Lnc-ing RNA Expression with Disease Pathogenesis: MALAT1 and ANRIL in Ulcerative Colitis

Long Non-Coding RNAs and Their "Discrete" Contribution to IBD and Johne's Disease-What Stands out in the Current Picture? A Comprehensive Review

Non-coding RNAs (ncRNA) have paved the way to new perspectives on the regulation of gene expression, not only in biology and medicine, but also in associated fields and technologies, ensuring advances in diagnostic means and therapeutic modalities. Critical in this multistep approach are the associations of long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) with diseases and their causal genes in their networks of interactions, gene enrichment and expression analysis, associated pathways, the monitoring of the involved genes and their functional roles during disease progression from one stage to another. Studies have shown that Johne's Disease (JD), caused by Mycobacterium avium subspecies partuberculosis (MAP), shares common lncRNAs, clinical findings, and other molecular entities with Crohn's Disease (CD). This has been a subject of vigorous investigation owing to the zoonotic nature of this condition, although results are still inconclusive. In this review, on one hand, the current knowledge of lncRNAs in cells is presented, focusing on the pathogenesis of gastrointestinal-related pathologies and MAP-related infections and, on the other hand, we attempt to dissect the associated genes and pathways involved. Furthermore, the recently characterized and novel lncRNAs share common pathologies with IBD and JD, including the expression, molecular networks, and dataset analysis results. These are also presented in an attempt to identify potential biomarkers pertinent to cattle and human disease phenotypes.

Upregulated NORAD is implicated in apoptosis, inflammation, and oxidative stress in ulcerative colitis through the nuclear factor-κappaB signaling

BACKGROUND

Ulcerative colitis (UC) is a chronic inflammatory disease that affects the colon. It has been discovered that long non-coding RNA activated by DNA damage (NORAD) is upregulated in UC patient-derived serums, but its functional mechanism in UC has not been disclosed.

METHODS

Relative levels of NORAD in colonic mucosal tissues and TNF-α-stimulated human normal colonic mucosal cells (FHCs) were detected. Functional experiments were executed to evaluate the effects of NORAD silencing on TNF-α-induced FHC proliferation, apoptosis, inflammation, and oxidative stress. The molecular mechanism related to NORAD was predicted by starBase and confirmed by dual-luciferase reporter and RIP assays.

RESULTS

Our data exhibited higher levels of NORAD in UC patient-derived colonic mucosal tissues and TNF-α-stimulated FHCs. Functional experiments presented that NORAD inhibition impaired TNF-α-induced FHC apoptosis, inflammation, and oxidative stress. NORAD acted as a miR-552-3p sponge, and miR-552-3p silencing weakened NORAD inhibition-mediated effects on TNF-α-induced FHC apoptosis, inflammation, and oxidative stress. Myeloid differentiation primary response gene 88 (MYD88) was verified as a miR-552-3p target, and MYD88 overexpression whittled miR-552-3p mimic-mediated inhibition on TNF-α-induced FHC apoptosis, inflammation, and oxidative stress. Notably, TNF-α-induced NORAD regulated the nuclear factor-κappaB (NF-κB) signaling via the miR-552-3p/MYD88 axis.

CONCLUSION

NORAD participates in TNF-α-induced FHC apoptosis, inflammation, and oxidative stress via the NF-κB signaling via the miR-552-3p/MYD88 axis, offering new insights into the pathogenesis of UC.

Tailoring Multi-omics to Inflammatory Bowel Diseases: All for One and One for All

Inflammatory bowel disease [IBD] has a multifactorial origin and originates from a complex interplay of environmental factors with the innate immune system at the intestinal epithelial interface in a genetically susceptible individual. All these factors make its aetiology intricate and largely unknown. Multi-omic datasets obtained from IBD patients are required to gain further insights into IBD biology. We here review the landscape of multi-omic data availability in IBD and identify barriers and gaps for future research. We also outline the various technical and non-technical factors that influence the utility and interpretability of multi-omic datasets and thereby the study design of any research project generating such datasets. Coordinated generation of multi-omic datasets and their systemic integration with clinical phenotypes and environmental exposures will not only enhance understanding of the fundamental mechanisms of IBD but also improve therapeutic strategies. Finally, we provide recommendations to enable and facilitate generation of multi-omic datasets.

IL-6/STAT3 signaling pathway regulates the proliferation and damage of intestinal epithelial cells in patients with ulcerative colitis via H3K27ac

The aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of the IL-6/STAT3 signaling pathway on intestinal epithelial barrier injury in patients with ulcerative colitis (UC). Fifty-two patients with UC and 21 healthy subjects were recruited. The expression level of IL-6 in plasma was determined by ELISA. Normal human colon mucosal epithelial NCM460 cells were treated with IL-6 or plasma from the patients with UC. Then, the transepithelial electrical resistance value, fluorescein yellow permeability and zonulin release were evaluated. Using reverse transcription-quantitative (q)PCR and western blotting, claudin (CLDN) 1 and CLDN2 expression levels were analyzed. Furthermore, western blotting was used to detect phosphorylation of STAT3. Chromatin immunoprecipitation-qPCR was performed to investigate the enrichment of H3K27ac in the promoter regions of CLDN1 and CLDN2. The present study revealed that IL-6 content was elevated in the plasma from patients with UC and increased with the progression of the disease. IL-6 was also observed to induce intestinal epithelial cell barrier injury and regulate barrier function by influencing the expression of tight junction-related proteins, as well as STAT3. The IL-6/STAT3 signaling pathway regulated transcription of CLDN1 and CLDN2 by affecting the enrichment of histone H3K27ac in their promoter regions. Thus, the significantly increased expression level of IL-6 in the peripheral blood of patients with UC indicates a positive association with the development of UC. Furthermore, the IL-6/STAT3 signaling pathway influences the function of the intestinal barrier by affecting the H3K27ac level in intestinal epithelial cells.