LINC01140 Alleviates the Oxidized Low-Density Lipoprotein-Induced Inflammatory Response in Macrophages via Suppressing miR-23b

MiR-23b-3p alleviates Sjögren's syndrome by targeting SOX6 and inhibiting the NF-κB signaling

OBJECTIVE

MicroRNA-23b-3p has been demonstrated to act as a safeguard against several autoimmune diseases. However, its role in Sjögren's syndrome (SS) remains unclear.

METHODS

In order to investigate its role in SS, we administered agomiR-23b-3p or agomiR-NC to non-obese diabetic (NOD) mice via tail vein weekly for 6 weeks. The study examined the saliva flow rate, histological changes in submandibular glands, and levels of autoantibodies. Additionally, the levels of several cytokines, cell apoptosis, and NF-κB signaling were evaluated. The protective effect of miR-23b-3p was confirmed in a cell model.

RESULTS

The results demonstrated that miR-23b-3p overexpression improved salivary flow rates, inhibited lymphocyte infiltration, reduced cytokine levels, and suppressed cell apoptosis in NOD mice. Moreover, NF-κB signaling was inactivated following miR-23b-3p overexpression. In a cellular model of SS, overexpression of miR-23b-3p protected submandibular gland epithelial cells exposed to IFN-γ against apoptosis and inflammation by targeting SOX6.

CONCLUSIONS

The study concludes that miR-23b-3p alleviates SS by targeting SOX6 and inhibiting the NF-κB signaling pathway. The miR-23b-3p/SOX6 axis represents a promising avenue for the development of novel therapeutic strategies for SS.

Oxidized low-density lipoprotein changes the inflammatory status and metabolomics profiles in human and mouse macrophages and microglia

The conjunctiva of primary open angle glaucoma patients showed high level of oxidized low-density lipoprotein (ox-LDL), which is associated with the inflammatory response. Microglia and macrophages are the immune cells involved in retinal ganglion cell survival regulation; yet, their roles of the ox-LDL-induced inflammation in glaucoma remain elusive. Here we aimed to investigate the lipid uptake, inflammatory cytokine expression, and metabolomics profiles of human and murine-derived microglial and macrophage cell lines treated with ox-LDL. Under the same ox-LDL concentration, macrophages exhibited higher lipid uptake and expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines as compared to microglia. The ox-LDL increased the levels of fatty acid metabolites in macrophages and sphingomyelin metabolites in microglia. In summary, this study revealed the heterogeneity in the inflammatory capacity and metabolic profiles of macrophages and microglia under the stimulation of ox-LDL.

LncRNA/CircRNA-miRNA-mRNA Axis in Atherosclerotic Inflammation: Research Progress

Atherosclerosis is characterized by chronic inflammation of the arterial wall. However, the exact mechanism underlying atherosclerosis-related inflammation has not been fully elucidated. To gain insight into the mechanisms underlying the inflammatory process that leads to atherosclerosis, there is need to identify novel molecular markers. Non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs), including microRNAs (miRNAs), long non-protein-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) and circular RNAs (circRNAs) have gained prominence in recent years. LncRNAs/circRNAs act as competing endogenous RNAs (ceRNAs) that bind to miRNAs via microRNA response elements (MREs), thereby inhibiting the silencing of miRNA target mRNAs. Inflammatory mediators and inflammatory signaling pathways are closely regulated by ceRNA regulatory networks in atherosclerosis. In this review, we discuss the role of LncRNA/CircRNA-miRNA-mRNA axis in atherosclerotic inflammation and how it can be targeted for early clinical detection and treatment.

Exosomes from miR-23 Overexpressing Stromal Cells Suppress M1 Macrophage and Inhibit Calcium Oxalate Deposition in Hyperoxaluria Rat Model

Purpose

To investigate whether ADSC-derived miR-23-enriched exosomes could protect against calcium oxalate stone formation in a hyperoxaluria rat model.

Methods

An ethylene glycol- (EG-) induced hyperoxaluria rat model and an in vitro model of COM-induced HK-2 cells coculturing with RAW264.7 cells were established to explore the protective mechanisms of ADSC-derived miR-23-enriched exosomes.

Results

The results showed that treatment with miR-23-enriched exosomes from ADSCs protected EG-induced hyperoxaluria rats, and cell experiments confirmed that coculturing with miR-23-enriched exosomes alleviated COM-induced cell autophagy. Overexpressed miR-23 suppressed M1 macrophage polarization by inhibiting IRF1 expression. Furthermore, the predicted binding site between the IRF1 messenger RNA 3'-untranslated region (3'-UTR) and miR-23 was confirmed by the dual-luciferase reporter assay.

