miR‐22 represses osteoblast viability with ESR1 presenting a direct target and indirectly inactivating p38 MAPK/JNK signaling

Small extracellular vesicles derived from microRNA-22-3p-overexpressing mesenchymal stem cells protect retinal ganglion cells by regulating MAPK pathway

Glaucoma is the leading cause of irreversible blindness and is characterized by progressive retinal ganglion cell (RGC) loss and retinal nerve fiber layer thinning. Currently, no existing treatment is effective for the preservation of RGCs. MicroRNA-22-3p (miR22) and small extracellular vesicles derived from mesenchymal stem cells (MSC-sEVs) have neuroprotective effects. In this study, we apply miR22-overexpressing MSC-sEVs in an N-methyl-D-aspartic acid (NMDA)-induced RGC injury model to assess their short-term therapeutic effects and explore the underlying mechanisms. We find that mice in the miR22-sEVs-treated group have thicker retinas, fewer apoptotic cells, more reserved RGCs, better retinal function, and lower expression levels of Bax and caspase-3. MiR22-sEVs treatment promotes viability, inhibits apoptosis and inhibits Bax and caspase-3 expression in RGC-5 cells. MiR22 targets mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase kinase 12 to inhibit apoptosis by regulating the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling pathway. Collectively, our results suggest that miR22-sEVs ameliorate NMDA-induced RGC injury through the inhibition of MAPK signaling pathway-mediated apoptosis, providing a potential therapy for glaucoma and other diseases that involve RGC damage.

A green, efficient and stable platform based on hyperbranched quaternized hydrothermal magnetic chitosan nanospheres integrated cytomembranes for screening drug candidates from natural products

Compared with traditional tedious organic solvent-assisted separation process in natural medicinal chemistry, cytomembrane (CM) fishing technique became a more appealing and greener choice for screening bioactive components from natural products. However, its large-scale practical value was greatly weakened by the easy fall-off of CMs from magnetic supports, rooted in the instability of common Fe3O4 particles and their insufficient interaction with CMs. In this research, a new green biostable platform was developed for drug screening through the integration of hyperbranched quaternized hydrothermal magnetic carbon spheres (HQ-HMCSs) and CMs. The positive-charged HQ-HMCSs were constructed by chitosan-based hydrothermal carbonization onto Fe3O4 nanospheres and subsequent aqueous hyperbranching quaternization with 1,4-butanediol diglycidyl ether and methylamine. The strong interaction between HQ-HMCSs and CMs was formed via electrostatic attraction of HQ-HMCSs to negative-charged CMs and covalent linkage derived from the epoxy-amine addition reactions. The chemically stable HMCSs and its integration with CMs contributed to dramatically higher stability and recyclability of bionic nanocomposites. With the fishing of osteoblast CMs integrated HQ-HMCSs, two novel potential anti-osteoporosis compounds, narcissoside and beta-ionone, were discovered from Hippophae rhamnoides L. Enhanced osteoblast proliferation, alkaline phosphatase, and mineralization levels proved their positive osteogenesis effects. Preliminary pharmacological investigation demonstrated their potential action on membrane proteins of estrogen receptor alpha and insulin-like growth factor 1. Furthermore, beta-ionone showed apparent therapeutic effects on osteogenic lesions in zebrafish. These results provide a green, stable, cost-efficient, and reliable access to rapid discovery of drug leads, which verifiably benefits the design of nanocarbon-based biocomposites with increasingly advanced functionality.

Apoptosis pathways and osteoporosis: An approach to genomic analysis

BACKGROUND

Osteoporosis is a disease of the bone system that causes a decrease in skeletal density and degrades skeletal tissue. Decreased bone quality, so that bones are easily broken, damaged and fractured, is an important public health problem. Previous studies have shown that the maintenance of adult bone mass is not only due to changes in bone marrow and bone cells. By regulating apoptosis, they change the lifespan of each individual. This study influences understanding of the function of apoptosis in the pathogenesis of osteoporosis and the importance of controlling the mechanisms of osteoporosis.

