lncRNA GAS5 acts as a ceRNA for miR‐21 in suppressing PDGF‐bb‐induced proliferation and migration in vascular smooth muscle cells

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.

CircItgb5 promotes synthetic phenotype of pulmonary artery smooth muscle cells via interacting with miR-96-5p and Uba1 in monocrotaline-induced pulmonary arterial hypertension

BACKGROUND

Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is a rare but fatal cardiopulmonary disease mainly characterized by pulmonary vascular remodeling. Aberrant expression of circRNAs has been reported to play a crucial role in pulmonary vascular remodeling. The existing literature predominantly centers on studies that examined the sponge mechanism of circRNAs. However, the mechanism of circRNAs in regulating PAH-related protein remains largely unknown. This study aimed to investigate the effect of circItgb5 on pulmonary vascular remodeling and the underlying functional mechanism.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

High-throughput circRNAs sequencing was used to detect circItgb5 expression in control and PDGF-BB-treated pulmonary arterial smooth muscle cells (PASMCs). Localization of circItgb5 in PASMCs was determined via the fluorescence in situ hybridization assay. Sanger sequencing was applied to analyze the circularization of Itgb5. The identification of proteins interacting with circItgb5 was achieved through a RNA pull-down assay. To assess the impact of circItgb5 on PASMCs proliferation, an EdU assay was employed. Additionally, the cell cycle of PASMCs was examined using a flow cytometry assay. Western blotting was used to detect biomarkers associated with the phenotypic switch of PASMCs. Furthermore, a monocrotaline (MCT)-induced PAH rat model was established to explore the effect of silencing circItgb5 on pulmonary vascular remodeling.

RESULTS

CircItgb5 was significantly upregulated in PDGF-BB-treated PASMCs and was predominately localized in the cytoplasm of PASMCs. In vivo experiments revealed that the knockdown of circItgb5 attenuated MCT-induced pulmonary vascular remodeling and right ventricular hypertrophy. In vitro experiments revealed that circItgb5 promoted the transition of PASMCs to synthetic phenotype. Mechanistically, circItgb5 sponged miR-96-5p to increase mTOR level and interacted with Uba1 protein to activate the Ube2n/Mdm2/ACE2 pathway.

CONCLUSIONS

CircItgb5 promoted the transition of PASMCs to synthetic phenotype by interacting with miR-96-5p and Uba1 protein. Knockdown of circItgb5 mitigated pulmonary arterial pressure, pulmonary vascular remodeling and right ventricular hypertrophy. Overall, circItgb5 has the potential for application as a therapeutic target for PAH.

LncRNAs NEAT1, HOTAIR, and GAS5 expression in hypertensive and non-hypertensive associated cerebrovascular stroke patients, and its link to clinical characteristics and severity score of the disease

Background

Cerebrovascular stroke (CVS) is a potentially fatal disease. The most common risk factor for CVS is hypertension.

Aim

While most studies in the field have focused on the functional roles of long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) NEAT1, GAS5, and HOTAIR in CVS, less attention has been paid to their clinical relevance to stroke incidence and prognosis. Also, a link has not yet been made between these lncRNAs and hypertension, our study aim was to investigate whether the expression of these lncRNAs differed between CVS with and without hypertension, as well as to compare each group to controls.

Method

In total, 181 CVS patients were enrolled, including 91 chronic hypertensive patients with stroke, 90 stroke patients without hypertension, and 51 control subjects. blood samples were collected on the day of recruitment from patients with CVS and controls. Real-time qRT-PCR was used to detect the expression of target lncRNAs in serum.

Results

When compared to controls, there was a statistically higher level of lncNEAT1 in each case group (median (IQR) = 3.68 (1.35-7.35) and 3.05 (0.95-6.45) for the hypertensive and non-hypertensive groups, respectively, with a significantly higher level in the hypertensive group (P = 0.04). When compared to controls, lncHOTAIR was significantly downregulated in all case groups (medians in hypertensive and non-hypertensive patients were 0.13, and 0.34, respectively), with a significantly lower level in the hypertensive group (P = 0.05). LncGAS5 levels in patients were significantly lower (median (IQR) = 0.16 (0.02-0.55) and 0.25 (0.03-0.99) for the hypertensive and non-hypertensive groups, respectively) compared to controls, with a significantly lower level in the hypertensive group (P = 0.02). There was a significant positive correlation between NEAT1 and GAS5, but a significant negative correlation between each with HOTAIR in both patients' groups. We also detected a significant negative correlation between each NEAT1 or GAS5 and NIHSS score while a significant positive correlation between HOTAIR and NIHSS. ROC curve analysis for GAS5 was able to differentiate patients with CVS hypertensive from patients with CVS non-hypertensive.

Conclusion

Patients in each case group had statistically higher levels of NEAT1 and lower levels of HOTAIR and GAS5 compared to control levels, with higher significant NEAT1 but lower significant HOTAIR and GAS5 in the hypertensive group. Therefore, lncRNAs NEAT1, HOTAIR, and GAS5 could be used as diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers of CVS that correlate with NIHSS score and could produce a novel target for CVS therapy.

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.

Signaling by LncRNAs: Structure, Cellular Homeostasis, and Disease Pathology

The cellular signaling network involves co-ordinated regulation of numerous signaling molecules that aid the maintenance of cellular as well as organismal homeostasis. Aberrant signaling plays a major role in the pathophysiology of many diseases. Recent studies have unraveled the superfamily of long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) as critical signaling nodes in diverse signaling networks. Defective signaling by lncRNAs is emerging as a causative factor underlying the pathophysiology of many diseases. LncRNAs have been shown to be involved in the multiplexed regulation of diverse pathways through both genetic and epigenetic mechanisms. They can serve as decoys, guides, scaffolds, and effector molecules to regulate cell signaling. In comparison with the other classes of RNAs, lncRNAs possess unique structural modifications that contribute to their diversity in modes of action within the nucleus and cytoplasm. In this review, we summarize the structure and function of lncRNAs as well as their vivid mechanisms of action. Further, we provide insights into the role of lncRNAs in the pathogenesis of four major disease paradigms, namely cardiovascular diseases, neurological disorders, cancers, and the metabolic disease, diabetes mellitus. This review serves as a succinct treatise that could open windows to investigate the role of lncRNAs as novel therapeutic targets.

