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Franco D, Sánchez-Fernández C, García-Padilla C, Lozano-Velasco E. Exploring the role non-coding RNAs during myocardial cell fate. Biochem Soc Trans 2024; 52:1339-1348. [PMID: 38775188 DOI: 10.1042/bst20231216] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2024] [Revised: 05/02/2024] [Accepted: 05/07/2024] [Indexed: 06/27/2024]
Abstract
Myocardial cell fate specification takes place during the early stages of heart development as the precardiac mesoderm is configured into two symmetrical sets of bilateral precursor cells. Molecular cues of the surrounding tissues specify and subsequently determine the early cardiomyocytes, that finally matured as the heart is completed at early postnatal stages. Over the last decade, we have greatly enhanced our understanding of the transcriptional regulation of cardiac development and thus of myocardial cell fate. The recent discovery of a novel layer of gene regulation by non-coding RNAs has flourished their implication in epigenetic, transcriptional and post-transcriptional regulation of cardiac development. In this review, we revised the current state-of-the-art knowledge on the functional role of non-coding RNAs during myocardial cell fate.
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Affiliation(s)
- Diego Franco
- Cardiovascular Development Group, Department of Experimental Biology, University of Jaen, Jaen 23071, Spain
- Fundación Medina, Granada, Spain
| | - Cristina Sánchez-Fernández
- Cardiovascular Development Group, Department of Experimental Biology, University of Jaen, Jaen 23071, Spain
- Fundación Medina, Granada, Spain
| | - Carlos García-Padilla
- Cardiovascular Development Group, Department of Experimental Biology, University of Jaen, Jaen 23071, Spain
- Fundación Medina, Granada, Spain
| | - Estefania Lozano-Velasco
- Cardiovascular Development Group, Department of Experimental Biology, University of Jaen, Jaen 23071, Spain
- Fundación Medina, Granada, Spain
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2
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Aranega AE, Franco D. Posttranscriptional Regulation by Proteins and Noncoding RNAs. ADVANCES IN EXPERIMENTAL MEDICINE AND BIOLOGY 2024; 1441:313-339. [PMID: 38884719 DOI: 10.1007/978-3-031-44087-8_17] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/18/2024]
Abstract
Posttranscriptional regulation comprises those mechanisms occurring after the initial copy of the DNA sequence is transcribed into an intermediate RNA molecule (i.e., messenger RNA) until such a molecule is used as a template to generate a protein. A subset of these posttranscriptional regulatory mechanisms essentially are destined to process the immature mRNA toward its mature form, conferring the adequate mRNA stability, providing the means for pertinent introns excision, and controlling mRNA turnover rate and quality control check. An additional layer of complexity is added in certain cases, since discrete nucleotide modifications in the mature RNA molecule are added by RNA editing, a process that provides large mature mRNA diversity. Moreover, a number of posttranscriptional regulatory mechanisms occur in a cell- and tissue-specific manner, such as alternative splicing and noncoding RNA-mediated regulation. In this chapter, we will briefly summarize current state-of-the-art knowledge of general posttranscriptional mechanisms, while major emphases will be devoted to those tissue-specific posttranscriptional modifications that impact on cardiac development and congenital heart disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amelia E Aranega
- Cardiovascular Research Group, Department of Experimental Biology, University of Jaén, Jaén, Spain
| | - Diego Franco
- Cardiovascular Research Group, Department of Experimental Biology, University of Jaén, Jaén, Spain.