METHODS

On the National Institute of Biotechnology Information website, Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) microarray data and GSE551495 GEO profiles were collected. The gene set enrichment analysis tool was used to confirm the enrichment of genetic sets in relation to the gene set. The collection of C2 gene sets is compiled from the KEGG (https://www.gsea-msigdb.org/gsea/msigdb/human/search.jsp and https://www.kegg.jp/kegg/) online database and REACTOME (https://www.gsea-msigdb.org/gsea/msigdb/human/search.jsp and https://reactome.org/) pathway analysis. The Search Tool for the Retrieval of Interaction Genes (STRING) website was used to construct and select proteins and genes. The comparative toxicological genomic database (CTD) tools can be used to predict the relationship between apoptosis, osteoporosis-related genes and interactions between central genes and osteoporosis.

RESULTS

These results generally expand our understanding of the path of apoptosis in osteoporosis. We have discovered genes CASP9, CASP8, CASP3, BAX and TP53 associated with osteoporosis. In activation of KEGG apoptosis and REACTOME, caspase activation through the extrinsic apoptotic signaling pathway is characterized by the identification of a subcollection of C2. Other STRINGs show the formation of protein networks and central gene selection, and CTD can accurately predict the relationship between these apoptosis pathways and central genes.

CONCLUSIONS

Our research has highlighted the importance of the osteoporosis pathway associated with osteoporosis apoptosis with several analytical approaches. These results have broadened our understanding of the pathways of osteoporosis apoptosis. It is particularly possible to predict the sensitivity and vulnerability to osteoporosis.

Application and prospects of nucleic acid nanomaterials in tumor therapy

Cancer poses a great threat to human life, and current cancer treatments, such as radiotherapy, chemotherapy, and surgery, have significant side effects and limitations that hinder their application. Nucleic acid nanomaterials have specific spatial configurations and can be used as nanocarriers to deliver different therapeutic drugs, thereby enabling various biomedical applications, such as biosensors and cancer therapy. In recent decades, a variety of DNA nanostructures have been synthesized, and they have demonstrated remarkable potential in cancer therapy related applications, such as DNA origami structures, tetrahedral framework nucleic acids, and dynamic DNA nanostructures. Importantly, more attention is also being paid to RNA nanostructures, which play an important role in gene therapy. Therefore, this review introduces the developmental history of nucleic acid nanotechnology, summarizes the applications of DNA and RNA nanostructures for tumor treatment, and discusses the development opportunities for nucleic acid nanomaterials in the future.

miRNAs Related to Different Processes of Fracture Healing: An Integrative Overview

Fracture healing is a complex, dynamic process that is directed by cellular communication and requires multiple cell types, such as osteoblasts, osteoclasts, and immune cells. Physiological fracture healing can be divided into several phases that consist of different processes, such as angiogenesis, osteogenesis, and bone resorption/remodelling. This is needed to guarantee proper bone regeneration after fracture. Communication and molecular regulation between different cell types and within cells is therefore key in successfully orchestrating these processes to ensure adequate bone healing. Among others, microRNAs (miRNAs) play an important role in cellular communication. microRNAs are small, non-coding RNA molecules of ~22 nucleotides long that can greatly influence gene expression by post-transcriptional regulation. Over the course of the past decade, more insights have been gained in the field of miRNAs and their role in cellular signalling in both inter- and intracellular pathways. The interplay between miRNAs and their mRNA targets, and the effect thereof on different processes and aspects within fracture healing, have shown to be interesting research topics with possible future diagnostic and therapeutic potential. Considering bone regeneration, research moreover focusses on specific microRNAs and their involvement in individual pathways. However, it is required to combine these data to gain more understanding on the effects of miRNAs in the dynamic process of fracture healing, and to enhance their translational application in research, as well as in the clinic. Therefore, this review aims to provide an integrative overview on miRNAs in fracture healing, related to several key aspects in the fracture healing cascade. A special focus will be put on hypoxia, angiogenesis, bone resorption, osteoclastogenesis, mineralization, osteogenesis, osteoblastogenesis, osteocytogenesis, and chondrogenesis.

Long noncoding RNA AC092155 facilitates osteogenic differentiation of adipose-derived stem cells through the miR-143-3p/STMN1 axis

BACKGROUND

Numerous studies have demonstrated that long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) induce osteogenesis in adipose-derived stem cells (ADSCs). This study aimed to explore the role of lncRNAs AC092155 in promoting osteogenic differentiation of ADSCs.