Insights Into the Role of Platelet-Derived Growth Factors: Implications for Parkinson’s Disease Pathogenesis and Treatment

Parkinson’s disease (PD), the second most common neurodegenerative disease after Alzheimer’s disease, commonly occurs in the elderly population, causing a significant medical and economic burden to the aging society worldwide. At present, there are few effective methods that achieve satisfactory clinical results in the treatment of PD. Platelet-derived growth factors (PDGFs) and platelet-derived growth factor receptors (PDGFRs) are important neurotrophic factors that are expressed in various cell types. Their unique structures allow for specific binding that can effectively regulate vital functions in the nervous system. In this review, we summarized the possible mechanisms by which PDGFs/PDGFRs regulate the occurrence and development of PD by affecting oxidative stress, mitochondrial function, protein folding and aggregation, Ca2+ homeostasis, and cell neuroinflammation. These modes of action mainly depend on the type and distribution of PDGFs in different nerve cells. We also summarized the possible clinical applications and prospects for PDGF in the treatment of PD, especially in genetic treatment. Recent advances have shown that PDGFs have contradictory roles within the central nervous system (CNS). Although they exert neuroprotective effects through multiple pathways, they are also associated with the disruption of the blood–brain barrier (BBB). Our recommendations based on our findings include further investigation of the contradictory neurotrophic and neurotoxic effects of the PDGFs acting on the CNS.

DLEU2 modulates proliferation, migration and invasion of platelet-derived growth factor-BB (PDGF-BB)-induced vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) via miR-212-5p/YWHAZ axis

DLEU2 has been proved to act as an oncogene in a variety of cancers, but its role in cardiovascular diseases is dearth of research. Thus, this study mainly discussed the effect and possible mechanism of DLEU2 on platelet-derived growth factor-BB (PDGF-BB)-triggered vascular smooth muscle cell (VSMC) injury. To obtain authentic results, the expressions of target genes in atherosclerosis serum were determined by reverse transcription quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR) and the protein levels were evaluated by Western blot. PDGF-BB was used to simply simulate the biological characteristics of VSMCs in vitro. The effect of DLEU2 on the biological behavior of PDGF-BB-induced VSMCs was analyzed by gain- and loss-of-function assays. Bioinformatics analysis, dual luciferase reporter assay, and Pearson correlation method were conducted to determine the relationship between target genes. The role of DLEU2/miR-212-5p/ YWHAZ (tyrosine 3-monooxygenase/tryptophan 5-monooxygenase activation protein zeta) axis in PDGF-BB-induced VSMCs was verified by rescue experiments. As a result, DLEU2 and YWHAZ were up-regulated, and miR-212-5p was down-regulated in atherosclerosis serum. Overexpressed DLEU2 facilitated the biological behavior of PDGF-BB-induced VSMCs, whilst siDLEU2 did the opposite. Moreover, overexpressed DLEU2 promoted proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) expression but repressed α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) and Calponin expressions, while it also enhanced YWHAZ expression via suppressing miR-212-5p. MiR-212-5p mimic and siYWHAZ reversed the effects of overexpressed DLEU2 on above biological characteristics and protein expressions in PDGF-BB-induced VSMCs, while the regulatory effect of miR-212-5p mimic was partially offset by overexpressed YWHAZ. Collectively, DLEU2 modulates PDGF-BB-induced VSMC injury via miR-212-5p/YWHAZ axis in atherosclerosis.

Long Non-Coding RNAs Might Regulate Phenotypic Switch of Vascular Smooth Muscle Cells Acting as ceRNA: Implications for In-Stent Restenosis

Coronary in-stent restenosis is a late complication of angioplasty. It is a multifactorial process that involves vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs), endothelial cells, and inflammatory and genetic factors. In this study, the transcriptomic landscape of VSMCs’ phenotypic switch process was assessed under stimuli resembling stent injury. Co-cultured contractile VSMCs and endothelial cells were exposed to a bare metal stent and platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF-BB) 20 ng/mL. Migratory capacity (wound healing assay), proliferative capacity, and cell cycle analysis of the VSMCs were performed. RNAseq analysis of contractile vs. proliferative VSMCs was performed. Gene differential expression (DE), identification of new long non-coding RNA candidates (lncRNAs), gene ontology (GO), and pathway enrichment (KEGG) were analyzed. A competing endogenous RNA network was constructed, and significant lncRNA–miRNA–mRNA axes were selected. VSMCs exposed to “stent injury” conditions showed morphologic changes, with proliferative and migratory capacities progressing from G0-G1 cell cycle phase to S and G2-M. RNAseq analysis showed DE of 1099, 509 and 64 differentially expressed mRNAs, lncRNAs, and miRNAs, respectively. GO analysis of DE genes showed significant enrichment in collagen and extracellular matrix organization, regulation of smooth muscle cell proliferation, and collagen biosynthetic process. The main upregulated nodes in the lncRNA-mediated ceRNA network were PVT1 and HIF1-AS2, with downregulation of ACTA2-AS1 and MIR663AHG. The PVT1 ceRNA axis appears to be an attractive target for in-stent restenosis diagnosis and treatment.

lnc‑MICAL2‑1 sponges miR‑25 to regulate DKK3 expression and inhibits activation of the Wnt/β‑catenin signaling pathway in breast cancer

