miR-222-5p promotes dysfunction of human vascular smooth muscle cells by targeting RB1

microRNA Profile Changes in Brain, Cerebrospinal Fluid, and Blood Following Low-Level Repeated Blast Exposure in a Rat Model

It is well documented that service members are exposed to repeated low-level blast overpressure during training with heavy weapons such as artillery, mortars and explosive breaching. Often, acute symptoms associated with these exposures are transient but cumulative effect of low-level repeated blast exposures (RBEs) can include persistent deficits in cognitive and behavioral health. Thus far, reliable diagnostic biomarkers which can guide countermeasure strategies have not been identified. In this study, rats were exposed to multiple field-relevant blast waves with 8.5 and 10 psi peak positive overpressures, applying one exposure per day for 14 consecutive days. micro-RNAs that can potentially be used as biomarkers for RBEs were assessed in blood, brain, and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). RBE caused a differential pattern of changes in various miRNAs in blood, brain and CSF in an overpressure-dependent manner. Our key outcomes were decrease of mir-6215 and let-7 family miRNAs and increase of mir-6321 and mir-222-5p in brain, blood, and CSF. Expression pattern of these miRNAs is in concurrence with various neurological conditions such as upregulation of mir-6321 in focal ischemic injury and downregulation of mir-6215 in nerve injury model. Contrarily, Let-7 family miRNAs have neuroprotective role and their downregulation suggests progression of blast induced traumatic brain injury (bTBI) with RBE at 14× -8.5 psi. Repeated blast caused alterations in miRNAs that are likely involved in vascular integrity, inflammation, and cell death. These results indicate that miRNAs are differentially dysregulated in response to blast injuries and may represent better prognostic and diagnostic biomarkers than traditional molecules to identify blast-specific brain injury.

Non-Coding RNA Involved in the Pathogenesis of Atherosclerosis-A Narrative Review

Atherosclerosis is a highly prevalent condition associated with lipid accumulation in the intima layer of arterial blood vessels. The development of atherosclerotic plaques is associated with the incidence of major cardiovascular events, such as acute coronary syndrome or ischemic stroke. Due to the significant prevalence of atherosclerosis and its subclinical progression, it is associated with severe and potentially lethal complications. The pathogenesis of atherosclerosis is complex and not entirely known. The identification of novel non-invasive diagnostic markers and treatment methods that could suppress the progression of this condition is highly required. Non-coding RNA (ncRNA) involves several subclasses of RNA molecules. microRNA (miRNA), long non-coding RNA (lncRNA), and circular RNA (circRNA) differently regulate gene expression. Importantly, these molecules are frequently dysregulated under pathological conditions, which is associated with enhanced or suppressed expression of their target genes. In this review, we aim to discuss the involvement of ncRNA in crucial mechanisms implicated in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis. We summarize current evidence on the potential use of these molecules as diagnostic and therapeutic targets.

Integrative Bioinformatics Analysis Reveals a Transcription Factor EB-Driven MicroRNA Regulatory Network in Endothelial Cells

Various human diseases are triggered by molecular alterations influencing the fine-tuned expression and activity of transcription factors, usually due to imbalances in targets including protein-coding genes and non-coding RNAs, such as microRNAs (miRNAs). The transcription factor EB (TFEB) modulates human cellular networks, overseeing lysosomal biogenesis and function, plasma-membrane trafficking, autophagic flux, and cell cycle progression. In endothelial cells (ECs), TFEB is essential for the maintenance of endothelial integrity and function, ensuring vascular health. However, the comprehensive regulatory network orchestrated by TFEB remains poorly understood. Here, we provide novel mechanistic insights into how TFEB regulates the transcriptional landscape in primary human umbilical vein ECs (HUVECs), using an integrated approach combining high-throughput experimental data with dedicated bioinformatics analysis. By analyzing HUVECs ectopically expressing TFEB using ChIP-seq and examining both polyadenylated mRNA and small RNA sequencing data from TFEB-silenced HUVECs, we have developed a bioinformatics pipeline mapping the different gene regulatory interactions driven by TFEB. We show that TFEB directly regulates multiple miRNAs, which in turn post-transcriptionally modulate a broad network of target genes, significantly expanding the repertoire of gene programs influenced by this transcription factor. These insights may have significant implications for vascular biology and the development of novel therapeutics for vascular disease.

