Exogenous miRNA: A Perspective Role as Therapeutic in Rheumatoid Arthritis

Clo-miR-14: a medicinally valued spice-derived miRNA with therapeutic implications in rheumatoid arthritis

Plant microRNAs (miRNA) are regularly consumed orally along with diet, gaining attention for their RNA-based drug potential because of their ability to regulate mammalian gene expression specifically at the post-transcriptional level. Medicinally valued plants are well known for their anti-inflammatory property; however, the contribution of their miRNA in managing inflammation has been less studied. We investigated miRNA from four medicinally valued regularly consumed spices, and validated one of the most potential miRNA 'Clo-miR-14' for its thermal stability, and absorption in the plasma samples of RA patient's by RT-PCR. In vitro and in vivo studies were performed to investigate the effect of Clo-miR-14 in ameliorating rheumatoid arthritis (RA) like symptoms. Our results suggest that 'Clo-miR-14,' an exogenous miRNA present in Curcuma longa, absorbed through regular diet, has robust thermal stability at 100°C in humans. It significantly reduced pro-inflammatory cytokines (TNF, IL-1β, IL-6) and RA-like symptoms, suggesting that plant-based miRNA could be a promising candidate as an RNA-based drug for RA pathogenesis.

Research Progress of miRNA in Heart Failure: Prediction and Treatment

ABSTRACT

This review summarizes the multiple roles of microRNAs (miRNAs) in the prediction and treatment of heart failure (HF), including the molecular mechanisms regulating cell apoptosis, myocardial fibrosis, cardiac hypertrophy, and ventricular remodeling, and highlights the importance of miRNAs in the prognosis of HF. In addition, the strategies for alleviating HF with miRNA intervention are discussed. On the basis of the challenges and emerging directions in the research and clinical practice of HF miRNAs, it is proposed that miRNA-based therapy could be a new approach for prevention and treatment of HF.

Upregulated miR-146b-3p predicted rheumatoid arthritis development and regulated TNF-α-induced excessive proliferation, motility, and inflammation in MH7A cells

BACKGROUND

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic immune system disease with a high disability rate threatening the living quality of patients. Identifying potential biomarkers for RA is of necessity to improve the prevention and management of RA.

OBJECTIVES

This study focused on miR-146b-3p evaluating its clinical significance and revealing the underlying regulatory mechanisms.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A total of 107 RA patients were enrolled, and both serum and synovial tissues were collected. Another 78 osteoarthritis patients (OA, providing synovial tissues), and 72 healthy individuals (providing serum samples) were enrolled as the control group. The expression of miR-146b-3p was analyzed by PCR and analyzed with ROC and Pearson correlation analyses evaluating its significance in diagnosis and development prediction of RA patients. In vitro, MH7A cells were treated with TNF-α. The regulation of cell proliferation, motility, and inflammation by miR-146b-3p was assessed by CCK8, Transwell, and ELISA assays.

RESULTS

Significant upregulation of miR-146b-3p was observed in serum and synovial tissues of RA patients, which distinguished RA patients and were positively correlated with the erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), C-reactive protein (CRP), anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide antibodies (anti-CCP), and rheumatoid factor (RF) of RA patients. TNF-α promoted the proliferation and motility of MH7A cells and induced significant inflammation in cells. Silencing miR-146b-3p alleviated the effect of TNF-α and negatively regulated the expression of HMGCR. The knockdown of HMGCR reversed the protective effect of miR-146b-3p silencing on TNF-α-stimulated MH7A cells.

CONCLUSIONS

Increased miR-146b-3p served as a biomarker for the diagnosis and severity of RA. Silencing miR-146b-3p could suppress TNF-α-induced excessive proliferation, motility, and inflammation via regulating HMGCR in MH7A cells.