The Dickkopf 3 (DKK3) protein antagonizes the Wnt receptor complex in the Wnt signaling pathway; however, to date, there have been no relevant studies investigating its upstream regulatory mechanism in breast cancer (BC), to the best of our knowledge. The present study aimed to explore whether long non‑coding RNA MICAL2‑1 (lnc‑MICAL2‑1) sponged microRNA (miR)‑25 to regulate DKK3 and inhibit activation of the Wnt/β‑catenin signaling pathway. The Atlas of non‑coding RNA in Cancer database was used to measure the expression levels of lnc‑MICAL2‑1 and their correlation with DKK3 expression levels. In addition, cell proliferation, invasion and migration were determined following the silencing or overexpression of lnc‑MICAL2‑1. The binding between lnc‑MICAL2‑1 and miR‑25, or miR‑25 and DKK3 was verified using RNA pull‑down and dual‑luciferase reporter assays. The effects of overexpression or knockdown of lnc‑MICAL2‑1 on DKK3 expression and the Wnt signaling pathway were further evaluated in a nude mouse xenograft model. The results revealed that, compared with in adjacent normal tissue, the expression levels of lnc‑MICAL2‑1 were downregulated in BC tissues, and the expression levels of lnc‑MICAL2‑1 were found to be positively correlated with DKK3 expression. The overexpression of lnc‑MICAL2‑1 in BC cells upregulated the mRNA expression levels of DKK3 and inhibited their proliferation. Results from the RNA pull‑down and dual luciferase reporter assays validated that lnc‑MICAL2‑1 could bind to miR‑25, which targets DKK3. The in vivo experimental data demonstrated that lnc‑MICAL2‑1 inhibited tumor growth via regulating the Wnt signaling pathway. In conclusion, the findings of the present study highlighted a novel molecular mechanism through which lnc‑MICAL2‑1 may regulate the DKK3‑mediated Wnt signaling pathway in BC, highlighting potential targets for the treatment of the disease.

Long Non-Coding RNA MEG8 Suppresses Hypoxia-Induced Excessive Proliferation, Migration and Inflammation of Vascular Smooth Muscle Cells by Regulation of the miR-195-5p/RECK Axis

It has been recognized that rebalancing the abnormal proliferation and migration of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) helps relieve vascular injury. Presently, we aim to investigate whether long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) maternally expressed 8 (MEG8) plays a role in affecting the excessive proliferation and migration of VSMCs following hypoxia stimulation. A percutaneous transluminal angioplasty balloon dilatation catheter was adopted to establish vascular intimal injury, the levels of MEG8 and miR-195-5p in the carotid artery were tested by quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). Hypoxia was used to stimulate VSMCs, then the cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8) assay, Transnwell assay, and wound healing assay were conducted to evaluate the proliferation, and migration of VSMCs. The protein levels of RECK (reversion inducing cysteine rich protein with kazal motifs), MMP (matrix metalloproteinase) 3/9/13, COX2 (cytochrome c oxidase subunit II), macrophage inflammatory protein (MIP)-1beta, VCAM-1 (vascular cell adhesion molecule 1), ICAM-1 (intercellular adhesion molecule 1), and HIF-1α (hypoxia inducible factor 1 subunit alpha) were determined by western blot or cellular immunofluorescence. As the data showed, MEG8 was down-regulated in the carotid artery after balloon injury in rats and hypoxia-treated VSMCs, and miR-195-5p was overexpressed. Forced MEG8 overexpression or inhibiting miR-195-5p attenuated hypoxia-promoted cell proliferation and migration of VSMCs. In addition, miR-195-5p up-regulation reversed MEG8-mediated effects. Hypoxia hindered the RECK expression while boosted MMP3/9/13 levels, and the effect was markedly reversed with MEG8 up-regulation or miR-195-5p down-regulation. Mechanistically, MEG8 functioned as a competitive endogenous (ceRNA) by sponging miR-195-5p which targeted RECK. Moreover, the HIF-1α inhibitor PX478 prevented hypoxia-induced proliferation, and migration of VSMCs, upregulated MEG8, and restrained miR-195-5p expression. Overall, lncRNA MEG8 participated in hypoxia-induced excessive proliferation, inflammation and migration of VSMCs through the miR-195-5p/RECK axis.

Construction and Integrated Analysis of Competitive Endogenous Long Non-Coding RNA Network in Thoracic Aortic Dissection

Background

Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) can act as a competitive endogenous RNA (ceRNA) to regulate gene expression by sequestering the microRNA (miRNA). However, the lncRNA-miRNA-mRNA ceRNA network in thoracic aortic dissection (TAD) has been rarely documented.

Methods

Three Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) datasets were used to detect differentially expressed mRNAs, miRNAs, and lncRNAs in TAD. Gene ontology and the Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) analyses were conducted for the differentially expressed mRNAs. A protein–protein interaction network for differentially expressed mRNAs was also constructed, and hub genes were identified. We established a ceRNA network of TAD based on the differentially expressed miRNAs, mRNAs and lncRNAs, and verified our results using an independent dataset and quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR).

Results

In TAD, 267 lncRNAs, 81 miRNAs, and 346 mRNAs were identified as differentially expressed. The established ceRNA network consisted of seven lncRNA nodes, three mRNA nodes, and three miRNA nodes, and the expression of miRNAs in TAD was opposite to that of lncRNAs and mRNAs. Subsequently, an independent GEO dataset and qRT-PCR were used to validate the expression of three mRNAs. In addition, the expression differences in SLC7A5, associated miRNA and lncRNA were verified. According to gene set enrichment analysis of SLC7A5, the most significant KEGG pathway was considerably enriched in spliceosome and pentose phosphate pathway.

Conclusion

We established a novel ceRNA regulatory network in TAD, which provides valuable information for further research in the molecular mechanisms of TAD.