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons exposure and arterial stiffness-related plasma miRNAs: A panel study

The underlying mechanisms between polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) exposure and arterial stiffness are poorly understood. We carried out a panel study involving three repeated surveys to examine the associations of individual and mixture of PAHs exposure with arterial stiffness-related miRNAs among 123 community adults. In linear mixed-effect (LME) models, we found that urinary 9-hydroxyfluorene (9-OHFlu), 2-hydroxyphenanthrene (2-OHPh), 9-hydroxyphenanthrene (9-OHPh) at lag 0 day were positively linked to miR-146a and/or miR-222. The Bayesian kernel machine regression (BKMR) analyses revealed positive overall associations of PAHs mixture at lag 0 day with miR-146a and miR-222, and urinary 9-OHFlu contributed the most. In addition, an inter-quartile range (IQR) increase in urinary 9-OHFlu at lag 0 day was associated with elevated miR-146a and miR-222 by 0.16 (95% CI: 0.02, 0.30) to 0.34 (95% CI: 0.13, 0.54). Accordingly, exposure to PAHs, especially 9-OHFlu at lag 0 day, was related to elevated arterial stiffness-related plasma miRNAs.

Noncoding RNAs in atherosclerosis: regulation and therapeutic potential

Atherosclerosis, a chronic disease of arteries, results in high mortality worldwide as the leading cause of cardiovascular disease. The development of clinically relevant atherosclerosis involves the dysfunction of endothelial cells and vascular smooth muscle cells. A large amount of evidence indicates that noncoding RNAs, such as microRNAs (miRNAs), long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs), and circular RNAs (circRNAs), are involved in various physiological and pathological processes. Recently, noncoding RNAs were identified as key regulators in the development of atherosclerosis, including the dysfunction of endothelial cells, and vascular smooth muscle cells and it is pertinent to understand the potential function of noncoding RNAs in atherosclerosis development. In this review, the latest available research relates to the regulatory role of noncoding RNAs in the progression of atherosclerosis and the therapeutic potential for atherosclerosis is summarized. This review aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the regulatory and interventional roles of ncRNAs in atherosclerosis and to inspire new insights for the prevention and treatment of this disease.

MiR-497-5p regulates ox-LDL-induced dysfunction in vascular endothelial cells by targeting VEGFA/p38/MAPK pathway in atherosclerosis

Background

The impairment of endothelial cells triggered by oxidized low-density lipoprotein (ox-LDL) stands as a critical event in the advancement of atherosclerosis (AS). MiR-497-5p has been recognized as a potential predictor for AS, but its precise involvement in ox-LDL-induced endothelial cell dysfunction remains to be elucidated.

Methods

An in vitro AS cell model was established by exposing human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) to 100 μg/mL ox-LDL for 24 h. The assessment of endothelial cell function included evaluating cell viability, caspase-3 activity, inflammatory factors, and oxidative markers. Molecular mechanisms were elucidated through quantitative real-time PCR, Western blot analysis, and luciferase reporter assays.

Results

Our investigation revealed that exposure to ox-LDL led to an upregulation in miR-497-5p and p-p38 levels, while downregulating the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor A (VEGFA) and phosphorylated (p)-endothelial nitric oxide synthase (p-eNOS) in HUVECs. Ox-LDL exposure resulted in decreased cell viability and angiogenic capacity, coupled with increased apoptosis, inflammation, and oxidative stress in HUVECs, partially mediated by the upregulation of miR-497-5p. We confirmed VEGFA as a direct target of miR-497-5p. Interfering with VEGFA expression significantly reversed the effects mediated by miR-497-5p silencing in HUVECs exposed to ox-LDL.

Conclusions

In summary, our findings demonstrate that miR-497-5p exacerbates ox-LDL-induced dysfunction in HUVECs through the activation of the p38/MAPK pathway, mediated by the targeting of VEGFA.

PCSK9i promoting the transformation of AS plaques into a stable plaque by targeting the miR-186-5p/Wipf2 and miR-375-3p/Pdk1/Yap1 in ApoE-/- mice

Background

Atherosclerosis (AS) is a multifaceted disease characterized by disruptions in lipid metabolism, vascular inflammation, and the involvement of diverse cellular constituents. Recent investigations have progressively underscored the role of microRNA (miR) dysregulation in cardiovascular diseases, notably AS. Proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 inhibitors (PCSK9i) can effectively reduce circulating levels of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) and lipoprotein (a) [Lp (a)], potentially fostering a more enduring phenotype for AS plaques. However, the underlying mechanisms by which PCSK9i enhances plaque stability remain unclear. In this study, we used microarray and bioinformatics techniques to analyze the regulatory impacts on gene expression pertinent to AS, thereby unveiling potential mechanisms underlying the plaque-stabilizing attributes of PCSK9i.

