Regulation of Pyroptosis by ncRNA: A Novel Research Direction

NcRNA Regulated Pyroptosis in Liver Diseases and Traditional Chinese Medicine Intervention: A Narrative Review

Pyroptosis is a novel pro-inflammatory mode of programmed cell death that differs from ferroptosis, necrosis, and apoptosis in terms of its onset and regulatory mechanisms. Pyroptosis is dependent on cysteine aspartate protein hydrolase (caspase)-mediated activation of GSDMD, NLRP3, and the release of pro-inflammatory cytokines, interleukin-1 (IL-1β), and interleukin-18 (IL-18), ultimately leading to cell death. Non-coding RNA (ncRNA) is a type of RNA that does not encode proteins in gene transcription but plays an important regulatory role in other post-transcriptional links. NcRNA mediates pyroptosis by regulating various related pyroptosis factors, which we termed the pyroptosis signaling pathway. Previous researches have manifested that pyroptosis is closely related to the development of liver diseases, and is essential for liver injury, alcoholic fatty liver disease (ALD), non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), liver fibrosis, and liver cancer. In this review, we attempt to address the role of the ncRNA-mediated pyroptosis pathway in the above liver diseases and their pathogenesis in recent years, and briefly outline that TCM (Traditional Chinese Medicine) intervene in liver diseases by modulating ncRNA-mediated pyroptosis, which will provide a strategy to find new therapeutic targets for the prevention and treatment of liver diseases in the future.

Emerging roles of circular RNAs in regulating the hallmarks of thyroid cancer

Thyroid cancer is a prevalent endocrine malignancy with increasing incidence in recent years. Although most thyroid cancers grow slowly, they can become refractory, leading to a high mortality rate once they exhibit recurrence, metastasis, resistance to radioiodine therapy, or a lack of differentiation. However, the mechanisms underlying these malignant characteristics remain unclear. Circular RNAs, a type of closed-loop non-coding RNAs, play multiple roles in cancer. Several studies have demonstrated that circular RNAs significantly influence the development of thyroid cancers. In this review, we summarize the circular RNAs identified in thyroid cancers over the past decade according to the hallmarks of cancer. We found that eight of the 14 hallmarks of thyroid cancers are regulated by circular RNAs, whereas the other six have not been reported to be correlated with circular RNAs. This review is expected to help us better understand the roles of circular RNAs in thyroid cancers and accelerate research on the mechanisms and cure strategies for thyroid cancers.

Exploring ncRNA-mediated pathways in sepsis-induced pyroptosis

Sepsis, a potentially fatal illness caused by an improper host response to infection, remains a serious problem in the world of healthcare. In recent years, the role of ncRNA has emerged as a pivotal aspect in the intricate landscape of cellular regulation. The exploration of ncRNA-mediated regulatory networks reveals their profound influence on key molecular pathways orchestrating pyroptotic responses during septic conditions. Through a comprehensive analysis of current literature, we navigate the diverse classes of ncRNAs, including miRNAs, lncRNAs, and circRNAs, elucidating their roles as both facilitators and inhibitors in the modulation of pyroptotic processes. Furthermore, we highlight the potential diagnostic and therapeutic implications of targeting these ncRNAs in the context of sepsis, aiming to cover the method for novel and effective strategies to mitigate the devastating consequences of septic pathogenesis. As we unravel the complexities of this regulatory axis, a deeper understanding of the intricate crosstalk between ncRNAs and pyroptosis emerges, offering promising avenues for advancing our approach to sepsis intervention. The intricate pathophysiology of sepsis is examined in this review, which explores the dynamic interaction between ncRNAs and pyroptosis, a highly regulated kind of programmed cell death.

Pyroptosis-related non-coding RNAs emerging players in atherosclerosis pathology

Globally, atherosclerosis a persistent inflammatory condition of the artery walls continues to be the primary cause of cardiovascular illness and death. The ncRNAs are important regulators of important signalling pathways that affect pyroptosis and the inflammatory environment in atherosclerotic plaques. Comprehending the complex interaction between pyroptosis and non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) offers fresh perspectives on putative therapeutic targets for ameliorating cardiovascular problems linked to atherosclerosis. The discovery of particular non-coding RNA signatures linked to the advancement of atherosclerosis could lead to the creation of novel biomarkers for risk assessment and customised treatment approaches. A thorough investigation of the regulatory networks regulated by these non-coding RNAs has been made possible by the combination of cutting-edge molecular methods and bioinformatics tools. Studying pyroptosis-related ncRNAs in detail appears to be a promising way to advance our understanding of disease pathophysiology and develop focused therapeutic methods as we work to unravel the complex molecular tapestry of atherosclerosis. This review explores the emerging significance of non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) in the regulation of pyroptosis and their consequential impact on atherosclerosis pathology.