Circ_ROBO2/miR-149 Axis Promotes the Proliferation and Migration of Human Aortic Smooth Muscle Cells by Activating NF-κB Signaling

Atherosclerosis is the leading global cause of mortality. The occurrence of coronary artery disease (CAD) is regulated by a diversity of pathways, including circRNAs. However, the potential mechanisms of circRNAs in CAD remain unclear. Here, qRT-PCR was used to examine the expressions of miR-149 and circ_ROBO2. Their influences on cell proliferation, migration, and apoptosis were measured by CCK-8, trans-well, and flow cytometry assays, respectively. The protein levels of p-IκBα and NF-κB p65 were examined using western blot. The molecular interactions were validated using dual luciferase reporter and RNA pull-down assays. The expression patterns of circ_ROBO2 and miR-149 in CAD patients and PDGF-BB-treated human aortic smooth muscle cells (HASMCs) were upregulated and downregulated, respectively. Knockdown of circ_ROBO2 could markedly inhibit the capabilities of proliferation and migration, enhance the apoptotic rate, and suppress NF-κB signaling in PDGF-BB-treated HASMCs. Mechanistically, circ_ROBO2 acted as a sponge of miR-149 to activate TRAF6/NF-κB signaling. Rescue studies demonstrated that neither silencing miR-149 nor activation of NF-κB signaling obviously abolished the biological roles of circ_ROBO2 knockdown in PDGF-BB treated-HASMCs. This discovery elucidated a functional mechanism of circ_ROBO2 in CAD, suggesting that circRNAs serve a vital role in the progression of CAD.

Long Non-Coding RNAs in Cardiovascular Diseases: Potential Function as Biomarkers and Therapeutic Targets of Exercise Training

Despite advances in treatments and therapies, cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) remain one of the leading causes of death worldwide. The discovery that most of the human genome, although transcribed, does not encode proteins was crucial for focusing on the potential of long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) as essential regulators of cell function at the epigenetic, transcriptional, and post-transcriptional levels. This class of non-coding RNAs is related to the pathophysiology of the cardiovascular system. The different expression profiles of lncRNAs, in different contexts of CVDs, change a great potential in their use as a biomarker and targets of therapeutic intervention. Furthermore, regular physical exercise plays a protective role against CVDs; on the other hand, little is known about its underlying molecular mechanisms. In this review, we look at the accumulated knowledge on lncRNAs and their functions in the cardiovascular system, focusing on the cardiovascular pathology of arterial hypertension, coronary heart disease, acute myocardial infarction, and heart failure. We discuss the potential of these molecules as biomarkers for clinical use, their limitations, and how the manipulation of the expression profile of these transcripts through physical exercise can begin to be suggested as a strategy for the treatment of CVDs.

Expression and Functional Analysis of lncRNAs Involved in Platelet-Derived Growth Factor-BB-Induced Proliferation of Human Aortic Smooth Muscle Cells

Abnormal proliferation of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) is a common feature of many vascular remodeling diseases. Because long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) play a critical role in cardiovascular diseases, we analyzed the key lncRNAs that regulate VSMC proliferation. Microarray analysis identified 2,643 differentially expressed lncRNAs (DELs) and 3,720 differentially expressed coding genes (DEGs) between fetal bovine serum (FBS) starvation-induced quiescent human aortic smooth muscle cells (HASMCs) and platelet-derived growth factor-BB (PDGF-BB)-stimulated proliferative HASMCs. Gene Ontology and pathway analyses of the identified DEGs and DELs demonstrated that many lncRNAs were enriched in pathways related to cell proliferation. One of the upregulated lncRNAs in proliferative HASMC was HIF1A anti-sense RNA 2 (HIF1A-AS2). HIF1A-AS2 suppression decreased HASMC proliferation via the miR-30e-5p/CCND2 mRNA axis. We have thus identified key DELs and DEGs involved in the regulation of PDGF-BB induced HASMC proliferation. Moreover, HIF1A-AS2 promotes HASMC proliferation, suggesting its potential involvement in VSMC proliferative vascular diseases.

LncRNA GAS5 Competitively Combined With miR-21 Regulates PTEN and Influences EMT of Peritoneal Mesothelial Cells via Wnt/β-Catenin Signaling Pathway

Objective

Epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) is an important factor leading to peritoneal fibrosis (PF) in end-stage renal disease (ESRD) patients. The current research aimed to evaluate the effect of long non-coding RNA growth arrest-specific 5 (lncRNA GAS5) in human peritoneal mesothelial cells (HPMCs) EMT and explore the potential molecular mechanisms.

Materials and Methods

HPMCs were cultured under control conditions or with high glucose (HG). The cells were then treated with lncRNA GAS5, lncRNA GAS5 siRNA, with or without miR-21 inhibitor and PTEN transfection. Expression of lncRNA GAS5, miR-21, α-SMA, Vimentin, E-cadherin, phosphatase and tensin homolog deleted on chromosome ten (PTEN), Wnt3a, and β-catenin were measured by real time PCR and Western blotting. Bioinformatics analyses were used to test the specific binding sites between the 3' UTR of the PTEN gene, miR-21, and lncRNA GAS5. Rescue experiments were performed to confirm the lncRNA GAS5/miR-21/PTEN axis in HPMC EMT.

Results

We found that HG-induced EMT decreased lncRNA GAS5 and that overexpression of lncRNA GAS5 can attenuate EMT in HPMCs. In addition, lncRNA GAS5 regulated HG-induced EMT through miR-21/PTEN. Cotransfection of miR-21 inhibitors remarkably increased PTEN expression and attenuated EMT in lncRNA GAS5 knockdown HPMCs. Moreover, rescue experiments showed that overexpression of PTEN attenuated the EMT effects of lncRNA GAS5 siRNA in HPMCs. We also confirmed that the Wnt/β-catenin pathway was stimulated in lncRNA GAS5/miR-21/PTEN-mediated EMT.