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3
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Wang L, Wang H, Luo Y, Wu W, Gui Y, Zhao J, Xiong R, Li X, Yuan D, Yuan C. Role of LncRNA MIAT in Diabetic Complications. Curr Med Chem 2024; 31:1716-1725. [PMID: 37711129 DOI: 10.2174/0929867331666230914091944] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/26/2023] [Revised: 06/21/2023] [Accepted: 07/25/2023] [Indexed: 09/16/2023]
Abstract
Long non-coding RNA (LncRNA) refers to a large class of RNAs with over 200 nucleotides that do not have the function of encoding proteins. In recent years, more and more literature has revealed that lncRNA is involved in manipulating genes related to human health and disease, playing outstanding biological functions, which has attracted widespread attention from researchers. The newly discovered long-stranded non-coding RNA myocardial infarction-related transcript (LncRNA MIAT) is abnormally expressed in a variety of diseases, especially in diabetic complications, and has been proven to have a wide range of effects. This review article aimed to summarize the importance of LncRNA MIAT in diabetic complications, such as diabetic cardiomyopathy, diabetic nephropathy, and diabetic retinopathy, and highlight the latest findings on the pathway and mechanism of its participation in regulating diabetic complications, which may aid in finding new intervention targets for the treatment of diabetic complications. LncRNA MIAT competitively binds microRNAs to regulate gene expression as competitive endogenous RNAs. Thus, this review article has reviewed the biological function and pathogenesis of LncRNA MIAT in diabetic complications and described its role in diabetic complications. This paper will help in finding new therapeutic targets and intervention strategies for diabetes complications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lijun Wang
- Third-grade Pharmacological Laboratory on Traditional Chinese Medicine, State Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine, China Three Gorges University, Yichang, 443002, China
- College of Basic Medical Science, China Three Gorges University, Yichang, 443002, China
| | - Hailin Wang
- Third-grade Pharmacological Laboratory on Traditional Chinese Medicine, State Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine, China Three Gorges University, Yichang, 443002, China
- College of Medicine and Health Science, China Three Gorges University, Yichang, 443002, China
| | - Yiyang Luo
- Third-grade Pharmacological Laboratory on Traditional Chinese Medicine, State Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine, China Three Gorges University, Yichang, 443002, China
- College of Medicine and Health Science, China Three Gorges University, Yichang, 443002, China
| | - Wei Wu
- Third-grade Pharmacological Laboratory on Traditional Chinese Medicine, State Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine, China Three Gorges University, Yichang, 443002, China
- College of Medicine and Health Science, China Three Gorges University, Yichang, 443002, China
| | - Yibei Gui
- Third-grade Pharmacological Laboratory on Traditional Chinese Medicine, State Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine, China Three Gorges University, Yichang, 443002, China
- College of Basic Medical Science, China Three Gorges University, Yichang, 443002, China
| | - Jiale Zhao
- Third-grade Pharmacological Laboratory on Traditional Chinese Medicine, State Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine, China Three Gorges University, Yichang, 443002, China
- College of Medicine and Health Science, China Three Gorges University, Yichang, 443002, China
| | - Ruisi Xiong
- Third-grade Pharmacological Laboratory on Traditional Chinese Medicine, State Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine, China Three Gorges University, Yichang, 443002, China
- College of Basic Medical Science, China Three Gorges University, Yichang, 443002, China
| | - Xueqin Li
- Third-grade Pharmacological Laboratory on Traditional Chinese Medicine, State Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine, China Three Gorges University, Yichang, 443002, China
- College of Medicine and Health Science, China Three Gorges University, Yichang, 443002, China
| | - Ding Yuan
- College of Medicine and Health Science, China Three Gorges University, Yichang, 443002, China
| | - Chengfu Yuan
- Third-grade Pharmacological Laboratory on Traditional Chinese Medicine, State Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine, China Three Gorges University, Yichang, 443002, China
- College of Basic Medical Science, China Three Gorges University, Yichang, 443002, China
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4