Conclusion

In conclusion, our research gave the first evidence that ADSC-derived miR-23-enriched exosomes affected the polarization of M1 macrophages by directly inhibiting IRF1 and protecting against calcium oxalate stone formation in a hyperoxaluria rat model.

Identification of optimal feature genes in patients with thyroid associated ophthalmopathy and their relationship with immune infiltration: a bioinformatics analysis

Background

Thyroid associated ophthalmopathy (TAO) is an organ-specific autoimmune disease that has a significant impact on individuals and society. The etiology of TAO is complicated and poorly understood. Thus, the goal of this study was to use bioinformatics to look into the pathogenesis of TAO and to identify the optimum feature genes (OFGs) and immune infiltration patterns of TAO.

Methods

Firstly, the GSE58331 microarray data set was utilized to find 366 differentially expressed genes (DEGs). To find important modular genes, the dataset was evaluated using weighted gene coexpression network analysis (WGCNA). Then, the overlap genes of major module genes and DEGs were further assessed by applying three machine learning techniques to find the OFGs. The CIBERSORT approach was utilized to examine immune cell infiltration in normal and TAO samples, as well as the link between optimum characteristic genes and immune cells. Finally, the related pathways of the OFGs were predicted using single gene set enrichment analysis (ssGSEA).

Results

KLB, TBC1D2B, LINC01140, SGCG, TMEM37, and LINC01697 were the six best feature genes that were employed to create a nomogram with high predictive performance. The immune cell infiltration investigation revealed that the development of TAO may include memory B cells, T cell follicular helper cells, resting NK cells, macrophages of type M0, macrophages of type M1, resting dendritic cells, active mast cells, and neutrophils. In addition, ssGSEA results found that these characteristic genes were closely associated with lipid metabolism pathways.

Conclusion

In this research, we found that KLB, TBC1D2B, LINC01140, SGCG, TMEM37, and LINC01697 are intimately associated with the development and progression of TAO, as well as with lipid metabolism pathways.

Identification and validation of ferroptosis-related genes and immune cell infiltration in thyroid associated ophthalmopathy

Thyroid associated ophthalmopathy (TAO) is an orbital autoimmune inflammatory disease that is commonly associated with thyroid dysfunction. Although the etiology of TAO is unclear, ROS accumulation and oxidative stress have been closely linked to the pathogenesis of TAO. Ferroptosis is an iron-dependent programmed cell death characterized by intracellular labile iron levels, excessive accumulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and lipid peroxidation. Currently, there are few reports regarding the role of ferroptosis in TAO. This article aimed to identify ferroptosis-related genes (FRGs) with diagnostic and therapeutic potential in TAO and explore their relationship with immune cells and lncRNAs. GSE58331 was downloaded from Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database. A total of 162 DEGs were identified between 27 TAO samples and 22 health samples from GSE58331, among which six FRGs (CYBB, CTSB, SLC38A1, TLR4, PEX3, and ABCC1) were obtained. The AUC of SLC38A1, TLR4, PEX3 in lacrimal gland tissues was greater than 80 which suggested high diagnostic value in TAO. The result of immune cell infiltrate analysis indicated increased infiltration of monocytes (p < 0.001), macrophages M0(p = 0.039), mast cells activated (p = 0.008), and neutrophils (p = 0.045) in orbital tissues from TAO patients. Meanwhile, mast cells resting (p = 0.043) and macrophages M2 (p = 0.02) showed reduced infiltration in TAO samples. There were no gender differences in immune cell infiltration in the TAO patients. Two differentially expressed lncRNAs, LINC01140 and ZFHX4-AS1, in TAO groups were identified as ferroptosis-related lncRNAs. CYBB-LINC01140-TLR4, CYBB- LINC01140- SLC38A1, TLR4- LINC01140- SLC38A1, and CTSB- ZFHX4-AS1- CYBB may be potential RNA regulatory pathways in TAO. Targeted drugs and transcription factors for differential expressed FRGs were also screened out in our study. In vitro, experiments revealed that CTSB, PEX3, ABCC1 and ZFHX4-AS1(lncRNA) were differentially expressed in orbital fibroblasts (OFs) between TAO groups and healthy controls at the transcriptional level.

