Long Non-coding RNA ANRIL Downregulation Alleviates Neuroinflammation in an Ischemia Stroke Model via Modulation of the miR-671-5p/NF-κB Pathway

ANRIL's Epigenetic Regulation and Its Implications for Cardiovascular Disorders

Cardiovascular disorders (CVDs) are a major global health concern, but their underlying molecular mechanisms are not fully understood. Recent research highlights the role of long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs), particularly ANRIL, in cardiovascular development and disease. ANRIL, located in the human genome's 9p21 region, significantly regulates cardiovascular pathogenesis. It controls nearby tumor suppressor genes CDKN2A/B through epigenetic pathways, influencing cell growth and senescence. ANRIL interacts with epigenetic modifiers, leading to altered histone modifications and gene expression changes. It also acts as a transcriptional regulator, impacting key genes in CVD development. ANRIL's involvement in cardiovascular epigenetic regulation suggests potential therapeutic strategies. Manipulating ANRIL and its associated epigenetic modifiers could offer new approaches to managing CVDs and preventing their progression. Dysregulation of ANRIL has been linked to various cardiovascular conditions, including coronary artery disease, atherosclerosis, ischemic stroke, and myocardial infarction. This abstract provides insights from recent research, emphasizing ANRIL's significance in the epigenetic landscape of cardiovascular disorders. By shedding light on ANRIL's role in cellular processes and disease development, the abstract highlights its potential as a therapeutic target for addressing CVDs.

Role of transcription factors, noncoding RNAs, epitranscriptomics, and epigenetics in post-ischemic neuroinflammation

Post-stroke neuroinflammation is pivotal in brain repair, yet persistent inflammation can aggravate ischemic brain damage and hamper recovery. Following stroke, specific molecules released from brain cells attract and activate central and peripheral immune cells. These immune cells subsequently release diverse inflammatory molecules within the ischemic brain, initiating a sequence of events, including activation of transcription factors in different brain cell types that modulate gene expression and influence outcomes; the interactive action of various noncoding RNAs (ncRNAs) to regulate multiple biological processes including inflammation, epitranscriptomic RNA modification that controls RNA processing, stability, and translation; and epigenetic changes including DNA methylation, hydroxymethylation, and histone modifications crucial in managing the genic response to stroke. Interactions among these events further affect post-stroke inflammation and shape the depth of ischemic brain damage and functional outcomes. We highlighted these aspects of neuroinflammation in this review and postulate that deciphering these mechanisms is pivotal for identifying therapeutic targets to alleviate post-stroke dysfunction and enhance recovery.

The role of long noncoding ribonucleic acids in the central nervous system injury

Central nervous system (CNS) injury involves complex pathophysiological molecular mechanisms. Long noncoding ribonucleic acids (lncRNAs) are an important form of RNA that do not encode proteins but take part in the regulation of gene expression and various biological processes. Multitudinous studies have evidenced lncRNAs to have a significant role in the process of progression and recovery of various CNS injuries. Herein, we review the latest findings pertaining to the role of lncRNAs in CNS, both normal and diseased state. We aim to present a comprehensive clinical application prospect of lncRNAs in CNS, and thus, discuss potential strategies of lncRNAs in treating CNS injury.

Silencing lncRNA GABPB1-AS1 alleviates cerebral ischemia reperfusion injury through the miR-641/NUCKS1 axis

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the possible mechanism of lncRNA GA binding protein transcription factor beta subunit 1 antisense RNA 1 (GABPB1-AS1) in cerebral ischemia/reperfusion (CI/R) injury.

METHODS

RT-qPCR was applied to determine GABPB1-AS1 expression in oxygen-glucose deprivation/reoxygenation (OGD/R) cells. The targeting relationships between GABPB1-AS1 and miR-641, as well as between miR-641 and nuclear casein and cyclin-dependent kinase substrate 1 (NUCKS1) were examined by dual luciferase reporter assay. The protein expression of caspase-3, Bax, Bcl-2 and NUCKS1 was examined by western blot. Cell apoptosis was measured by flow cytometry (FCM) and western blot. Cell viability was evaluated by 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay.

