miR-217/Mafb Axis Involve in High Glucose-Induced β-TC-tet Cell Damage Via Regulating NF-κB Signaling Pathway

Knockdown of Galectin-9 alleviates rheumatoid arthritis through suppressing TNF-α-induced activation of fibroblast-like synoviocytes

The role of Galectin-9 (Gal-9) in the pathogenesis of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) remains unclear. This study aimed to investigate the mechanism of action and therapeutic potential of Gal-9 in RA. We detected Gal-9 expression in clinical samples, explored the mechanism of function of Gal-9 by knockdown and overexpression in fibroblast-like synoviocytes (FLSs), and further verified it in collagen-induced arthritis (CIA) model. We found that the levels of Gal-9 were considerably elevated in RA synovium than in osteoarthritis (OA) patients. A substantial decrease of Gal-9 was demonstrated after tumor necrosis factor (TNF-α) inhibitor treatment in the plasma of patients with RA. Additionally, transcriptome sequencing revealed that Gal-9 was involved in the regulation of the TNF-α pathway. Gal-9 was considerably upregulated after TNF-α stimulation in FLSs, and knockdown of Gal-9 substantially inhibited TNF-α activated proliferation, migration and inflammatory response. According to cell transcriptome sequencing results, we further confirmed that Gal-9 could achieve these effects by interacting with MAFB and affecting PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway. Finally, we knocked down Gal-9 on the CIA model and found that it could alleviate the progression of arthritis. In conclusion, our study revealed that the knockdown of Gal-9 could inhibited TNF-α induced activation in RA through MAFB, PI3K/AKT/mTOR.

Understanding the lncRNA/miRNA-NFκB regulatory network in Diabetes Mellitus: From function to clinical translation

Diabetes mellitus (DM) and its significant ramifications make out one of the primary reasons behind morbidity worldwide. Noncoding RNAs (ncRNAs), such as microRNAs and long noncoding RNAs, are involved in regulating manifold biological processes, including diabetes initiation and progression. One of the established pathways attributed to DM development is NF-κB signaling. Neurons, β cells, adipocytes, and hepatocytes are among the metabolic tissues where NF-κB is known to produce a range of inflammatory chemokines and cytokines. The direct or indirect role of ncRNAs such as lncRNAs and miRNAs on the NF-κB signaling pathway and DM development has been supported by many studies. As a result, effective diabetes treatment and preventive methods will benefit from a comprehensive examination of the interplay between NF-κB and ncRNAs. Herein, we provide a concise overview of the role of NF-κB-mediated signaling pathways in diabetes mellitus and its consequences. The reciprocal regulation of ncRNAs and the NF-κB signaling pathway in diabetes is then discussed, shedding light on the pathogenesis of the illness and its possible therapeutic interventions.

Interference of ALOX5 alleviates inflammation and fibrosis in high glucose‑induced renal mesangial cells

Diabetic nephropathy (DN) is the leading cause of end-stage renal disease (ESRD), seriously threatening the health of individuals. The 5-lipoxygenase (ALOX5) gene has been reported to be associated with diabetes, but whether it is involved in DN remains unclear. The present study aimed to explore the role of ALOX5 in DN and to clarify the potential mechanism. Mouse renal mesangial cells (SV40 MES-13) were treated with high glucose (HG) to mimic a DN model in vitro. The expression level of ALOX5 was assessed using reverse transcription-quantitative PCR and western blotting. Cell Counting Kit-8 and flow cytometric assays were performed to determine cell proliferation, the cell cycle and apoptosis. Immunofluorescence was carried out to detect the expression of Ki67 and proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA). The inflammatory cytokines were assessed using ELISA. The expression of fibrosis- and NF-κB-related proteins was determined using western blotting. The results revealed that ALOX5 was significantly upregulated in HG-induced SV40 MES-13 cells. Interference of ALOX5 greatly hindered HG-induced cell viability loss, as well as increasing the expression of Ki67 and PCNA. In addition, HG induced cell cycle arrest in the G1 phase and cell apoptosis, which were then partly abolished by interference of ALOX5. Moreover, the elevated production of inflammatory cytokines and upregulated fibrosis-related proteins induced by HG were weakened by interference of ALOX5. Eventually, interference of ALOX5 was found to reduce the activity of NF-κB signaling in HG-induced SV40 MES-13 cells. Collectively, interference of ALOX5 serves as a protective role in HG-induced kidney cell injury, providing a potential therapeutic strategy of DN treatment.

Midazolam Suppresses Hepatocellular Carcinoma Cell Metastasis and Enhances Apoptosis by Elevating miR-217

Background

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a significant cause of human death in the world. Recently, it is found that midazolam can modulate miRs to participate in HCC progression. This research project was designed to elucidate the impacts of midazolam and miR-217 on HCC cell metastasis and apoptosis.

Methods

Human HCC cell strains (Hep3B and SK-HEP-1) were selected and intervened by midazolam at different concentrations in our research. miR-217-inhibitor intervened in the two HCC cell strains to observe the alterations of cell migration, invasiveness, and apoptosis. The miR-217 level in HCC cells was identified by reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR).

Results

As midazolam concentration was elevated, Hep3B and SK-HEP-1 viabilities were more obviously suppressed. The 10 μg/mL concentration was selected for analysis since Hep3B and SK-HEP-1 had an IC50 of 10.57 μg/mL and 9.35 μg/m, respectively. The qRT-PCR results showed the decreased of miR-217 in HCC cells, which was enhanced notably by midazolam intervention. Compared with the blank group, the invasiveness and migration (Transwell assay) of miR-217-inhibitor-transfected HCC cells were distinctly enhanced and the apoptosis rate (flow cytometry) was noticeably reduced.

Conclusion

Midazolam can upregulate miR-217 in HCC cells, thus inhibiting HCC cell metastasis and apoptosis.