Functional Significance of miR-4693-5p in Targeting HIF1α and Its Link to Rheumatoid Arthritis Pathogenesis

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic inflammatory autoimmune disease that causes joint inflammation and destruction with an unknown origin. Our study aims to elucidate the molecular mechanism behind HIF1α overexpression in RA. Dysregulated miRNA expressions are known to influence gene behavior, thereby enhancing cell proliferation, inflammation, and resistance to apoptosis, contributing to RA development. Our earlier finding indicated that exogenous miRNA similar to miR-4693-5p may modulate RA-related targets. However, the specific role of miR-4693-5p and its targets in RA remain unexplored. In this study, we found that miR-4693-5p was significantly reduced in PBMCs of RA patients, with evidence suggesting it targets the 3' UTR of HIF1α, thereby potentially contributing to its overexpression in RA. In vitro overexpression of miR-4693-5p leads to the knockdown of HIF1α, resulting in inhibited expression of Survivin to disrupt apoptosis resistance, inflammation suppression, and a reduction in the total cellular ROS response in SW982 and RAFLS cells. The results were validated using the CIA Rat model. In conclusion, this study provides a crucial foundation for understanding the functional role of miR-4693-5p. These findings improve our understanding and provide novel insights into the molecular mechanisms underlying RA pathogenesis.

Circ_0008410 contributes to fibroblast-like synoviocytes dysfunction by regulating miR-149-5p/HIPK2 axis

Circular RNAs (circRNAs) play functional roles in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) progression. Fibroblast-like synoviocytes (RASFs) are the main effectors in RA development. In this study, we explored the function and mechanism of circ_0008410 in RASFs. qRT-PCR was used to detect the expression of circ_0008410, microRNA-149-5p (miR-149-5p), and homeodomain-interacting protein kinase 2 (HIPK2). Cell counting kit-8, EdU assay, flow cytometry, and transwell assay were performed to evaluate cell proliferation, apoptosis, migration, and invasion. Western blot measured the protein levels of related markers and HIPK2. The levels of IL-1β, TNF-α, and IL-6 were tested by corresponding ELISA kits and Western blot. The combination between miR-149-5p and circ_0008410 or HIPK2 was detected by dual-luciferase reporter assay or RNA immunoprecipitation (RIP) assay. Our data showed that circ_0008410 and HIPK2 were elevated, while miR-149-5p was downregulated in RA synovial tissues and RASFs. Circ_0008410 promoted RASF proliferation, migration, invasion, and inflammation while inhibiting apoptosis. MiR-149-5p was a target of circ_0008410, and its overexpression could reverse the promoting effects of circ_0008410 on RASF dysfunction. Moreover, miR-149-5p could target HIPK2 to suppress RASF proliferation, migration, invasion, and inflammation. Collectively, circ_0008410 promoted RASF dysfunction via miR-149-5p/HIPK2, which might provide a potential target for RA therapy.

Role of Albumin as a Targeted Drug Carrier in the Management of Rheumatoid Arthritis: A Comprehensive Review

An endogenous transporter protein called albumin interacts with the Fc receptor to provide it with multiple substrate-binding domains, cell membrane receptor activation, and an extended circulating half-life. Albumin has the remarkable ability to bind with receptors viz. secreted protein acidic and rich in cysteine (SPARC) and scavenger protein-A (SR-A) that are overexpressed during rheumatoid arthritis (RA), enabling active targeting of the disease site instead of requiring specialized substrates to be added to the nanocarrier. RA, a chronic autoimmune illness, is characterized by the presence of a severe inflammatory response. RA patients have low serum albumin concentration, which signifies the high uptake of albumin at the inflammatory sites, giving a rationale to use albumin as a drug carrier for RA therapy. Albumin has the capacity for both passive and active targeting. It is an abundantly available protein in the bloodstream showing excellent cellular compatibility, degradability in biological tissues, nonantigenicity, and safety. There are three strategies of albumin mediated drug delivery as encapsulating therapeutics in albumin nanoparticles, chemically conjugating drugs with functional proteins, and albumin itself which is used as a targeting ligand to deliver drugs specifically to cells or tissues that express albumin-binding receptors. In the current review, an attempt has been made to highlight the significant evidence of albumin as a drug delivery carrier for the safe and effective management of RA. Evidence has been provided in the form of recent research advances, clinical trials, and patents. Additionally, this review will outline the prospective for the potential utilization of albumin as a drug vehicle for RA and suggest possible future avenues to provide the perspective for subsequent studies.