RESULTS

GABPB1-AS1 was significantly elevated in SH-SY5Y cells under OGD/R. Downregulation of GABPB1-AS1 accelerated cell viability and suppressed cell apoptosis. GABPB1-AS1 silencing reduced ROS and MDA levels in OGD/R-treated cells. Furthermore, miR-641 inhibitor aggravated damage from OGD/R, but GABPB1-AS1 silencing notably attenuated this effect. NUCKS1 was proven to be a target gene of miR-641.

CONCLUSION

GABPB1-AS1 silencing alleviated CI/R injury through the miR-641/NUCKS1 axis, indicating that GABPB1-AS1 might serve as a therapeutic target for CI/R injury.

MicroRNA-671-5p regulates the inflammatory response of periodontal ligament stem cells via the DUSP8/p38 MAPK pathway

BACKGROUND

MicroRNAs are differentially expressed in periodontitis tissues. They are involved in cellular responses to inflammation and can be used as markers for diagnosing periodontitis. Microarray analysis showed that the expression level of microRNA-671-5p in periodontal tissues of patients with periodontitis was increased. In this study, we investigated the mechanism of action of microRNA-671-5p in human periodontal ligament stem cells (hPDLSCs) under inflammatory conditions.

METHODS AND RESULTS

HPDLSCs were treated with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) to establish an inflammation model. The cell survival rate was determined using the cell counting kit-8 (CCK8). Real-time quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) and western blot analyses were used to detect the expression of microRNA-671-5p and dual-specificity phosphatase (DUSP) 8 proteins, respectively, Interleukin (IL)-6, IL-1β, and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α were detected using qRT-PCR and Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). A dual-luciferase reporter system was employed to determine the relationship between micoRNA-671-5p and DUSP8 expression. Activation of the p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling pathway was confirmed using western blot analysis. Following the treatment of hPDLSCs with LPS, the expression levels of microRNA-671-5p in hPDLSCs were increased, cell viability decreased, and the expression of inflammatory factors displayed an increasing trend. MicroRNA-671-5p targets and binds to DUSP8. Silencing microRNA-671-5p or overexpressing DUSP8 can improve cell survival rate and reduce inflammatory responses. When DUSP8 was overexpressed, the expression of p-p38 was reduced.

CONCLUSIONS

microRNA-671-5p targets DUSP8/p38 MAPK pathway to regulate LPS-induced proliferation and inflammation in hPDLSCs.

Long Non-Coding RNA ANRIL Regulates Inflammatory Factor Expression in Ulcerative Colitis Via the miR-191-5p/SATB1 Axis

Ulcerative colitis, an inflammatory bowel disease, manifests with symptoms such as abdominal pain, diarrhea, and mucopurulent feces. The long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) ANRIL exhibits significantly reduced expression in UC, yet its specific mechanism is unknown. This study revealed that ANRIL is involved in the progression of UC by inhibiting IL-6 and TNF-α via miR-191-5P/SATB1 axis. We found that in patients with UC, interleukin-6 (IL-6) and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) were significantly overexpressed in inflamed colon sites, whereas ANRIL was significantly under-expressed and associated with disease severity. The downregulation of ANRIL resulted in the increased expression of IL-6 and TNF-α in LPS-treated FHCs. ANRIL directly targeted miR-191-5p, thereby inhibiting its expression and augmenting SATB1 expression. Moreover, overexpression of miR-191-5p abolished ANRIL-mediated inhibition of IL-6 and TNF-α production. Dual luciferase reporter assays revealed the specific binding of miR-191-5p to ANRIL and SATB1. Furthermore, the downregulation of ANRIL promoted DSS-induced colitis in mice. Together, we provide evidence that ANRIL plays a critical role in regulating IL-6 and TNF-α expression in UC by modulating the miR-191-5p/SATB1 axis. Our study provides novel insights into progression and molecular therapeutic strategies in UC.