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Szafranski P, Stankiewicz P. A Small De Novo CNV Deletion of the Paternal Copy of FOXF1, Leaving lncRNA FENDRR Intact, Provides Insight into Their Bidirectional Promoter Region. Noncoding RNA 2023; 9:61. [PMID: 37888207 PMCID: PMC10609350 DOI: 10.3390/ncrna9050061] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/28/2023] [Revised: 10/03/2023] [Accepted: 10/06/2023] [Indexed: 10/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Pathogenic single-nucleotide variants (SNVs) and copy-number variant (CNV) deletions involving the FOXF1 transcription factor gene or CNV deletions of its distant lung-specific enhancer are responsible for alveolar capillary dysplasia with misalignment of pulmonary veins (ACDMPV), a rarely diagnosed lethal lung developmental disorder in neonates. In contrast to SNVs within FOXF1 and CNV deletions involving only the FOXF1 enhancer, larger-sized deletions involving FOXF1 and the adjacent, oppositely oriented lncRNA gene FENDRR have additionally been associated with hypoplastic left heart syndrome and single umbilical artery (SUA). Here, in an ACDMPV infant without any congenital heart defect or SUA, we identified a small 5 kb CNV deletion that removed the paternal allele of FOXF1 and its promoter, leaving FENDRR and its promoter intact. Reporter assay in the IMR-90 fetal cell line implied that the deletion may indeed not have significantly affected FENDRR expression. It also showed a polarization of the FOXF1-FENDRR inter-promoter region consisting of its ability to increase the transcription of FENDRR but not FOXF1. Interestingly, this transcription-stimulating activity was suppressed in the presence of the FOXF1 promoter. Our data shed more light on the interactions between neighboring promoters of FOXF1-FENDRR and possibly other divergently transcribed mRNA-lncRNA gene pairs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Przemyslaw Szafranski
- Department of Molecular & Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Paweł Stankiewicz
- Department of Molecular & Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
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5
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Chang S, Fulmer D, Hur SK, Thorvaldsen JL, Li L, Lan Y, Rhon-Calderon EA, Leu NA, Chen X, Epstein JA, Bartolomei MS. Dysregulated H19/Igf2 expression disrupts cardiac-placental axis during development of Silver-Russell syndrome-like mouse models. eLife 2022; 11:e78754. [PMID: 36441651 PMCID: PMC9704805 DOI: 10.7554/elife.78754] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/18/2022] [Accepted: 11/15/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Dysregulation of the imprinted H19/IGF2 locus can lead to Silver-Russell syndrome (SRS) in humans. However, the mechanism of how abnormal H19/IGF2 expression contributes to various SRS phenotypes remains unclear, largely due to incomplete understanding of the developmental functions of these two genes. We previously generated a mouse model with humanized H19/IGF2 imprinting control region (hIC1) on the paternal allele that exhibited H19/Igf2 dysregulation together with SRS-like growth restriction and perinatal lethality. Here, we dissect the role of H19 and Igf2 in cardiac and placental development utilizing multiple mouse models with varying levels of H19 and Igf2. We report severe cardiac defects such as ventricular septal defects and thinned myocardium, placental anomalies including thrombosis and vascular malformations, together with growth restriction in mouse embryos that correlated with the extent of H19/Igf2 dysregulation. Transcriptomic analysis using cardiac endothelial cells of these mouse models shows that H19/Igf2 dysregulation disrupts pathways related to extracellular matrix and proliferation of endothelial cells. Our work links the heart and placenta through regulation by H19 and Igf2, demonstrating that accurate dosage of both H19 and Igf2 is critical for normal embryonic development, especially related to the cardiac-placental axis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Suhee Chang
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, Epigenetics Institute, Perelman School of Medicine, University of PennsylvaniaPhiladelphiaUnited States
| | - Diana Fulmer
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, Epigenetics Institute, Perelman School of Medicine, University of PennsylvaniaPhiladelphiaUnited States
- Penn Cardiovascular Institute, Perelman School of Medicine, University of PennsylvaniaPhiladelphiaUnited States
| | - Stella K Hur
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, Epigenetics Institute, Perelman School of Medicine, University of PennsylvaniaPhiladelphiaUnited States
| | - Joanne L Thorvaldsen
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, Epigenetics Institute, Perelman School of Medicine, University of PennsylvaniaPhiladelphiaUnited States
| | - Li Li
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, Epigenetics Institute, Perelman School of Medicine, University of PennsylvaniaPhiladelphiaUnited States