The role of noncoding RNA and its diagnostic potential in intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy: a research update

Intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy (ICP) is a common liver disorder that generally occurs during the second or third trimester of pregnancy. It rarely causes any harm to the mother; however, it can result in short- and long-term complications in the offspring. Therefore, it is crucial to diagnose and treat this condition to avoid poor pregnancy outcomes. The identification of novel markers with potential diagnostic, prognostic, and therapeutic utility in ICP has gained attention. Noncoding RNAs (ncRNAs), including microRNA, long noncoding RNA, and circular RNA, are a type of transcripts that are not translated into proteins. They possess vital biological functions, including transcriptional and translational regulation and DNA, RNA, and protein interactions. The pathogenesis of ICP is related to the aberrant expression of several circulating or placenta-related ncRNAs. In this review, we summarized all recent findings on ncRNAs and ICP and outlined the concepts that form the basis for the early diagnosis and targeted treatment of ICP.

The mechanism of linear ubiquitination in regulating cell death and correlative diseases

Linear ubiquitination is a specific post-translational modification in which ubiquitin is linked through M1 residue to form multiple types of polyubiquitin chains on substrates in order to regulate cellular processes. LUBAC comprised by HOIP, HOIL-1L, and SHARPIN as a sole E3 ligase catalyzes the generation of linear ubiquitin chains, and it is simultaneously adjusted by deubiquitinases such as OTULIN and CYLD. Several studies have shown that gene mutation of linear ubiquitination in mice accompanied by different modalities of cell death would develop relative diseases. Cell death is a fundamental physiological process and responsible for embryonic development, organ maintenance, and immunity response. Therefore, it is worth speculating that linear ubiquitin mediated signaling pathway would participate in different diseases. The relative literature search was done from core collection of electronic databases such as Web of Science, PubMed, and Google Scholar using keywords about main regulators of linear ubiquitination pathway. Here, we summarize the regulatory mechanism of linear ubiquitination on cellular signaling pathway in cells with apoptosis, necroptosis, autophagy, pyroptosis, and ferroptosis. Intervening generation of linear ubiquitin chains in relative signaling pathway to regulate cell death might provide novel therapeutic insights for various human diseases.

The neuropathological mechanism of EV-A71 infection attributes to inflammatory pryoptosis and viral replication via activating the hsa_circ_0045431/ hsa_miR_584/NLRP3 regulatory axis

Neuropathological damage has been considered to be the main cause of death from EV-A71 infection, but the underlying mechanism has not been elucidated. Pyroptosis, a new form of inflammatory programmed cell death, has been verified to be involved in the pathogenesis of various viruses. circRNAs are a novel type of endogenous noncoding RNA gaining research interest in recent years, especially their special roles in the process of virus infection. Thus, in this study, we combined EV-A71, pyroptosis and circRNA to find a breakthrough in the pathogenesis of EV-A71 infection. Firstly, whether EV-A71 infection leaded to pyroptosis formation was examined by a series detection of cell death, cell viability, LDH release, caspase 1 activity, the expression levels of pyroptosis-related molecules and the concentrations of IL-1β and IL-18. Secondly, high-throughput sequencing of circRNAs was carried out to excavate the circRNA-miRNA-mRNA regulatory axis which might be associated with pyroptosis formation. Finally, the gain- and loss-of-functional experiments were further conducted to identify their functions. Our results showed that EV-A71 infection caused pyroptosis formation in SH-SY5Y cells. The circRNA sequencing analyzed the differentially expressed circRNAs and their possible functions. It was found that the hsa_circ_0045431/hsa_miR_584/NLRP3 regulatory axis might be involved in pyroptosis formation during EV-A71 infection. Then, hsa_circ_0045431 sponged hsa_miR_584 and hsa_miR_584 directly targeted NLRP3 were validated by IF, dual-luciferase, qRT-PCR and WB assays. Functional experiments were performed to further uncover that the up-regulation of hsa_circ_0045431 and NLRP3 promoted the inflammatory pyroptosis and viral replication, while the up-regulation of hsa_miR_584 suppressed the inflammatory pyroptosis and viral replication, and vice versa. Collectively, our study demystified that EV-A71 infection induced pyroptosis formation by activating hsa_circ_0045431/hsa_miR_584/NLRP3 regulatory axis, which could further effect viral replication. These findings provided novel insights into the pathogenesis of EV-A71 infection, and meanwhile revealed that the hsa_circ_0045431/ hsa_miR_584/NLRP3 regulatory axis can serve as a potential biological therapeutic target for EV-A71 infection.

The role of lncRNA-mediated pyroptosis in cardiovascular diseases

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the leading cause of death worldwide. Pyroptosis is a unique kind of programmed cell death that varies from apoptosis and necrosis morphologically, mechanistically, and pathophysiologically. Long non-coding RNAs (LncRNAs) are thought to be promising biomarkers and therapeutic targets for the diagnosis and treatment of a variety of diseases, including cardiovascular disease. Recent research has demonstrated that lncRNA-mediated pyroptosis has significance in CVD and that pyroptosis-related lncRNAs may be potential targets for the prevention and treatment of specific CVDs such as diabetic cardiomyopathy (DCM), atherosclerosis (AS), and myocardial infarction (MI). In this paper, we collected previous research on lncRNA-mediated pyroptosis and investigated its pathophysiological significance in several cardiovascular illnesses. Interestingly, certain cardiovascular disease models and therapeutic medications are also under the control of lncRNa-mediated pyroptosis regulation, which may aid in the identification of new diagnostic and therapy targets. The discovery of pyroptosis-related lncRNAs is critical for understanding the etiology of CVD and may lead to novel targets and strategies for prevention and therapy.

