamed tissues. After a thorough validation, four miRNAs, namely miR-140-3p, -145-5p, -146a-5p, and -195-5p, were selected for further analysis in a larger sample of salivary (N = 173) and blood plasma (N = 221) specimens. Increased salivary levels of miR-145-5p were associated with higher mean values of pocket probing depth and bleeding on probing index. The plasma-derived levels of miR-140-3p were higher among the participants with PD. In conclusion, the gingival levels of miR-140-3p, -145-5p, and -125a-3p were independently associated with PD presence and severity. The salivary and blood plasma levels of the target miRNAs were diversely related to PD. Similar miRNA associations with PD were observed among the participants with and without RA.

Long non-coding RNAs: The growth controller of vascular smooth muscle cells in cardiovascular diseases

The active proliferation and migration of vascular smooth muscle cells supports the healing of vessel damage while their abnormal aggression or destitution contribute to the aberrant intima-medial structure and function in various cardiovascular diseases, so the understanding of the proliferation disorders of vascular smooth muscle cell and the related mechanism is the basis of effective intervention and control for cardiovascular diseases. Recently, long non-coding RNAs have stood out as upstream switchers for multiple proliferative signaling pathways and molecules, and many of them have been shown to conduce to the dysregulated proliferation and apoptosis of vascular smooth muscle cells under various pathogenic stimuli. This article discusses the long non-coding RNAs disclosed and linked to atherosclerosis, pulmonary hypertension, and aneurysms, and focuses upon their modulation of vascular smooth muscle cell population affecting three deadly cardiovascular diseases.

Long non-coding RNAs: Modulators of phenotypic transformation in vascular smooth muscle cells

Long non-coding RNA (lncRNAs) are longer than 200 nucleotides and cannot encode proteins but can regulate the expression of genes through epigenetic, transcriptional, and post-transcriptional modifications. The pathophysiology of smooth muscle cells can lead to many vascular diseases, and studies have shown that lncRNAs can regulate the phenotypic conversion of smooth muscle cells so that smooth muscle cells proliferate, migrate, and undergo apoptosis, thereby affecting the development and prognosis of vascular diseases. This review discusses the molecular mechanisms of lncRNA as a signal, bait, stent, guide, and other functions to regulate the phenotypic conversion of vascular smooth muscle cells, and summarizes the role of lncRNAs in regulating vascular smooth muscle cells in atherosclerosis, hypertension, aortic dissection, vascular restenosis, and aneurysms, providing new ideas for the diagnosis and treatment of vascular diseases.

Circ_ARHGAP32 acts as miR-665 sponge to upregulate FGF2 to promote ox-LDL induced vascular smooth muscle cells proliferation and migration

BACKGROUND: Circular RNA (circRNA) is considered to be an important regulator of human diseases, including atherosclerosis (AS). However, the role of circ_ARHGAP32 in AS formation needs further confirmation. OBJECTIVE: To explore the role of circ_ARHGAP32 in AS formation. METHODS: Oxidized low density lipoprotein (ox-LDL) was used to treat vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) to mimic AS cell models in vitro. The expression of circ_ARHGAP32, microRNA (miR)-665, and fibroblast growth factor 2 (FGF2) was analyzed by quantitative real-time PCR. VSMCs function was measured by EdU assay, cell counting kit 8 assay and transwell assay. Protein expression was determined using western blot analysis. Dual-luciferase reporter assay and RNA pull-down assay were performed to verify RNA interaction. RESULTS: Circ_ARHGAP32 was highly expressed in AS patients and ox-LDL-induced VSMCs. Knockdown of circ_ARHGAP32 repressed ox-LDL-induced proliferation and migration in VSMCs. Circ_ARHGAP32 sponged miR-665 to positively regulate FGF2. MiR-665 inhibitor reversed the regulation of sh-circ_ARHGAP32 on ox-LDL-induced VSMCs proliferation and migration. MiR-665 also had a suppressive effect on the proliferation and migration of ox-LDL-induced VSMCs, and this effect could be reversed by FGF2 overexpression. CONCLUSIONS: Circ_ARHGAP32 might be a potential target for AS treatment, which promoted ox-LDL-induced VSMCs proliferation and migration by regulating miR-665/FGF2 network.