Conclusion

Our research showed that lncRNA GAS5 competitively combined with miR-21 to regulate PTEN expression and influence EMT of HPMCs via the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway. This study provides novel evidence that lncRNA GAS5 may be a potential therapeutic target for HPMC EMT.

CDKN2B-AS1 Aggravates the Pathogenesis of Human Thoracic Aortic Dissection by Sponge to miR-320d

In the present study, the role and molecular mechanism of long noncoding RNA CDKN2B-AS1 in human thoracic aortic dissection (TAD), a highly lethal cardiovascular disease, was investigated. The expression of CDKN2B-AS1 in human TAD and normal aortic tissues of donors were examined by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction. RNA pull-down assay and a series of luciferase reporter assays were performed to predict the relationships between CDKN2B-AS1, miR-320d, and STAT3. Cell counting kit 8 (CCK-8), TUNEL, and western blot assays were applied to validate the biological functions of CDKN2B-AS1 in rat aortic vascular smooth muscle cells. Results showed that CDKN2B-AS1 was expressed at a higher level in human TAD than in normal aortic tissues. CDKN2B-AS1 overexpression significantly promoted apoptosis and suppressed the proliferation of vascular smooth muscle cells. CDKN2B-AS1 silence exhibited the opposite effects. Mechanistically, CDKN2B-AS1 was identified as a molecular sponge for miR-320d and positively modulated STAT3 expression via repressing miR-320d. In conclusion, our study revealed that CDKN2B-AS1 was dysregulated and displayed multiple potential functions in human TAD. These findings suggested that CDKN2B-AS1 was a novel potential therapeutic target for human TAD.

Role of long non-coding RNAs in adipogenesis: State of the art and implications in obesity and obesity-associated diseases

Obesity is an evolutionary, chronic, and relapsing disease that consists of a pathological accumulation of adipose tissue able to increase morbidity for high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, metabolic syndrome, and obstructive sleep apnea in adults, children, and adolescents. Despite intense research over the last 20 years, obesity remains today a disease with a complex and multifactorial etiology. Recently, long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) are emerging as interesting new regulators as different lncRNAs have been found to play a role in early and late phases of adipogenesis and to be implicated in obesity-associated complications onset. In this review, we discuss the most recent advances on the role of lncRNAs in adipocyte biology and in obesity-associated complications. Indeed, more and more researchers are focusing on investigating the underlying roles that these molecular modulators could play. Even if a significant number of evidence is correlation-based, with lncRNAs being differentially expressed in a specific disease, recent works are now focused on deeply analyzing how lncRNAs can effectively modulate the disease pathogenesis onset and progression. LncRNAs possibly represent new molecular markers useful in the future for both the early diagnosis and a prompt clinical management of patients with obesity.

miR-21: A Key Small Molecule with Great Effects in Combination Cancer Therapy

The increasing incidence of various cancers indicates the urgent need for finding accurate early diagnostic markers and more effective treatments for these malignancies. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small noncoding RNAs with great potentials to enter into cancer clinics as both diagnostic markers and therapeutic targets. miR-21 is elevated in many cancers, and promotes cell proliferation, metastasis, and drug resistance. In recent years, many studies have shown that targeting miR-21 combined with conventional chemotherapeutic agents could enhance their therapeutic efficacy, and overcome drug resistance and cancer recurrence both in vitro and in animal models. In this review, we first summarize the effects and importance of miR-21 in various cancers, and explore its function in drug resistance of cancer cells. Next, the challenges and prospects for clinical translation of anti-miR-21, as a therapeutic agent, will be discussed in combination cancer therapy.

Dexmedetomidine suppresses the development of abdominal aortic aneurysm by downregulating the mircoRNA‑21/PDCD 4 axis

Abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) is a pathological state with permanent dilation, which indicates a fatal potential for aortic rupture. It has been reported that dexmedetomidine (Dex) and microRNA (miR)-21 are involved in the progression of AAA. Thus, the present study aimed to investigate the joint effects of these factors on AAA treatment. For this purpose, rat models of AAA were established with enzyme perfusion and the rats were then injected with Dex. Alterations in the abdominal aorta in rats with AAA were recorded. miR-21 expression in the rats with AAA was determined. Inflammatory factor expression was detected by western blot analysis. Subsequently, a dual-luciferase reporter gene assay was performed to verify the targeting association between miR-21 and programmed cell death protein 4 (PDCD4). Additionally, AAA-related indices and inflammatory responses were examined by an injection of a combination of antagomiR (ant)-miR-21 and Dex or lentivirus-PDCD4-short hairpin RNA. It was found that Dex markedly alleviated the development of AAA and downregulated the expression of inflammatory factors and matrix metalloproteinase in rats with AAA. The high expression of miR-21, which targets PDCD4, was observed in the rats with AAA. However, ant-miR-21 induced AAA development and inflammatory responses. Additionally, the inhibition of PDCD4 reduced AAA development and inflammatory responses. On the whole, the present study demonstrates that Dex inhibits AAA development by downregulating the miR-21/PCDP4 axis. The findings of the present study may provide novel insight for the treatment of AAA. These findings may provide a reference for the future treatment of AAA and may provide theoretical guidance for the early prevention and development of AAA.

LINC00472 regulates vascular smooth muscle cell migration and proliferation via regulating miR-149-3p

LncRNAs are one group of gene modulators functioning via several mechanisms in pathological and physiological conditions. We noted that LINC00472 expression level is elevated in atherosclerotic coronary tissues compared with normal coronary artery samples. LINC00472 is also upregulated in vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) induced by TNF-α and PDGF-BB. Ectopic expression of LINC00472 induced VSMC migration and proliferation. The predicted binding sequence between miR-149-3p and LINC00472 was analyzed by LncBase Predicted. Overexpression of miR-149-3p decreases the luciferase activity of wild-type reporter plasmid, but not the mutant one. Ectopic expression of LINC00472 suppresses the expression of miR-149-3p in VSMCs. Furthermore, we demonstrated that miR-149-3p expression is decreased in atherosclerotic coronary tissues. MiR-149-3p was downregulated in VSMCs induced by TNF-α and PDGF-BB. Overexpression of LINC00472 induces VSMC migration and proliferation via regulating miR-149-3p. These data suggested that LINC00472 acts a critical role in the migration and proliferation of VSMCs partly via modulating miR-149-3p.