METHODS

MicroRNA (miRNA) and lncRNA sequencing were performed in ADSCs that underwent normal or osteogenic induction. Differentially expressed miRNAs and lncRNAs were identified using R software. The relative expression levels of lncRNA AC092155, miR-143-3p, and STMN1 during the process of osteogenic induction were determined by real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). ADSCs were then transfected with agomiR-143-3p and pcDNA3.1-sh-lncRNA AC092155. Alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and alizarin red staining (ARS) were used to confirm the regulatory function of the lncRNA AC092155/miR-143-3p/STMN1 axis in osteogenic differentiation of ADSCs.

RESULTS

lncRNA AC092155 was significantly upregulated in ADSCs following induction in the osteogenic medium. lncRNA AC092155 and STMN1 mimics increase the markers of osteogenic differentiation in the early and late phases, which was reflected in increased ALP activity as well as the higher deposition of calcium nodules. An miR-143-3p mimic showed the opposite effect. Luciferase reporter gene analysis demonstrated that lncRNA AC092155 directly targets miR-143-3p. Moreover, the lncRNA AC092155/miR-143-3p/STMN1 regulatory axis was found to activate the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway.

CONCLUSIONS

lncRNA AC092155 contributes to the osteogenic differentiation of ADSCs. The lncRNA AC092155/miR-143-3p/STMN1 axis may be a new therapeutic target for bone-related diseases.

Interaction between non-coding RNAs and JNK in human disorders

Jun N-terminal Kinase (JNK) signaling pathway is a conserved cascade among species with particular roles in diverse processes during embryogenesis and normal life. These kinases regulate functions of neurons and the immune system by affecting the expression of genes, modulating the arrangement of cytoskeletal proteins, and regulating apoptosis/survival pathways. They are also involved in carcinogenesis. Several miRNAs and lncRNAs have a functional relationship with JNKs. This interaction contributes to the pathogenesis of traumatic brain injury, ulcerative colitis, hepatic ischemia/ reperfusion injury, acute myocardial infarction, and a number of other disorders. Lung cancer, hepatocellular carcinoma, gall bladder cancer, melanoma, and colon cancer are among malignant conditions in which JNK-related miRNAs/ lncRNAs contribute. The current review aims at depicting the functional interaction between JNKs and lncRNAs/ miRNAs and describing the role of these regulatory transcripts in the pathobiology of human disorders.

Sulfur dioxide derivatives produce antidepressant- and anxiolytic-like effects in mice

Sulfur dioxide (SO₂) can be endogenously generated from sulfur-containing amino acids in animals and humans. Increasing evidence shows that endogenous SO₂ may act as a gaseous molecule to participate in many physiological and pathological processes. However, the role of SO₂ and its derivatives in the central nervous system remains poorly understood. The present study explored the protective effects of exogenous SO₂ derivatives (Na₂SO₃:NaHSO₃, 3:1 M/M) on cellular injury in vitro by using the cell proliferation assay (MTS), cell counting kit 8 assay (CCK-8), and cyto-flow assay in the corticosterone (CORT)-induced PC12 cell injury model. We also examined the antidepressant and anxiolytic effects of SO₂ derivatives on the chronic mild stress (CMS)-induced depression mouse model by using the open field test, novelty suppressed feeding test, forced swimming test, tail suspension test, and sucrose preference test. In the MTS and CCK-8 assays, we found that preexposure of SO₂ derivatives significantly blocked CORT-induced decrease of cellular survival without causing any negative effects. Results from the cyto-flow assay indicated that treatment with SO₂ derivatives could reverse CORT-induced early and late apoptosis of PC12 cells. Systemic treatment with SO₂ derivatives produced markedly antidepressant- and anxiolytic-like activities in mice under normal condition and rapidly reversed CMS-induced depressive- and anxiety-like behaviors. In conclusion, these findings indicate that exogenous SO₂ derivatives show protective properties against the detrimental effects of stress and exert antidepressant- and anxiolytic-like actions. The present study suggests that exogenous SO₂ derivatives are potential therapeutic agents for the treatment of depression, anxiety, and other stress-related diseases.