LncRNAs: the good, the bad, and the unknown

Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) are significant contributors in maintaining genomic integrity through epigenetic regulation. LncRNAs can interact with chromatin-modifying complexes in both cis and trans pathways, drawing them to specific genomic loci and influencing gene expression via DNA methylation, histone modifications, and chromatin remodeling. They can also operate as building blocks to assemble different chromatin-modifying components, facilitating their interactions and gene regulatory functions. Deregulation of these molecules has been associated with various human diseases, including cancer, cardiovascular disease, and neurological disorders. Thus, lncRNAs are implicated as potential diagnostic indicators and therapeutic targets. This review discusses the current understanding of how lncRNAs mediate epigenetic control, genomic integrity, and their putative functions in disease pathogenesis.

Ischemic Stroke and Autophagy: The Roles of Long Non-Coding RNAs

Ischemic stroke is a significant cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. Autophagy, a process of intracellular degradation, has been shown to play a crucial role in the pathogenesis of ischemic stroke. Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) have emerged as essential regulators of autophagy in various diseases, including ischemic stroke. Recent studies have identified several lncRNAs that modulate autophagy in ischemic stroke, including MALAT1, MIAT, SNHG12, H19, AC136007. 2, C2dat2, MEG3, KCNQ1OT1, SNHG3, and RMRP. These lncRNAs regulate autophagy by interacting with key proteins involved in the autophagic process, such as Beclin-1, ATG7, and LC3. Understanding the role of lncRNAs in regulating autophagy in ischemic stroke may provide new insights into the pathogenesis of this disease and identify potential therapeutic targets for its treatment.

The linear ANRIL transcript P14AS regulates the NF-κB signaling to promote colon cancer progression

BACKGROUND

The linear long non-coding RNA P14AS has previously been reported to be dysregulated in colon cancer, but the mechanistic role that P14AS plays in colon cancer progression has yet to be clarified. Accordingly, this study was developed to explore the regulatory functions of ANRIL linear transcript-P14AS in cancer.

METHODS

The expression of P14AS, ANRIL, miR-23a-5p and their target genes were detected by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) and western blot. Cell supernatants of IL6 and IL8 were measured by Enzyme linked immunosorbent (ELISA) assay. Dual-luciferase reporter assays, RNA immunoprecipitation, or pull-down assays were used to confirm the target association between miR-23a-5p and P14AS or UBE2D3. Cell proliferation and chemosensitivity of NF-κB inhibitor BAY 11-7085 were evaluated by cell counting kit 8 (CCK8).

RESULTS

When P14AS was overexpressed in colon cancer cell lines, enhanced TNF-NF-κB signaling pathway activity was observed together with increases in IL6 and IL8 expression. The Pita, miRanda, and RNA hybrid databases revealed the ability of miR-23a-5p to interact with P14AS, while UBE2D3 was further identified as a miR-23a-5p target gene. The results of dual-luciferase reporter, RNA pull-down, and RNA immunoprecipitation experiments confirmed these direct interactions among P14AS/miR-23a-5p/UBE2D3. The degradation of IκBa mediated by UBE2D3 may contribute to enhanced NF-κB signaling in these cells. Moreover, the beneficial impact of P14AS on colon cancer cell growth was eliminated when cells were treated with miR-23a-5p inhibitors or UBE2D3 was silenced. As such, these findings strongly supported a role for the UBE2D3/IκBa/NF-κB signaling axis as a mediator of the ability of P14AS to promote colon cancer progression.

CONCLUSIONS

These data suggested a mechanism through which the linear ANRIL transcript P14AS can promote inflammation and colon cancer progression through the sequestration of miR-23a-5p and the modulation of NF-κB signaling activity, thus highlighting P14AS as a promising target for therapeutic intervention efforts.