Involvement of intestinal flora and miRNA into the mechanism of coarse grains improving type 2 diabetes: an overview

The prevalence of type 2 diabetes has been growing at an increasing rate worldwide. Dietary therapy is probably the easiest and least expensive method to prevent and treat diabetes. Previous studies have reported that coarse grains have anti-diabetic effects. Although considerable efforts have been made on the anti-diabetic function of different grains, the mechanisms of coarse grains on type 2 diabetes have not been systematically compared and summarized so far. Intestinal flora, reported as the main 'organ' of action underlying coarse grains, is an important factor in the alleviation of type 2 diabetes by coarse grains. Furthermore, microRNA (miRNA), as a new disease marker and 'dark nutrient', plays a likely influential role in cross-border communication among coarse grains, intestinal flora, and hosts. Given this context, this article reviews several possible mechanisms for the role of coarse grains on diabetes, incorporating resistance to inflammation and oxidative stress, repair of insulin signaling and β-cell dysfunction, and highlights the regulation of intestinal flora disorders and miRNAs expression, along with some novel insights. © 2022 Society of Chemical Industry.

Role of miRNAs in Rheumatoid Arthritis Therapy

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic systemic inflammatory disease characterized by autoimmunity, synovial inflammation and joint destruction. Pannus formation in the synovial cavity can cause irreversible damage to the joint and cartilage and eventually permanent disability. Current conventional treatments for RA have limitations regarding efficacy, safety and cost. microRNA (miRNA) is a type of non-coding RNA (ncRNA) that regulates gene expression at the post-transcriptional level. The dysregulation of miRNA has been observed in RA patients and implicated in the pathogenesis of RA. miRNAs have emerged as potential biomarkers or therapeutic agents. In this review, we explore the role of miRNAs in various aspects of RA pathophysiology, including immune cell imbalance, the proliferation and invasion of fibroblast-like synovial (FLS) cell, the dysregulation of inflammatory signaling and disturbance in angiogenesis. We delve into the regulatory effects of miRNAs on Treg/Th17 and M1/M2 polarization, the activation of the NF-κB/NLRP3 signaling pathway, neovascular formation, energy metabolism induced by FLS-cell-induced energy metabolism, apoptosis, osteogenesis and mobility. These findings shed light on the potential applications of miRNAs as diagnostic or therapeutic biomarkers for RA management. Furthermore, there are some strategies to regulate miRNA expression levels by utilizing miRNA mimics or exosomes and to hinder miRNA activity via competitive endogenous RNA (ceRNA) network-based antagonists. We conclude that miRNAs offer a promising avenue for RA therapy with unlimited potential.

MicroRNAs and long non-coding RNAs in cartilage homeostasis and osteoarthritis

During the last decade, osteoarthritis (OA) has become one of the most prevalent musculoskeletal diseases worldwide. OA is characterized by progressive loss of articular cartilage, abnormal remodeling of subchondral bone, hyperplasia of synovial cells, and growth of osteophytes, which lead to chronic pain and disability. The pathological mechanisms underlying OA initiation and progression are still poorly understood. Non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) constitute a large portion of the transcriptome that do not encode proteins but function in numerous biological processes. Cumulating evidence has revealed a strong association between the changes in expression levels of ncRNA and the disease progression of OA. Moreover, loss- and gain-of-function studies utilizing transgenic animal models have demonstrated that ncRNAs exert vital functions in regulating cartilage homeostasis, degeneration, and regeneration, and changes in ncRNA expression can promote or decelerate the progression of OA through distinct molecular mechanisms. Recent studies highlighted the potential of ncRNAs to serve as diagnostic biomarkers, prognostic indicators, and therapeutic targets for OA. MiRNAs and lncRNAs are two major classes of ncRNAs that have been the most widely studied in cartilage tissues. In this review, we focused on miRNAs and lncRNAs and provided a comprehensive understanding of their functional roles as well as molecular mechanisms in cartilage homeostasis and OA pathogenesis.