Methods

ApoE-/- mice were randomly allocated into control, AS, PCSK9i, and Atorvastatin groups. The AS model was induced through a high-fat diet (HFD), succeeded by interventions: the PCSK9i group was subjected to subcutaneous SBC-115076 injections (8 mg/kg, twice weekly), and the Atorvastatin group received daily oral Atorvastatin (10 mg/kg) while on the HFD. Subsequent to the intervention phase, serum analysis, histological assessment using hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) and Oil Red O staining, microarray-centered miRNA analysis utilizing predictions from TargetScan and miRTarBase, and analyses using Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) were executed to illuminate potential pathways. Real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR) was employed to quantify the expression levels of target genes.

Results

In comparison to the control group, the AS group displayed a significant elevation in blood lipid levels. Both PCSK9i and Atorvastatin effectively attenuated blood lipid levels, with PCSK9i exhibiting a more pronounced lipid-lowering impact, particularly concerning TG and LDL-C levels. Over the course of AS progression, the expression levels of mmu-miR-134, mmu-miR-141-5p, mmu-miR-17-3p, mmu-miR-195-3p, mmu-miR-210, mmu-miR-33-5p, mmu-miR-410, mmu-miR-411-5p, mmu-miR-499, mmu-miR-672-5p, mmu-miR-675-3p, and mmu-miR-301b underwent dynamic fluctuations. PCSK9i significantly down-regulated the expression of mmu-miR-186-5p, mmu-miR-222, mmu-miR-375-3p, and mmu-miR-494-3p. Further enrichment analysis disclosed that mmu-miR-186-5p, mmu-miR-222, mmu-miR-375-3p, and mmu-miR-494-3p were functionally enriched for cardiovascular smooth muscle cell proliferation, migration, and regulation. RT-qPCR results manifested that, in comparison to the AS group, PCSK9i significantly upregulated the expression of Wipf2, Pdk1, and Yap1 (p < 0.05).

Conclusion

Aberrant miRNA expression may play a pivotal role in AS progression in murine models of AS. The subcutaneous administration of PCSK9i exerted anti-atherosclerotic effects by targeting the miR-186-5p/Wipf2 and miR-375-3p/Pdk1/Yap1 axes, thereby promoting the transition of AS plaques into a more stable form.

CIRC_0091822 CONTRIBUTES TO THE PROLIFERATION, INVASION, AND MIGRATION OF VASCULAR SMOOTH MUSCLE CELLS UNDER OXIDIZED LOW-DENSITY LIPOPROTEIN TREATMENT

ABSTRACT

Background: Circular RNAs (circRNAs) have been shown to mediate atherosclerosis (AS) process by regulating vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) function. However, whether circ_0091822 mediates VSMCs function to regulate AS process is unclear. Methods: Oxidized low-density lipoprotein (ox-LDL) was used to treat VSMCs for constructing AS cell models. Vascular smooth muscle cells proliferation, invasion, and migration were examined by cell counting kit 8 assay, EdU assay, transwell assay, and wound healing assay. Protein expression was tested by western blot analysis. The expression of circ_0091822, microRNA (miR)-339-5p, and blocking of proliferation 1 (BOP1) was determined using quantitative real-time PCR. RNA interaction was examined using dual-luciferase reporter assay and RIP assay. Results: Ox-LDL treatment enhanced VSMCs proliferation, invasion, and migration. Circ_0091822 was overexpressed in the serum of AS patients and ox-LDL-induced VSMCs. Circ_0091822 knockdown inhibited ox-LDL-induced VSMCs proliferation, invasion, and migration. Circ_0091822 sponged miR-339-5p, and miR-339-5p inhibitor reversed the function of circ_0091822 knockdown. MiR-339-5p targeted BOP1, and BOP1 also reversed the repressing effect of miR-339-5p on ox-LDL-induced VSMCs functions. Circ_0091822/miR-339-5p/BOP1 axis promoted the activity of Wnt/β-catenin pathway. Conclusions: Circ_0091822 might be a therapeutic target for AS, which facilitated ox-LDL-induced VSMCs proliferation, invasion, and migration through modulating miR-339-5p/BOP1/Wnt/β-catenin pathway.