- Penn Cardiovascular Institute, Perelman School of Medicine, University of PennsylvaniaPhiladelphiaUnited States
| | - Yemin Lan
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, Epigenetics Institute, Perelman School of Medicine, University of PennsylvaniaPhiladelphiaUnited States
| | - Eric A Rhon-Calderon
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, Epigenetics Institute, Perelman School of Medicine, University of PennsylvaniaPhiladelphiaUnited States
| | - Nicolae Adrian Leu
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, Institute for Regenerative Medicine, University of PennsylvaniaPhiladelphiaUnited States
| | - Xiaowen Chen
- Penn Cardiovascular Institute, Perelman School of Medicine, University of PennsylvaniaPhiladelphiaUnited States
| | - Jonathan A Epstein
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, Epigenetics Institute, Perelman School of Medicine, University of PennsylvaniaPhiladelphiaUnited States
- Penn Cardiovascular Institute, Perelman School of Medicine, University of PennsylvaniaPhiladelphiaUnited States
| | - Marisa S Bartolomei
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, Epigenetics Institute, Perelman School of Medicine, University of PennsylvaniaPhiladelphiaUnited States
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6
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LncRNA H19 Impairs Chemo and Radiotherapy in Tumorigenesis. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms23158309. [PMID: 35955440 PMCID: PMC9368906 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23158309] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2022] [Revised: 07/22/2022] [Accepted: 07/25/2022] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Various treatments based on drug administration and radiotherapy have been devoted to preventing, palliating, and defeating cancer, showing high efficiency against the progression of this disease. Recently, in this process, malignant cells have been found which are capable of triggering specific molecular mechanisms against current treatments, with negative consequences in the prognosis of the disease. It is therefore fundamental to understand the underlying mechanisms, including the genes—and their signaling pathway regulators—involved in the process, in order to fight tumor cells. Long non-coding RNAs, H19 in particular, have been revealed as powerful protective factors in various types of cancer. However, they have also evidenced their oncogenic role in multiple carcinomas, enhancing tumor cell proliferation, migration, and invasion. In this review, we analyze the role of lncRNA H19 impairing chemo and radiotherapy in tumorigenesis, including breast cancer, lung adenocarcinoma, glioma, and colorectal carcinoma.
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Inhibition of RhoA and Cdc42 by miR-133a Modulates Retinoic Acid Signalling during Early Development of Posterior Cardiac Tube Segment. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms23084179. [PMID: 35456995 PMCID: PMC9025022 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23084179] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/12/2022] [Revised: 04/06/2022] [Accepted: 04/07/2022] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
It is well known that multiple microRNAs play crucial roles in cardiovascular development, including miR-133a. Additionally, retinoic acid regulates atrial marker expression. In order to analyse the role of miR-133a as a modulator of retinoic acid signalling during the posterior segment of heart tube formation, we performed functional experiments with miR-133a and retinoic acid by means of microinjections into the posterior cardiac precursors of both primitive endocardial tubes in chick embryos. Subsequently, we subjected embryos to whole mount in situ hybridisation, immunohistochemistry and qPCR analysis. Our results demonstrate that miR-133a represses RhoA and Cdc42, as well as Raldh2/Aldh1a2, and the specific atrial markers Tbx5 and AMHC1, which play a key role during differentiation. Furthermore, we observed that miR-133a upregulates p21 and downregulates cyclin A by repressing RhoA and Cdc42, respectively, thus functioning as a cell proliferation inhibitor. Additionally, retinoic acid represses miR-133a, while it increases Raldh2, Tbx5 and AMHC1. Given that RhoA and Cdc42 are involved in Raldh2 expression and that they are modulated by miR-133a, which is influenced by retinoic acid signalling, our results suggest the presence of a negative feedback mechanism between miR-133a and retinoic acid during early development of the posterior cardiac tube segment. Despite additional unexplored factors being possible contributors to this negative feedback mechanism, miR-133a might also be considered as a potential therapeutic tool for the diagnosis, therapy and prognosis of cardiac diseases.