Long non-coding RNAs and cancer metastasis: Molecular basis and therapeutic implications

Cancer metastasis, defined by the epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT) of tumor cells, disseminates from the primary site to progressively colonize in distant tissues, and accounts for most cancer-associated deaths. However, studies on the molecular basis of cancer metastasis are still in their infancy. Besides genetic mutations, accumulating evidence indicates that epigenetic alterations also contribute in a major way to the refractory nature of cancer metastasis. Considered as one of the essential epigenetic regulators, long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) can act as signaling regulators, decoys, guides and scaffolds, modulating key molecules in every step of cancer metastasis including dissemination of carcinoma cells, intravascular transit, and metastatic colonization. Although still having limited clinical application, it is encouraging to witness that several lncRNAs, including CCAT1 and HOTAIR, are under clinical evaluation as potential biomarkers for cancer staging and assessment of metastatic potential. In this review, we focus on the molecular mechanisms underlying lncRNAs in the regulation of cancer metastasis and discuss their clinical potential as novel therapeutic targets as well as their diagnostic and prognostic significance for cancer treatment. Gaining clear insights into the detailed molecular basis underlying lncRNA-modulated cancer metastasis may provide previously unrecognized diagnostic and therapeutic strategies for metastatic patients.

Long Noncoding RNA XIST/miR-17/PTEN Axis Modulates the Proliferation and Apoptosis of Vascular Smooth Muscle Cells to Affect Stanford Type A Aortic Dissection

Stanford type A aortic dissection (TAAD) is one of the most lethal cardiovascular diseases with an extremely high morbidity and mortality rate. LncRNA X-inactive specific transcript (XIST) is abundantly expressed in human thoracic aortic dissection, indicating it may play important roles in TAAD progression. However, the molecular mechanism of lncRNA XIST in TAAD is still in its infancy. Quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) was performed to detect the expression of XIST and miR-17 in the aortic wall tissues of TAAD patients and age-matched healthy volunteers. The relationships between XIST, miR-17, and PTEN were evaluated using dual-luciferase reporter, western blot, and qRT-PCR assays. The biological functions of XIST in rat aortic vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) were explored with Cell Counting Kit 8 (CCK-8), qRT-PCR, and western blot assays. Results found that XIST was upregulated in aortic wall tissues of patients with TAAD and associated with the prognosis of patients with TAAD. Silence XIST facilitated VSMC proliferation and inhibited VSMC apoptosis, whereas restoration XIST displayed opposite effects. Moreover, mechanistic studies revealed that XIST contained binding sites for miR-17 and miR-17 downregulation reversed the elevation of cell proliferation and attenuation of cell apoptosis, which was induced by silence XIST. Further study revealed that XIST positively regulated PTEN expression through its competitive target miR-17. In conclusion, knockdown of lncRNA XIST might attenuate the progression of TAAD by sponging miR-17 and regulating the following downstream PTEN, which suggested a novel therapeutic target for TAAD treatment.

Dysregulation in growth arrest-specific 5 and metastasis-associated lung adenocarcinoma transcript 1 gene expression predicts diagnosis and renal fibrosis in systemic lupus erythematosus patients

Background

Biomarkers that enhance overall diagnosis and prognosis of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) have a growing need to be recognized. The use of long non-coding ribonucleic acids (lncRNAs) as biomarkers in this regard is still largely unexplored. This study aimed to evaluate lncRNA [metastasis-associated lung adenocarcinoma transcript 1 (MALAT1) and growth arrest-specific 5 (GAS5)] expression in SLE patients with/without nephritis. Their relation to disease activity/chronicity changes has been identified. A total of 40 SLE patients and 40 healthy controls were tested using real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for expression levels of MALAT1 and GAS5.

Results

MALAT1 expression was aberrantly upregulated, while GAS5 was downregulated in patients with SLE versus controls. GAS5 relative expression was significantly downregulated in lupus nephritis (LN) patients compared to non-lupus nephritis (NN) patients. GAS5 was also correlated with glomerulosclerosis, interstitial fibrosis, tubular atrophy, and hypertension.

Conclusion

The lncRNA (GAS5 and MALAT1) may serve as diagnostic biomarkers for SLE. Moreover, GAS5 may distinguish SLE LN patients from NN patients and may predict renal fibrosis in LN patients.

Long non-coding RNA DSCAM-AS1 contributes to the tumorigenesis of cervical cancer by targeting miR-877-5p/ATXN7L3 axis

Cervical cancer (CC) is ranked as the fourth most common cancer that occurs in women universally, which normally causes pain in the lower belly. Plenty of studies have stated that the expression of long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) is linked to the cellular development of many kinds of cancers. DSCAM-AS1 has been reported to act as an oncogene in other cancer types and the aim of our study was to uncover the function and regulatory mechanism of DSCAM-AS1 in CC. In this research, our findings presented that DSCAM-AS1 expression was up-regulated in CC cells. DSCAM-AS1 led to the development of CC by enhancing cell proliferation, migration and invasion ability. DSCAM-AS1 was verified to combine with miR-877-5p and down-regulate the expression of miR-877-5p. Results also showed that ATXN7L3 was a downstream target gene of miR-877-5p and it was unfavorably modulated by miR-877-5p. Enhanced expression of ATXN7L3 counterbalanced the DSCAM-AS1 knockdown effect on the progression of CC. This was the first time to analyze the underlying regulatory mechanism of the oncogenic DSCAM-AS1. Our findings clarified that DSCAM-AS1 played as an oncogenic lncRNA by targeting miR-877-5p/ATXN7L3 axis to promote CC progression, which may provide insights into the prevention of CC.