Expression profiles and functions of ferroptosis-related genes in intimal hyperplasia induced by carotid artery ligation in mice

Intimal hyperplasia (IH) is a prominent pathological event that occurs during in-stent restenosis and atherosclerosis. Ferroptosis, characterized by iron-dependent and lipid peroxidation, has become the recent focus of studies on the occurrence and progress of cardiovascular diseases. However, there are few studies on ferroptosis and IH. Therefore, we aimed to identify and validate ferroptosis-related markers in IH to explore new possibilities for IH diagnosis and treatment. The IH microarray dataset (GSE182291) was downloaded from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database and ferroptosis-related genes (FRGs) were obtained from the FerrDb databases. The differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were analyzed using the GEO2R. Overlapping was performed to identify the ferroptosis-related DEGs among the DEGs and FRGs. Then, clustering, Gene Ontology (GO), Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway enrichment, and protein–protein interaction (PPI) analyses were performed. Subsequently, the hub genes were identified using Cytoscape and hub gene–transcription factors and hub gene–microRNA networks were constructed. Finally, real-time qPCR (RT-qPCR) and immunohistochemistry (IHC) were used to verify the mRNA and protein levels of the hub FRGs in IH. Thirty-four FRGs showing significantly different expression were identified from a total of 1,197 DEGs 2 days after ligation; 31 FRGs were selected from a total of 1,556 DEGs 14 days after ligation. The GO and KEGG analyses revealed that these 34 ferroptosis-related DEGs identified 2 days after ligation were mainly enriched in the basolateral plasma membrane, ferroptosis, lipid and atherosclerosis, and IL-17 signaling pathways. The 31 ferroptosis-related DEGs in endometrial hyperplasia identified 14 days after ligation were mainly enriched in response to oxidative stress, ferroptosis, tumor necrosis factor signaling pathway, and lipid and atherosclerosis. Five hub FRGs (Il1b, Ptgs2, Cybb, Cd44, and Tfrc) were identified using PPI networks; four hub FRGs (Il1b, Ptgs2, Cybb, and Cd44) were validated to be upregulated 2 and 14 days after ligation using RT-qPCR and show significantly different expression 14 days after ligation via IHC. Our findings verify the expression of hub DEGs related to ferroptosis in IH and elucidate the potential relationship between ferroptosis and IH, providing more evidence about the vital role of ferroptosis in IH.

miR-200c-3p, miR-222-5p, and miR-512-3p Constitute a Biomarker Signature of Sorafenib Effectiveness in Advanced Hepatocellular Carcinoma

Background: Sorafenib constitutes a suitable treatment alternative for patients with advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in whom atezolizumab + bevacizumab therapy is contraindicated. The aim of the study was the identification of a miRNA signature in liquid biopsy related to sorafenib response. Methods: miRNAs were profiled in hepatoblastoma HepG2 cells and tested in animal models, extracellular vesicles (EVs), and plasma from HCC patients. Results: Sorafenib altered the expression of 11 miRNAs in HepG2 cells. miR-200c-3p and miR-27a-3p exerted an anti-tumoral activity by decreasing cell migration and invasion, whereas miR-122-5p, miR-148b-3p, miR-194-5p, miR-222-5p, and miR-512-3p exerted pro-tumoral properties by increasing cell proliferation, migration, or invasion, or decreasing apoptosis. Sorafenib induced a change in EVs population with an increased number of larger EVs, and promoted an accumulation of miR-27a-3p, miR-122-5p, miR-148b-3p, miR-193b-3p, miR-194-5p, miR-200c-3p, and miR-375 into exosomes. In HCC patients, circulating miR-200c-3p baseline levels were associated with increased survival, whereas high levels of miR-222-5p and miR-512-3p after 1 month of sorafenib treatment were related to poor prognosis. The RNA sequencing revealed that miR-200c-3p was related to the regulation of cell growth and death, whereas miR-222-5p and miR-512-3p were related to metabolic control. Conclusions: The study showed that Sorafenib regulates a specific miRNA signature in which miR-200c-3p, miR-222-5p, and miR-512-3p bear prognostic value and contribute to treatment response.