Neuroinflammatory Biomarkers in the Brain, Cerebrospinal Fluid, and Blood After Ischemic Stroke

The most frequent type of stroke, known as ischemic stroke (IS), is a significant global public health issue. The pathological process of IS and post-IS episodes has not yet been fully explored, but neuroinflammation has been identified as one of the key processes. Biomarkers are objective indicators used to assess normal or pathological processes, evaluate responses to treatment, and predict outcomes, and some biomarkers can also be used as therapeutic targets. After IS, various molecules are produced by different cell types, such as microglia, astrocytes, infiltrating leukocytes, endothelial cells, and damaged neurons, that participate in the neuroinflammatory response within the ischemic brain region. These molecules may either promote or inhibit neuroinflammation and may be released into extracellular spaces, including cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and blood, due to reasons such as BBB damage. These neuroinflammatory molecules should be valued as biomarkers to monitor whether their expression levels in the blood, CSF, and brain correlate with the diagnosis and prognosis of IS patients or whether they have potential as therapeutic targets. In addition, although some molecules do not directly participate in the process of neuroinflammation, they have been reported to have potential diagnostic or therapeutic value against post-IS neuroinflammation, and these molecules will also be listed. In this review, we summarize the neuroinflammatory biomarkers in the brain, CSF, and blood after an IS episode and the potential value of these biomarkers for the diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis of IS patients.

The impact of Yiwei decoction on the LncRNA and CircRNA regulatory networks in premature ovarian insufficiency

Premature ovarian insufficiency（POI）is a female reproductive aging illness. Yiwei decoction（YWD） is a traditional treatment for Yangming nourishment. YWD can treat premature ovarian insufficiency, but the exact molecular mechanism is unknown. As a result, the differential expression of Long noncoding RNAs (LncRNAs) and Circular RNAs(CircRNAs) in the ovary of POI rats after YWD treatment was investigated in this paper, and the CeRNA regulatory network was built. The model was created using cyclophosphamide. The model group + YWD was in Group A, the model control group was in Group B, and the regular control group was in Group C. In this study, 177 differential expression Long noncoding RNAs(DELncRNAs) and 190 differential expression Circular RNAs (DECircRNAs) were discovered between A and B (P＜0.05,|LogFC|＞1). Following the analysis, 27 DELncRNAs and 96 DECircRNAs (P-adjusted＜0.05,|LogFC|＞1) were discovered. At the same time, we built the CeRNA network using differentially expressed mRNAs and microRNAs (miRNAs) expression between groups A and B. The DELncRNAs were used to construct a lncRNA-miRNA-mRNA ceRNA network with 27 LncRNAs, 4 miRNAs, and 19 mRNAs. The DECircRNAs were utilized to establish a CircRNA-miRNA-mRNA ceRNA network that was made up of 15 CircRNAs, 4 miRNAs, and 20 mRNA. The highly correlated regulatory networks were the LncMSTRG.22691.3/miR-3102/ANGPT4 and Circ10_34698898_34699378/miR-33-5p/TTC22. Circ20_12035276_12036793、Circ20_30693935_30696337、Circ4_157723097_157723378 and Circ4_157923266_157923904 occurred concurrently in AvsB, BvsC, and AvsC. MiRDB predicted eight target miRNAs for these CircRNAs. The miRanda(score = 140，energy = -1) binding energy calculation revealed that seven miRNAs were well combined with three CircRNA base complementary pairs. This implies that 3 DECircRNAs could serve as spongy bodies for these miRNAs. Network pharmacological analysis showed that ten active components in YWD may regulate the expression of LncRNAs and CircRNAs, such as Stigmasterol, Uridine, Ophiopogonanone A, Gamma-Aminobutyric Acid, and others. In conclusion, this study combined transcriptomics and network pharmacological analysis to identify differentially expressed lncRNAs as well as CircRNAs in ovaries of YWD-treated POI rats, thereby constructing ceRNA networks implicated in POI. This would contribute to clarifying the pathways by which Chinese herbal compounds regulate gene expression in POI.