Integration of Non-Coding RNA and mRNA Profiles Reveals the Mechanisms of Rumen Development Induced by Different Types of Diet in Calves

Selecting suitable feed types and understanding the gastrointestinal digestive mechanism are helpful for the growth and health of calves in intensive dairy farming. However, the effects on rumen development of changing the molecular genetic basis and the regulatory mechanism by using different feed types are still unclear. Nine 7-day-old Holstein bull calves were randomly divided into GF (concentrate), GFF (alfalfa: oat grass = 3:2) and TMR (concentrate: alfalfa grass: oat grass: water = 0.30:0.12:0.08:0.50) diet experiment groups. Rumen tissue and serum samples were collected for physiological and transcriptomic analysis after 80 days. The results showed that serum α-amylase content and ceruloplasmin activity were significantly higher in the TMR group, and Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) enrichment analysis ncRNAs and mRNAs were significantly enriched in the pathways of rumen epithelial development and stimulated rumen cell growth, including the Hippo signaling pathway, Wnt signaling pathway, thyroid hormone signaling pathway, ECM-receptor interaction and the absorption of protein and fat. The circRNAs/lncRNA-miRNAs-mRNA networks constructed, including novel_circ_0002471, novel_circ_0012104, TCONS_00946152, TCONS_00960915, bta-miR-11975, bta-miR-2890, PADI3 and CLEC6A, participated in metabolic pathways of lipid, immune system, oxidative stress and muscle development. In conclusion, the TMR diet could improve rumen digestive enzyme activities, stimulate rumen nutrient absorption and stimulate the DEGs related to energy homeostasis and microenvironment balance, and is thus better than the GF and GFF diets for promoting rumen growth and development.

Changes in the Expression Profile of Pyroptosis-Related Genes in Senescent Retinal Pigment Epithelial Cells after Lutein Treatment

Retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) is a specialized structure essential for proper vision, which is constantly exposed to oxidative damage. With aging, this damage accumulates within the RPE cells, causing various diseases, including age-related macular degeneration (AMD). Numerous antioxidant substances are used to prevent this process in humans, including lutein. This study aims to determine the differences in the expression patterns of pyroptosis genes in senescent human retinal pigment epithelial cell line ARPE-19 exposed to lutein. Changes in the expression of pyroptosis-related genes were assessed by oligonucleotide microarrays, and the results were validated by real-time RT-qPCR. The microarray analysis showed seven transcripts were differentially expressed both in the H₂O₂-treated cells versus the controls and in the lutein/H₂O₂-treated cells compared to the H₂O₂-treated cells (FC > 2.0). Depending on the used lutein, H₂O₂, or co-treatment of ARPE-19 cells, statistically significant differences in the expression of TXNIP, CXCL8, BAX, and CASP1 genes were confirmed by the RT-qPCR (p < 0.05). A STRING database analysis showed that the proteins encoded by the analyzed genes form a strong interaction network (p < 0.001). These data indicate that lutein modulates the expression level of pyroptosis-related genes, which may be useful for the development of new methods preventing pyroptosis pathway activation in the future.

Novel regulatory role of non-coding RNAs in ankylosing spondylitis

Ankylosing spondylitis (AS) is a type of arthritis that primarily affects the spine and involves disorders of the immune and skeletal systems. However, the exact pathogenesis of AS is not fully understood. Non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs), particularly, long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs), circular RNAs (circRNAs), and micro RNAs (miRNAs) and their interactions have been shown to influence many biological processes such as inflammatory responses, osteogenic differentiation and apoptosis, pyroptosis, and proliferation. In addition, ncRNAs reflect the disease activity of AS. In this review, we discuss the regulatory roles of ncRNAs in AS cell functions (inflammatory responses, cellular osteogenic differentiation and apoptosis, pyroptosis, and proliferation) and their potential applications in AS diagnosis and treatment. Understanding the role of ncRNAs in the pathogenesis of AS will lay the foundation for exploring potential new therapeutic approaches for AS.

MicroRNA Networks in Cognition and Dementia

The change from viewing noncoding RNA as “junk” in the genome to seeing it as a critical epigenetic regulator in almost every human condition or disease has forced a paradigm shift in biomedical and clinical research. Small and long noncoding RNA transcripts are now routinely evaluated as putative diagnostic or therapeutic agents. A prominent role for noncoding microRNAs in the central nervous system has uncovered promising new clinical candidates for dementia-related disorders, treatments for which currently remain elusive even as the percentage of diagnosed patients increases significantly. Cognitive decline is a core neurodegenerative process in Alzheimer’s Disease, Frontotemporal Dementia, Lewy body dementia, vascular dementia, Huntington’s Disease, Creutzfeldt–Jakob disease, and a significant portion of Parkinson’s Disease patients. This review will discuss the microRNA-associated networks which influence these pathologies, including inflammatory and viral-mediated pathways (such as the novel SARS-CoV-2 virus implicated in COVID-19), and their current status in clinical trials.