Advances in the Study of the Ubiquitin-Editing Enzyme A20

Ubiquitin modification is a common post-translational protein modification and an important mechanism whereby the body regulates protein levels and functions. As a common enzyme associated with ubiquitin modification, the ubiquitin-editing enzyme A20 may be closely associated with the development of numerous pathological processes through its different structural domains. The aim of this paper is to provide an overview of the following: advances in ubiquitination research, the structure and function of A20, and the relationships between A20 and immune inflammatory response, apoptosis, necroptosis, pyroptosis, and autophagy.

The miR-23-27-24 cluster: an emerging target in NAFLD pathogenesis

The incidence of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is increasing globally, being the most widespread form of chronic liver disease in the west. NAFLD includes a variety of disease states, the mildest being non-alcoholic fatty liver that gradually progresses to non-alcoholic steatohepatitis, fibrosis, cirrhosis, and eventually hepatocellular carcinoma. Small non-coding single-stranded microRNAs (miRNAs) regulate gene expression at the miRNA or translational level. Numerous miRNAs have been shown to promote NAFLD pathogenesis and progression through increasing lipid accumulation, oxidative stress, mitochondrial damage, and inflammation. The miR-23-27-24 clusters, composed of miR-23a-27a-24-2 and miR-23b-27b-24-1, have been implicated in various biological processes as well as many diseases. Herein, we review the current knowledge on miR-27, miR-24, and miR-23 in NAFLD pathogenesis and discuss their potential significance in NAFLD diagnosis and therapy.

LKB1 Regulates Vascular Macrophage Functions in Atherosclerosis

Liver kinase B1 (LKB1) is known to shape the regulation of macrophage function by participating in multiple processes including cell metabolism, growth, and polarization. However, whether LKB1 also affects the functional plasticity of macrophages in atherosclerosis has not attracted much attention. Abnormal macrophage function is a pathophysiological hallmark of atherosclerosis, characterized by the formation of foam cells and the maintenance of vascular inflammation. Mounting evidence supports that LKB1 plays a vital role in the regulation of macrophage function in atherosclerosis, including affecting lipid metabolism reprogramming, inflammation, endoplasmic reticulum stress, and autophagy in macrophages. Thus, decreased expression of LKB1 in atherosclerosis aggravates vascular injury by inducing excessive lipid deposition in macrophages and the formation of foam cells. To systematically understand the role and potential mechanism of LKB1 in regulating macrophage functions in atherosclerosis, this review summarizes the relevant data in this regard, hoping to provide new ideas for the prevention and treatment of atherosclerosis.

The Triangle Relationship Between Long Noncoding RNA, RIG-I-like Receptor Signaling Pathway, and Glycolysis

Long noncoding RNA (LncRNA), a noncoding RNA over 200nt in length, can regulate glycolysis through metabolic pathways, glucose metabolizing enzymes, and epigenetic reprogramming. Upon viral infection, increased aerobic glycolysis providzes material and energy for viral replication. Mitochondrial antiviral signaling protein (MAVS) is the only protein-specified downstream of retinoic acid-inducible gene I (RIG-I) that bridges the gap between antiviral immunity and glycolysis. MAVS binding to RIG-I inhibits MAVS binding to Hexokinase (HK2), thereby impairing glycolysis, while excess lactate production inhibits MAVS and the downstream antiviral immune response, facilitating viral replication. LncRNAs can also regulate antiviral innate immunity by interacting with RIG-I and downstream signaling pathways and by regulating the expression of interferons and interferon-stimulated genes (ISGs). Altogether, we summarize the relationship between glycolysis, antiviral immunity, and lncRNAs and propose that lncRNAs interact with glycolysis and antiviral pathways, providing a new perspective for the future treatment against virus infection, including SARS-CoV-2.

A genome-wide study of DNA methylation in white blood cells and asthma in Latino children and youth

Latinos are heavily affected with childhood asthma. Little is known about epigenetic mechanisms of asthma in Latino youth. We conducted a meta-analysis of two epigenome-wide association studies (EWAS) of asthma, using DNA from white blood cells (WBCs) from 1,136 Latino children and youth aged 6 to 20 years. Genes near the top CpG sites in this EWAS were examined in a pathway enrichment analysis, and we then assessed whether our results replicated those from publicly available data from three independent EWAS conducted in non-Latino populations. We found that DNA methylation profiles differed between subjects with and without asthma. After adjustment for covariates and multiple testing, two CpGs were differentially methylated at a false discovery rate (FDR)-adjusted P < 0.1, and 193 CpG sites were differentially methylated at FDR-adjusted P < 0.2. The two top CpGs are near genes relevant to inflammatory signalling, including CAMK1D (Calcium/Calmodulin Dependent Protein Kinase ID) and TIGIT (T Cell Immunoreceptor With Ig And ITIM Domains). Moreover, 25 genomic regions were differentially methylated between subjects with and without asthma, at Šidák-corrected P < 0.10. An enrichment analysis then identified the TGF-beta pathway as most relevant to asthma in our analysis, and we replicated some of the top signals from publicly available EWAS datasets in non-Hispanic populations. In conclusion, we have identified novel epigenetic markers of asthma in WBCs from Latino children and youth, while also replicating previous results from studies conducted in non-Latinos.