Long noncoding RNAs: Potential therapeutic targets in cardiocerebrovascular diseases

Cardiocerebrovascular disease is a collective term for cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases. Because of the complex mechanisms involved in cardiocerebrovascular diseases, limited effective treatments have been developed. With advancements in precision medicine, studies have focused on long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) in cerebrovascular diseases. LncRNAs, which are over 200 nucleotides long, regulate gene expression at epigenetic, transcriptional, and post-transcriptional levels. Moreover, lncRNAs play pivotal roles in the progression of cardiocerebrovascular diseases. For example, recent studies suggested that abnormal expression of lncRNAs are closely related to the occurrence and progression of these diseases. LncRNAs regulate gene expression by specifically binding to mRNA to modulate disease progression, serving as biomarkers for the diagnosis and prognosis of cardiocerebrovascular diseases. In this review, we discuss the roles, mechanisms, and clinical value of lncRNAs in cardiocerebrovascular diseases, providing a new perspective for the diagnosis and treatment of the diseases.

Low-expressed GAS5 injure myocardial cells and progression of chronic heart failure via regulation of miR-223-3P

Chronic heart failure (CHF) is a common disease in clinical practice, and its incidence has been increasing in recent years. Understanding the pathogenesis of CHF is the key to its future clinical diagnosis and treatment. Molecular research is a hot topic in modern hospitals, and long non-coding RNA (LncRNA) has been gradually understood and applied in many diseases. The situation of LncRNA GAS5 in CHF is still unclear, so this experiment will investigate the situation of GAS5 in CHF and its effect on myocardial cells, aiming to gain a preliminary understanding of the mechanism of GAS5's effect on CHF. In this study, the expression of GAS5 and miR-223-3p in peripheral blood of CHF patients and healthy subjects was first detected, GAS5 was low in CHF while miR-223-3p was high (P < 0.05). Subsequently, ROC curve analysis showed that GAS5 and miR-223-3p had good predictive value for the occurrence and recurrence of CHF. Secondly, through in vitro experiments, we found that inhibition of GAS5 with elevated expression of miR-223-3p decreased the proliferative capacity of cardiomyocytes and increased apoptotic capacity and inflammatory factors (P < 0.050). Through dual luciferase reporter and RNA immunoprecipitation experiment, we found that miR-223-3p was regulated by GAS5 in a targeted manner.

GAS5‑mediated regulation of cell signaling (Review)

In recent years, an increasing number of long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) have been discovered using microarrays and nucleic acid sequencing technology. LncRNAs exert crucial biological functions by regulating signaling pathways. In particular, the lncRNA growth arrest-specific transcript 5 (GAS5) has been documented to serve a crucial role in numerous signaling pathways. This article discusses the latest developments in the association between GAS5 and microRNA (miRNA), p53, mTOR, glucocorticoid response element (GRE) and AKT in order to investigate the roles served by GAS5. miRNAs can activate related signaling pathways and GAS5 can combine with miRNA to regulate related signaling pathways. GAS5 may regulate p53 expression via derivation of snoRNA, but the underlying mechanism requires further investigation. GAS5 overxpresion reduces the expression level of mTOR, which is induced by inhibiting miR-106a-5p expression. GAS5 is a sponge of GR, and serves a role in controlling and maintaining glucocorticoid sensitivity and drug resistance via competitive combination with GR. GAS5 can interact with miRNAs, such as miR-21 and miR-532-5p, to regulate the expression of AKT signaling pathway, affecting cell survival and apoptosis. Collectively, the data indicate that GAS5 serves a key role in the miRNA, p53, mTOR, GRE, and AKT signaling pathways. GAS5 regulates complex intracellular signaling pathways primarily through three modes of action, all of which are interrelated: Signal, decoy and guide. In the present article, latest developments in the association between GAS5 and a number of cellular signaling pathways are discussed to examine the tumor suppressive role of GAS5.

The lncRNA GAS5 Inhibits the Osteogenic Differentiation and Calcification of Human Vascular Smooth Muscle Cells

Vascular calcification (VC), which is associated with high cardiovascular morbidity and mortality in patients with chronic kidney disease, is promoted by the osteoblastic differentiation of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs). The present study explored the functional roles and molecular mechanisms of the long noncoding RNA growth arrest-specific transcript 5 (GAS5) in VC. Our results indicated that GAS5 was clearly downregulated in calcified human aortic vascular smooth muscle cells (HASMCs). Functionally, we found that overexpression of GAS5 significantly attenuated the osteogenic differentiation and calcification of HASMCs induced by high levels of phosphorus. Moreover, miR-26-5p was identified to potentially bind to GAS5, and phosphatase and tensin homolog (PTEN) was determined to be a direct target of miR-26b-5p in HASMCs. Mechanistically, enforced expression of miR-26-5p significantly attenuated PTEN protein expression in HASMCs. Rescue experiments demonstrated that cotransfection of HASMCs with miR-26-5p mimics reduced the inhibition of Lv-GAS5 on osteogenic differentiation and calcification. As a result, GAS5 was confirmed to be an miR-26b-5p sponge and to thereby increase the expression of PTEN in HASMCs. In ex vivo models, GAS5 was significantly downregulated and its expression inversely related to the expression of miR-26b-5 and positively associated with the expression of PTEN in calcified aortic rings induced by high levels of phosphorus. Together, these results suggest that the GAS5/miR-26-5p/PTEN axis could serve as a potential therapeutic target for VC in patients with chronic kidney disease.