Anti-inflammatory activity of Nicotine isolated from Brassica oleracea in Rheumatoid Arthritis

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an autoimmune disease, associated with chronic inflammation of synoviocytes. TNFα plays a crucial role in the pathogenesis of RA through pro-inflammatory cytokines. Nicotine, an alkaloid used as herbal medicine, often worked as an anti-inflammatory agent. In this study, we tried to uncover the anti-inflammatory impact of nicotine against RA. Nicotine was isolated from Brassica oleracea, purified by high profile liquid chromatography (HPLC). In-silico docking was carried out using bioinformatics tools SWISSADME, PASS, and DIGEP-Pred to determine drug likeliness of nicotine. The In-vitro study was performed in Tumor necrosis factor (TNFα) induced SW982 Synoviocytes by qPCR.  mRNA expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines (TNF, IL6, IL1β) and proteins (TRAF2, P50, P65) were analyzed followed by validation of P65 (RELA), pP65, IkBα by western blot analysis. Nicotine compound was extracted from Brassica oleracea and purified by HPLC method (Rt values at 2.67 min). The physicochemical, pharmacokinetic properties and drug-likeliness of nicotine was studied by in-silico analysis. In-vitro studies revealed that nicotine lowers the expression of inflammatory cytokines (TNF, IL6, IL1β) and proteins (TRAF2, P50, P65) at 1 µg/ml in TNFα induced SW982 cells.Nicotine from natural sources (Brassica oleracea) has been found to be an effective anti- inflammatory compound at a low dosage. Thus identified the role of nicotine present in the natural sources as a therapeutic option for RA, may be recommended as remedial drug instead of synthetic drug.

Stress-induced miRNAs isolated from wheat have a unique therapeutic potential in ultraviolet-stressed human keratinocyte cells

Increasing evidence supports the existence of cross-kingdom gene regulation. However, the therapeutic potential of stress-specific plant miRNAs and their role in UV-related pathologies in human tissue remain largely unexplored. The aim of this study was to investigate the therapeutic potential and mechanisms of action of stress-induced miRNA cocktails (SI-WmiRs) from Einkorn wheat (Triticum monococcum L.) on human keratinocyte (HaCaT) cells exposed to a high dose of UV-B radiation. We used a biofactory approach and irradiated wheatgrass with UV-C for 240 min to obtain the specific SI-WmiRs that wheat produces to recover from UV stress. We followed the plant with molecular and biochemical analyses and extracted our SI-WmiRs at the most appropriate time (0 h and 6 h after UV-C application). Then, we applied the SI-WmiR cocktail to HaCaT cells exposed to high-dose of UV-B radiation. Our results show that UV-B radiation induced lipid peroxidation and DNA damage, as demonstrated by increased malondialdehyde (MDA) levels and changes in the RAPD band profile, respectively. UV stress also impaired IL6/JAK2/STAT3 signalling and activated the inflammatory mediators IL6 and TNF-α in HaCaT cells, leading to significant induction of apoptotic cell death. We found that SI-WmiR transfection prevents lipid peroxidation and oxidative stress-related DNA damage by increasing antioxidant (CuZn-SOD, Mn-SOD) and DNA repair (EXO1, SMUG1 and XRCC3) gene expression. In addition, SI-WmiRs regulated IL6/JAK2/STAT3 signalling by reducing JAK2 and STAT3 gene expression and phosphorylated protein levels compared to the control treatments. Moreover, SI-WmiRs inhibited pro-apoptotic BAX, Caspase 3 and Caspase 8 gene expression and protein levels to prevent apoptosis of UV-stressed HaCaT cells. Our results demonstrate that stress-induced wheat miRNAs produced using a biofactory approach have strong potential as a novel and effective alternative therapy for UV stress-related skin damage.

miRNAs as Biomarkers and Possible Therapeutic Strategies in Rheumatoid Arthritis

Within the past years, more and more attention has been devoted to the epigenetic dysregulation that provides an additional window for understanding the possible mechanisms involved in the pathogenesis of autoimmune rheumatic diseases. Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a heterogeneous disease where a specific immunologic and genetic/epigenetic background is responsible for disease manifestations and course. In this field, microRNAs (miRNA; miR) are being identified as key regulators of immune cell development and function. The identification of disease-associated miRNAs will introduce us to the post-genomic era, providing the real probability of manipulating the genetic impact of autoimmune diseases. Thereby, different miRNAs may be good candidates for biomarkers in disease diagnosis, prognosis, treatment and other clinical applications. Here, we outline not only the role of miRNAs in immune and inflammatory responses in RA, but also present miRNAs as diagnostic/prognostic biomarkers. Research into miRNAs is still in its infancy; however, investigation into these novel biomarkers could progress the use of personalized medicine in RA treatment. Finally, we discussed the possibility of miRNA-based therapy in RA patients, which holds promise, given major advances in the therapy of patients with inflammatory arthritis.