Essential genes Ptgs2, Tlr4, and Ccr2 regulate neuro-inflammation during the acute phase of cerebral ischemic in mice

Ischemic stroke (IS) is associated with changes in gene expression patterns in the ischemic penumbra and extensive neurovascular inflammation. However, the key molecules related to the inflammatory response in the acute phase of IS remain unclear. To address this knowledge gap, conducted a study using Gene Set Enrichment Analysis (GSEA) on two gene expression profiles, GSE58720 and GSE202659, downloaded from the GEO database. We screened differentially expressed genes (DEGs) using GEO2R and analyzed 170 differentially expressed intersection genes for Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway enrichment and Gene Ontology (GO) analysis. We also used Metascape, DAVID, STRING, Cytoscape, and TargetScan to identify candidate miRNAs and genes. The targeted genes and miRNA molecule were clarified using the mice middle cerebral artery occlusion-reperfusion (MCAO/R) model. Our findings revealed that 170 genes were correlated with cytokine production and inflammatory cell activation, as determined by GO and KEGG analyses. Cluster analysis identified 11 hub genes highly associated with neuroinflammation: Ccl7, Tnf, Ccl4, Timp1, Ccl3, Ccr1, Sele, Ccr2, Tlr4, Ptgs2, and Il6. TargetScan results suggested that Ptgs2, Tlr4, and Ccr2 might be regulated by miR-202-3p. In the MCAO/R model, the level of miR-202-3p decreased, while the levels of Ptgs2, Tlr4, and Ccr2 increased compared to the sham group. Knockdown of miR-202-3p exacerbated ischemic reperfusion injury (IRI) through neuroinflammation both in vivo and in vitro. Our study also demonstrated that mRNA and protein levels of Ptgs2, Tlr4, and Ccr2 increased in the MCAO/R model with miR-202-3p knockdown. These findings suggest that differentially expressed genes, including Ptgs2, Tlr4, and Ccr2 may play crucial roles in the neuroinflammation of IS, and their expression may be negatively regulated by miR-202-3p. Our study provides new insights into the regulation of neuroinflammation in IS.

H2S-mediated inhibition of RhoA/ROCK pathway and noncoding RNAs in ischemic stroke

Ischemic stroke is one of major causes of disability. In the pathological process of ischemic stroke, the up-regulation of Ras homolog gene family, member A (RhoA) and its downstream effector, Ras homolog gene family (Rho)-associated coiled coil-containing kinase (ROCK), contribute to the neuroinflammation, blood-brain barrier (BBB) dysfunction, neuronal apoptosis, axon growth inhibition and astrogliosis. Accumulating evidences have revealed that hydrogen sulphide (H₂S) could reduce brain injury in animal model of ischemic stroke via inhibiting the RhoA/ROCK pathway. Recently, noncoding RNAs (ncRNAs) such as circular RNAs (circRNAs), long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) and microRNAs (miRNAs) have attracted much attention because of their essential role in adjusting gene expression both in physiological and pathological conditions. Numerous studies have uncovered the role of RhoA/ROCK pathway and ncRNAs in ischemic stroke. In this review, we focused on the role of H₂S, RhoA/ROCK pathway and ncRNAs in ischemic stroke and aimed to reveal new strategies for preventing and treating this devastating disease.

A review on the role of miR-671 in human disorders

miR-671 is encoded by a gene on 7q36.1 and contributes to the pathogenesis of a variety of disorders, including diverse types of cancers, atherosclerosis, ischemic stroke, liver fibrosis, osteoarthritis, Parkinson's disease, rheumatoid arthritis, acute myocardial infarction and Crohn's disease. In the context of cancer, different studies have revealed opposite roles for this miRNA. In brief, it has been shown to be down-regulated in pancreatic ductal carcinoma, ovarian cancer, gastric cancer, osteosarcoma, esophageal squamous cell carcinoma and myelodysplastic syndromes. Yet, miR-671 has been up-regulated in glioma, colorectal cancer, prostate cancer and hepatocellular carcinoma. Studies in breast, lung and renal cell carcinoma have reported inconsistent results. The current review aims at summarization of the role of miR-671 in these disorders focusing on its target mRNA in each context and dysregulated signaling pathways. We also provide a summary of the role of this miRNA as a prognostic factor in malignancies.