The role of molecular mechanism of Ten-Eleven Translocation2 (TET2) family proteins in pathogenesis of cardiovascular diseases (CVDs)

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is one of the most common diseases worldwide. The underlying pathogenesis of the disease has not yet been determined, but many factors have been identified. Tet methylcytosine dioxygenase 2 (TET2) is one of the epigenetic factors involved in regulating many genes. Therefore, based on the studies shown, this factor plays an important role in preventing the occurrence of CVD. TET2 has been shown to increase angiogenesis by expressing Robo4. It also increases the activity of Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) and stimulates the secretion of Vascular endothelial growth factor angiogenesis. On the other hand, it has been shown that TET2 regulates the expression of several genes and the development of the heart during the embryonic period due to its oxygenating role. TET2 has been shown to regulates the expression of the genes such as Ying Yang1 (YY1), Sox9b, Inhbaa and many other genes that ultimately lead to the differentiation of cardiomyocytes. On the other hand, it has been shown that some Long non coding RNA and MicroRNAs reduce TET2 expression and CVD. Finally, it is concluded that inducing TET2 expression can be a good therapeutic strategy to prevent or improve CVD.

HIX003209 promotes vascular smooth muscle cell migration and proliferation through modulating miR-6089

Accumulating references have showed that long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) act important roles in the development of human diseases. The role and expression of HIX003209 remains unclear in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis. We showed that HIX003209 expression was upregulated in atherosclerotic coronary tissues compared to normal coronary artery samples. HIX003209 was overexpressed in vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) induced by inflammatory mediators including tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α), ox-LDL and latelet-derived growth factor-BB (PDGF-BB). Ectopic expression of HIX003209 enhanced cell growth and migration and induced inflammatory mediators secretion such as interleukin 6 (IL-6), TNF-α and IL-1β in VSMCs. Furthermore, we showed that miR-6089 was downregulated in atherosclerotic coronary tissues compared to normal coronary artery samples. There was a negative association between expression of HIX003209 and miR-6089 in atherosclerotic coronary tissues. MiR-6089 expression was decreased in VSMCs induced by inflammatory mediators including TNF-α, ox-LDL and PDGF-BB. Dual luciferase analysis showed that miR-6089 overexpression decreased luciferase activity of HIX003209 WT-type 3’-UTR but not the mut-type 3’-UTR. Overexpression of HIX003209 suppressed the expression of miR-6089 in VSMCs. Ectopic expression of HIX003209 induced cell growth, migration and the secretion of inflammatory mediators via regulating miR-6089 expression. These data suggested that HIX003209 promoted VSMCs proliferation, migration and the secretion of inflammatory mediators partly via regulating miR-6089.

The mechanisms of lncRNA GAS5 in cardiovascular cells and its potential as novel therapeutic target

Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) are a large class of non (protein)-coding RNAs, which are longer beyond 200 nucleotides. LncRNA GAS5 is widely considered as a tumour suppressor in cell proliferation, apoptosis, cell migration and invasion of tumour cells. Recently, a growing body of evidences indicated that GAS5 was also widely involved in the pathologic process of cardiovascular cells, including regulation of apoptosis and inflammatory injury of cardiomyocytes; proliferation, apoptosis, autophagy and angiogenesis of endothelial cells; and proliferation, migration, apoptosis and differentiation of VSMCs. In this regard, we summarised current studies of GAS5 in cardiovascular cells, which shed light on not only our understanding of the mechanisms of GAS5 in cardiovascular cells but also understanding of the potential of GAS5 as novel therapeutic target.

TIM‑3 inhibits PDGF‑BB‑induced atherogenic responses in human artery vascular smooth muscle cells

Increasing evidence suggests that T-cell immunoglobulin and mucin domain 3 (TIM-3) displays anti-atherosclerotic effects, but its role in vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) has not been reported. The present study aimed to investigate the function of TIM-3 and its roles in human artery VSMCs (HASMCs). A protein array was used to investigate the TIM-3 protein expression profile, which indicated that TIM-3 expression was increased in the serum of patients with lower extremity arteriosclerosis obliterans disease (LEAOD) compared with healthy individuals. Immunohistochemistry and western blotting of arterial tissue further revealed that TIM-3 expression was increased in LEAOD artery tissue compared with normal artery tissue. Additionally, platelet-derived growth factor-BB (PDGF-BB) displayed a positive correlation with TIM-3 expression in HASMCs. TIM-3 decreased the migration and proliferation of PDGF-BB-induced HASMCs, and anti-TIM-3 blocked the effects of TIM-3. The effect of TIM-3 on the proliferation and migration of HASMCs was further investigated using LV-TIM-3-transduced cells. The results revealed that TIM-3 also inhibited PDGF-BB-induced expression of the inflammatory factors interleukin-6 and tumor necrosis factor-α by suppressing NF-κB activation. In summary, the present study revealed that TIM-3 displayed a regulatory role during the PDGF-BB-induced inflammatory reaction in HASMCs, which indicated that TIM-3 may display anti-atherosclerotic effects.

Long noncoding RNAs as novel players in the pathogenesis of hypertension

Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) are non-(protein)-coding RNAs longer than ~200 nucleotides and have been reported to be involved in multiple human diseases by regulating gene expression. A growing body of evidence has demonstrated that lncRNAs are also widely implicated in mechanisms of hypertension, including regulation of the proliferation, migration, and apoptosis of VSMCs; the production of iNOS and NO; and the angiogenic function of endothelial cells. Several lncRNAs were also differentially expressed in the renal and cardiac tissues of hypertensive rats and even in placental samples from preeclampsia patients. In particular, several circulating lncRNAs have been identified as novel biomarkers of hypertension. In this review, we summarize the current studies of lncRNAs in the pathogenesis of hypertension in order to aid in better understanding the molecular mechanism of hypertension and provide a basis to explore new therapeutic targets.