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Li P, Xing J, Zhang J, Jiang J, Liu X, Zhao D, Zhang Y. Inhibition of long noncoding RNA HIF1A-AS2 confers protection against atherosclerosis via ATF2 downregulation. J Adv Res 2020; 26:123-135. [PMID: 33133688 PMCID: PMC7584671 DOI: 10.1016/j.jare.2020.07.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/13/2020] [Revised: 07/22/2020] [Accepted: 07/27/2020] [Indexed: 01/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction In atherosclerotic lesions, extensive inflammation of the vessel wall contributes to plaque instability. Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) play important roles in diverse biological processes in atherosclerosis. Objectives Here, we aim to identify the functional role and regulatory mechanisms of lncRNA hypoxia-inducible factor 1 alpha-antisense RNA 2 (HIF1A-AS2) in atherosclerotic inflammation. Methods An atherosclerotic mouse model was induced in ApoE-/- mice by high fat diet (HFD). Endothelial cells (ECs), human aortic smooth muscle cells (SMCs) or human coronary artery endothelial cells (HCAECs) were exposed to ox-LDL to develop the in vitro model. The effects of lncRNA HIF1A-AS2 on inflammation were evaluated by determining levels of inflammatory factors tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin-1β (IL-1β) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) and levels of adhesion molecules vascular cell adhesion molecule 1 (VCAM-1), intercellular adhesion molecule 1 (ICAM-1), and macrophage cationic peptide 1 (MCP-1). Results It was established that lncRNA HIF1A-AS2 and ATF2 were highly expressed in atherosclerotic ApoE-/- mice. Downregulating lncRNA HIF1A-AS2 in ox-LDL-exposed ECs, SMCs and HCAECs inhibited inflammation by reducing levels of pro-inflammatory factors and adhesion molecules. LncRNA HIF1A-AS2 bound to the transcription factor USF1 to elevate ATF2 expression. USF1 overexpression counteracted the suppressive effect of lncRNA HIF1A-AS2 silencing on ox-LDL-induced inflammation. Knockdown of lncRNA HIF1A-AS2 or ATF2 could also attenuate inflammation in atherosclerotic mice. Collectively, the present study demonstrates that downregulation of lncRNA HIF1A-AS2 represses the binding of USF1 to the ATF2 promoter region and then inhibits ATF2 expression, thereby suppressing atherosclerotic inflammation. Conclusion This study suggests lncRNA HIF1A-AS2 as an promising therapeutic target for atherosclerosis.
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Key Words
- ATCC, American Type Culture Collection
- ATF2, activating transcription factor 2
- Activating transcription factor
- Atherosclerosis
- CAD, coronary artery disease
- CCK-8, cell counting kit-8
- ChIP, Chromatin immunoprecipitation
- DMEM, Dulbecco’s modified Eagle’s medium
- ECs, endothelial cells
- ELISA, enzyme linked immunosorbent assay
- GAPDH, Glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase
- HCAECs, human coronary artery endothelial cells
- HE, Hematoxylin-eosin
- HFD, high fat diet
- HIF1A-AS2, hypoxia-inducible factor 1 alpha-antisense RNA 2
- Hypoxia-inducible factor 1 alpha-antisense RNA 2
- ICAM-1, intercellular adhesion molecule-1
- IL-1β, interleukin-1β
- IL-6, interleukin-6
- IgG, immunoglobulin G
- Inflammation
- LDL, low-density lipoprotein
- Long noncoding RNA
- MCP-1, monocyte chemoattractant protein-1
- ND, normal diet
- PBS, phosphate buffered saline
- RIP, RNA binding protein immunoprecipitation
- RT-qPCR, reverse transcription quantitative polymerase chain reaction
- SMCs, smooth muscle cells
- TNF-α, tumor necrosis factor-α
- Transcription factor
- USF1, upstream stimulatory factor 1
- Upstream transcription factor 1
- VCAM-1, vascular cell adhesion molecule 1
- lncRNAs, long noncoding RNAs
- ox-LDL, oxidized-low-density lipoprotein
- sh, short hairpin RNA
- si-NC, small interfering RNA-negative control
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Affiliation(s)
- Pengcheng Li
- Department of Cardiology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450052, PR China
| | - Junhui Xing
- Department of Cardiology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450052, PR China
| | - Jielei Zhang
- Division of Endocrinology, Department of Internal Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450052, PR China
| | - Jianwu Jiang
- Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450052, PR China
| | - Xuemeng Liu
- Department of Cardiology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450052, PR China
| | - Di Zhao
- Division of Endocrinology, Department of Internal Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450052, PR China
- Corresponding authors at: Division of Endocrinology, Department of Internal Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, No. 1, Jianshe East Road, Zhengzhou 450052, Henan Province, PR China (D. Zhao). Department of Cardiology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, No. 1, Jianshe East Road, Zhengzhou 450052, Henan Province, PR China (Y. Zhang).
| | - Yanzhou Zhang
- Department of Cardiology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450052, PR China
- Corresponding authors at: Division of Endocrinology, Department of Internal Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, No. 1, Jianshe East Road, Zhengzhou 450052, Henan Province, PR China (D. Zhao). Department of Cardiology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, No. 1, Jianshe East Road, Zhengzhou 450052, Henan Province, PR China (Y. Zhang).
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