TDO2-augmented fibroblasts secrete EVs enriched in immunomodulatory Y-derived small RNA

Non-coding RNA yREX3 from human extracellular vesicles exerts macrophage-mediated cardioprotection via a novel gene-methylating mechanism

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

Extracellular vesicles (EVs) secreted by cardiosphere-derived cells exert immunomodulatory effects through the transmission of small non-coding RNAs.

METHODS

The mechanism and role of yREX3, a small Y RNA abundant in EVs in myocardial injury, was investigated.

RESULTS

yREX3 attenuates cardiac ischaemic injury by selective DNA methylation. Synthetic yREX3 encapsulated in lipid nanoparticles triggers broad transcriptomic changes in macrophages, localizes to the nucleus, and mediates epigenetic silencing of protein interacting with C kinase-1 (Pick1) through methylation of upstream CpG sites. Moreover, yREX3 interacts with polypyrimidine tract binding protein 3 (PTBP3) to methylate the Pick1 gene locus in a DNA methyltransferase-dependent manner. Suppression of Pick1 in macrophages potentiates Smad3 signalling and enhances efferocytosis, minimizing heart necrosis in rats with myocardial infarction. Adoptive transfer of Pick1-deficient macrophages recapitulates the cardioprotective effects of yREX3 in vivo.

CONCLUSIONS

These findings highlight the role of a small Y RNA mined from EVs with a novel gene-methylating mechanism.

Augmentation of DNA exonuclease TREX1 in macrophages as a therapy for cardiac ischemic injury

Noncoding RNAs (ncRNAs) are increasingly recognized as bioactive. Here we report the development of TY1, a synthetic ncRNA bioinspired by a naturally-occurring human small Y RNA with immunomodulatory properties. TY1 upregulates TREX1, an exonuclease that rapidly degrades cytosolic DNA. In preclinical models of myocardial infarction (MI) induced by ischemia/reperfusion, TY1 reduced scar size. The cardioprotective effect of TY1 was abrogated by prior depletion of macrophages and mimicked by adoptive transfer of macrophages exposed either to TY1 or TREX1. Inhibition of TREX1 in macrophages blocked TY1 cardioprotection. Consistent with a central role for TREX1, TY1 attenuated DNA damage in the post-MI heart. This novel mechanism-pharmacologic upregulation of TREX1 in macrophages-establishes TY1 as the prototype for a new class of ncRNA drugs with disease-modifying bioactivity.

One Sentence Summary

Upregulation of three prime exonuclease, TREX1, in macrophages enhances tissue repair post myocardial infarction.