SNHG12 regulates biological behaviors of ox-LDL-induced HA-VSMCs through upregulation of SPRY2 and NUB1

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

Human vascular smooth muscle cells (HA-VSMCs) are an important cell type involved in atherosclerosis. Low density lipoprotein (LDL) is a lipoprotein particle that carries cholesterol into peripheral tissue cells, and oxidized modified LDL (ox-LDL) is a well-known inducer of the atherosclerosis-related phenotype switch in VSMCs, leading to the occurrence of atherosclerosis. Accumulating studies have revealed that long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) mediate the effect of ox-LDL on the atherosclerosis-related biological activities of HA-VSMCs, including proliferation, migration, and apoptosis. However, the mechanism of small nucleolar RNA host gene 12 (SNHG12) in ox-LDL-induced phenotype switch of VSMCs remains unclear. Thus, this research dug in whether SNHG12 mediated the influence of ox-LDL on HA-VSMCs and the potential mechanism.

METHODS

Fundamental experiments and functional assays were performed to measure the function of SNHG12 on HA-VSMCs. Then, mechanism assays and rescue assays were performed to study the regulatory mechanism of SNHG12 in HA-VSMCs.

RESULTS

SNHG12 reversed the influence of ox-LDL treatment in enhancing cell proliferative and migratory abilities and weakening apoptotic ability in HA-VSMCs. SNHG12 was a competitive endogenous RNA (ceRNA) competing with sprouty RTK signaling antagonist 2 (SPRY2) to bind to miR-1301-3p, thus up-regulating SPRY2 expression in ox-LDL-treated HA-VSMCs. Besides, SNHG12 recruited serine and arginine rich splicing factor 1 (SRSF1) to stabilize negative regulator of ubiquitin like proteins 1 (NUB1) expression.

CONCLUSIONS

This study illustrated that SNHG12 inhibited cell proliferation, migration and facilitated cell apoptosis in ox-LDL-induced HA-VSMCs by up-regulating SPRY2 and NUB1.

The Combined Regulation of Long Non-coding RNA and RNA-Binding Proteins in Atherosclerosis

Atherosclerosis is a complex disease closely related to the function of endothelial cells (ECs), monocytes/macrophages, and vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs). Despite a good understanding of the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis, the underlying molecular mechanisms are still only poorly understood. Therefore, atherosclerosis continues to be an important clinical issue worthy of further research. Recent evidence has shown that long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) and RNA-binding proteins (RBPs) can serve as important regulators of cellular function in atherosclerosis. Besides, several studies have shown that lncRNAs are partly dependent on the specific interaction with RBPs to exert their function. This review summarizes the important contributions of lncRNAs and RBPs in atherosclerosis and provides novel and comprehensible interaction models of lncRNAs and RBPs.

CTRP12 ameliorates atherosclerosis by promoting cholesterol efflux and inhibiting inflammatory response via the miR-155-5p/LXRα pathway

C1q tumor necrosis factor-related protein 12 (CTRP12), a conserved paralog of adiponectin, is closely associated with cardiovascular disease. However, little is known about its role in atherogenesis. The aim of this study was to examine the influence of CTRP12 on atherosclerosis and explore the underlying mechanisms. Our results showed that lentivirus-mediated CTRP12 overexpression inhibited lipid accumulation and inflammatory response in lipid-laden macrophages. Mechanistically, CTRP12 decreased miR-155-5p levels and then increased its target gene liver X receptor α (LXRα) expression, which increased ATP binding cassette transporter A1 (ABCA1)- and ABCG1-dependent cholesterol efflux and promoted macrophage polarization to the M2 phenotype. Injection of lentiviral vector expressing CTRP12 decreased atherosclerotic lesion area, elevated plasma high-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels, promoted reverse cholesterol transport (RCT), and alleviated inflammatory response in apolipoprotein E-deficient (apoE-/-) mice fed a Western diet. Similar to the findings of in vitro experiments, CTRP12 overexpression diminished miR-155-5p levels but increased LXRα, ABCA1, and ABCG1 expression in the aortas of apoE-/- mice. Taken together, these results suggest that CTRP12 protects against atherosclerosis by enhancing RCT efficiency and mitigating vascular inflammation via the miR-155-5p/LXRα pathway. Stimulating CTRP12 production could be a novel approach for reducing atherosclerosis.