Long non-coding RNA: An immune cells perspective

Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) were considered as accumulated genetic waste until they were found to be gene expression regulators by highly sensitive modern genomics platforms. It is a huge class of non-coding transcripts with an arbitrary length of >200 nucleotides, which has gained much attention in the past few years. Increasing evidence from several experimental studies unraveled the expression of lncRNA linked to immune response and disease progression. However, only a small number of lncRNAs have robust evidence of their function. Differential expression of lncRNAs in different immune cells is also evident. In this review, we focused on how lncRNAs expression assist in shaping immune cells (Macrophages, Dendritic cells, NK cells, T cells, B cells, eosinophils, neutrophils, and microglial cells) function and their response to the diseased conditions. Emerging evidence revealed lncRNAs may serve as key regulators in the innate and adaptive immune response system. So, the molecular mechanism insight into the function of lncRNAs in immune response may contribute to the development of potential therapeutic targets for various disease treatments. Therefore, it is imperative to explore the expression of lncRNAs and understand its relevance associated with the immune system.

Epigenomic and transcriptomic analysis of chronic inflammatory diseases

Chronic inflammatory diseases (CIDs) have complex pathologies that result from aberrant and persistent immune responses. However, the precise triggers and mechanisms remain elusive. An important aspect of CID research focuses on epigenetics modifications, which regulate gene expression and provide a dynamic transcriptional response to inflammation. In recent years, mounting evidence has demonstrated an association between epigenomic and transcriptomic dysregulation and the phenotypes of CIDs. In particular, epigenetic changes at cis-regulatory elements have provided new insights for immune cell-specific alterations that contribute to disease etiology. Furthermore, the advancements in single-cell genomics provide novel solutions to cell type heterogeneity, which has long posed challenges for CID diagnosis and treatment. In this review, we discuss the current state of epigenomics research of CID and the insights derived from single-cell transcriptomic and epigenomic studies.

Interplay between HMGA and TP53 in cell cycle control along tumor progression

The high mobility group A (HMGA) proteins are found to be aberrantly expressed in several tumors. Studies (in vitro and in vivo) have shown that HMGA protein overexpression has a causative role in carcinogenesis process. HMGA proteins regulate cell cycle progression through distinct mechanisms which strongly influence its normal dynamics along malignant transformation. Tumor protein p53 (TP53) is the most frequently altered gene in cancer. The loss of its activity is recognized as the fall of a barrier that enables neoplastic transformation. Among the different functions, TP53 signaling pathway is tightly involved in control of cell cycle, with cell cycle arrest being the main biological outcome observed upon p53 activation, which prevents accumulation of damaged DNA, as well as genomic instability. Therefore, the interaction and opposing effects of HMGA and p53 proteins on regulation of cell cycle in normal and tumor cells are discussed in this review. HMGA proteins and p53 may reciprocally regulate the expression and/or activity of each other, leading to the counteraction of their regulation mechanisms at different stages of the cell cycle. The existence of a functional crosstalk between these proteins in the control of cell cycle could open the possibility of targeting HMGA and p53 in combination with other therapeutic strategies, particularly those that target cell cycle regulation, to improve the management and prognosis of cancer patients.

Functioning of Long Noncoding RNAs Expressed in Macrophage in the Development of Atherosclerosis

Chronic inflammation is part of the pathological process during atherosclerosis (AS). Due to the abundance of monocytes/macrophages within the arterial plaque, monocytes/macrophages have become a critical cellular target in AS studies. In recent decades, a number of long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) have been found to exert regulatory roles on the macrophage metabolism and macrophage plasticity, consequently promoting or suppressing atherosclerotic inflammation. In this review, we provide a comprehensive overview of lncRNAs in macrophage biology, highlighting the potential role of lncRNAs in AS based on recent findings, with the aim to identify disease biomarkers and future therapeutic interventions for AS.