The promoting effect of MMP13 on mediating the development of HFLS-RA by the target of miR-19a through IL-17 signaling pathway

Analysis and identification of ferroptosis-related diagnostic markers in rheumatoid arthritis

BACKGROUND

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an autoimmune, inflammatory joint disease. There is growing evidence that ferroptosis is involved in the pathogenesis of RA. This study aimed to search for diagnostic markers of ferroptosis in RA and to analyse the potential mechanisms and clinical value.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

RA-associated datasets were used from the publicly available GEO database. Three methods of machine learning were applied to screen biomarkers. The diagnostic efficacy of the results was also verified by receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve, external dataset, qRT-PCR and Western blot. Enrichment analysis was performed in this process, while protein-protein interaction (PPI) analysis and immune infiltration correlation analysis were performed using biomarkers, and competing endogenous RNA (ceRNA) networks were constructed to search for prospective therapeutic targets.

RESULTS

MMP13 and GABARAPL1 can be used as ferroptosis diagnostic genes in RA. The ROC curve and PPI result demonstrated that MMP13 and GABARAPL1 had an excellent diagnostic value. The results of signature genes in the external dataset, qRT-PCR and Western blot further confirm our findings. The enrichment analysis showed that p53, MAPK and NOD-like receptor signalling pathways may be involved in the process of ferroptosis in RA. In addition, two ferroptosis diagnostic genes in RA participate in the occurrence of ferroptosis in RA via oxidative stress, metabolism and immune response. Immune infiltration analysis showed that RA extensively infiltrated B cells, T cells, macrophages and other immune cells. Persistent immune activation may be an essential reason for the progression of ferroptosis in RA. We also obtained five potential therapeutic agents for RA and some long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) and microRNAs (miRNAs) regulating ferroptosis diagnostic genes.

CONCLUSIONS

Our study suggests that MMP13 and GABARAPL1, which are closely linked with oxidative stress and immunological modulation, can be used as ferroptosis-related potential diagnostic markers in RA and provide new clues regarding the diagnostic and therapeutic targets of ferroptosis in RA.

Interleukin-1β activated c-FOS transcription factor binds preferentially to a specific allele of the matrix metalloproteinase-13 promoter and increases susceptibility to endometriosis

Endometriosis is a benign gynecological condition characterized by increased growth, inflammation, invasion, and angiogenesis, partly regulated by a class of enzymes called matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs). The importance of a few MMPs, e.g., MMP-9, -3, and -7 has been studied in endometriosis progression. Although MMP-13 plays an essential role in bone regeneration and cancer, no report has been found on the part of MMP-13 and endometriosis progression. We found the upregulation of MMP-13 expression and activity in patients having endometriosis in the eastern Indian population. In addition, the -77A/G polymorphism of the MMP13 promoter (rs: 2252070) is associated with regulating transcription and subsequent susceptibility to disease. In eastern Indian case-control groups, the effect of the -77A/G single-nucleotide polymorphism on MMP13 promoter activity and its relationship with endometriosis susceptibility was studied. The AG genotype was shown to be more predisposed to endometriosis risk than the GG genotype (p: 0.02; odds ratio [OR]: 1.65, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.10-2.49), also AG genotype was more frequent in late-stage patients compared to early-stage (p: 0.03, OR: 2.0, 95% CI: 1.09-3.66). Furthermore, the MMP13 gene levels were greater in AA compared to GG individuals. Additionally, MMP13 promoter-reporter experiments in cultured endometrial epithelial cells and in silico analyses both demonstrated increased transcriptional activity near the G to A transition under basal/IL-1β -induced/c-FOS overexpressed condition. Overall, c-FOS tighter binding to the A allele-carrying promoter enhances MMP13 transcription, which is further amplified by IL-1β due to increased c-FOS phosphorylation, promoting MMP-13 production and endometriosis risk.

Functional Interactions Between lncRNAs/circRNAs and miRNAs: Insights Into Rheumatoid Arthritis

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is one of the most common autoimmune diseases that affect synovitis, bone, cartilage, and joint. RA leads to bone and cartilage damage and extra-articular disorders. However, the pathogenesis of RA is still unclear, and the lack of effective early diagnosis and treatment causes severe disability, and ultimately, early death. Accumulating evidence revealed that the regulatory network that includes long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs)/circular RNAs (circRNAs), micro RNAs (miRNAs), and messenger RNAs (mRNA) plays important roles in regulating the pathological and physiological processes in RA. lncRNAs/circRNAs act as the miRNA sponge and competitively bind to miRNA to regulate the expression mRNA in synovial tissue, FLS, and PBMC, participate in the regulation of proliferation, apoptosis, invasion, and inflammatory response. Thereby providing new strategies for its diagnosis and treatment. In this review, we comprehensively summarized the regulatory mechanisms of lncRNA/circRNA-miRNA-mRNA network and the potential roles of non-coding RNAs as biomarkers and therapeutic targets for the diagnosis and treatment of RA.

MicroRNA-4423-3p inhibits proliferation of fibroblast-like synoviocytes by targeting matrix metalloproteinase 13 in rheumatoid arthritis

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic inflammatory autoimmune disease that is increasing in incidence worldwide. RA is regulated by a variety of microRNAs (miRNAs/miR). Moreover, analysis of public data has revealed that miR-4423-3p is significantly downregulated in peripheral blood mononuclear cells of RA patients. This study investigated the role of miR-4423-3p in RA. The levels of miR-4423-3p and matrix metalloproteinase 13 (MMP13) in RA patients and the regulatory relationship between miR-4423-3p and MMP13 were analyzed using public data. A dual-luciferase reporter assay was performed to verify that miR-4423-3p targets MMP13 in human fibroblast-like synoviocyte (HFLS) RA cells (HFLS-RA). Following the overexpression of miR-4423-3p, miR-4423-3p inhibitor, and MMP13 in HFLS-RA, viability, proliferation, cell cycle, apoptosis, and invasion/migration assays were used to detect the effects of miR-4423-3p targeting MMP13 on cell biological processes. The results revealed that miR-4423-3p was downregulated in peripheral blood mononuclear cells of RA patients and MMP13 was upregulated in synovial tissue of RA patients. miR-4423-3p targets the 3' untranslated region of MMP13 and downregulates MMP13 expression. After overexpression of miR-4423-3p, cell proliferation, migration, and invasion were inhibited, the cell cycle was prevented and cell apoptosis was promoted. Overexpression of MMP13 promoted cell proliferation, migration, and invasion, while accelerating the cell cycle process and suppressing apoptosis. The findings indicate that in HFLS-RA cells, overexpression of miR-4423-3p inhibited proliferation, migration, and invasion, and promoted apoptosis by negatively regulating MMP13. The overexpression of miR-4423-3p might be a novel strategy for the treatment of RA.