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Lozano-Velasco E, Garcia-Padilla C, del Mar Muñoz-Gallardo M, Martinez-Amaro FJ, Caño-Carrillo S, Castillo-Casas JM, Sanchez-Fernandez C, Aranega AE, Franco D. Post-Transcriptional Regulation of Molecular Determinants during Cardiogenesis. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms23052839. [PMID: 35269981 PMCID: PMC8911333 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23052839] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2022] [Revised: 02/19/2022] [Accepted: 02/26/2022] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Cardiovascular development is initiated soon after gastrulation as bilateral precardiac mesoderm is progressively symmetrically determined at both sides of the developing embryo. The precardiac mesoderm subsequently fused at the embryonic midline constituting an embryonic linear heart tube. As development progress, the embryonic heart displays the first sign of left-right asymmetric morphology by the invariably rightward looping of the initial heart tube and prospective embryonic ventricular and atrial chambers emerged. As cardiac development progresses, the atrial and ventricular chambers enlarged and distinct left and right compartments emerge as consequence of the formation of the interatrial and interventricular septa, respectively. The last steps of cardiac morphogenesis are represented by the completion of atrial and ventricular septation, resulting in the configuration of a double circuitry with distinct systemic and pulmonary chambers, each of them with distinct inlets and outlets connections. Over the last decade, our understanding of the contribution of multiple growth factor signaling cascades such as Tgf-beta, Bmp and Wnt signaling as well as of transcriptional regulators to cardiac morphogenesis have greatly enlarged. Recently, a novel layer of complexity has emerged with the discovery of non-coding RNAs, particularly microRNAs and lncRNAs. Herein, we provide a state-of-the-art review of the contribution of non-coding RNAs during cardiac development. microRNAs and lncRNAs have been reported to functional modulate all stages of cardiac morphogenesis, spanning from lateral plate mesoderm formation to outflow tract septation, by modulating major growth factor signaling pathways as well as those transcriptional regulators involved in cardiac development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Estefania Lozano-Velasco
- Cardiovascular Development Group, Department of Experimental Biology, University of Jaen, 23071 Jaen, Spain; (E.L.-V.); (C.G.-P.); (M.d.M.M.-G.); (F.J.M.-A.); (S.C.-C.); (J.M.C.-C.); (C.S.-F.); (A.E.A.)
- Fundación Medina, 18007 Granada, Spain
| | - Carlos Garcia-Padilla
- Cardiovascular Development Group, Department of Experimental Biology, University of Jaen, 23071 Jaen, Spain; (E.L.-V.); (C.G.-P.); (M.d.M.M.-G.); (F.J.M.-A.); (S.C.-C.); (J.M.C.-C.); (C.S.-F.); (A.E.A.)
- Department of Anatomy, Embryology and Zoology, School of Medicine, University of Extremadura, 06006 Badajoz, Spain
| | - Maria del Mar Muñoz-Gallardo
- Cardiovascular Development Group, Department of Experimental Biology, University of Jaen, 23071 Jaen, Spain; (E.L.-V.); (C.G.-P.); (M.d.M.M.-G.); (F.J.M.-A.); (S.C.-C.); (J.M.C.-C.); (C.S.-F.); (A.E.A.)
| | - Francisco Jose Martinez-Amaro
- Cardiovascular Development Group, Department of Experimental Biology, University of Jaen, 23071 Jaen, Spain; (E.L.-V.); (C.G.-P.); (M.d.M.M.-G.); (F.J.M.-A.); (S.C.-C.); (J.M.C.-C.); (C.S.-F.); (A.E.A.)
| | - Sheila Caño-Carrillo
- Cardiovascular Development Group, Department of Experimental Biology, University of Jaen, 23071 Jaen, Spain; (E.L.-V.); (C.G.-P.); (M.d.M.M.-G.); (F.J.M.-A.); (S.C.-C.); (J.M.C.-C.); (C.S.-F.); (A.E.A.)
| | - Juan Manuel Castillo-Casas
- Cardiovascular Development Group, Department of Experimental Biology, University of Jaen, 23071 Jaen, Spain; (E.L.-V.); (C.G.-P.); (M.d.M.M.-G.); (F.J.M.-A.); (S.C.-C.); (J.M.C.-C.); (C.S.-F.); (A.E.A.)
| | - Cristina Sanchez-Fernandez
- Cardiovascular Development Group, Department of Experimental Biology, University of Jaen, 23071 Jaen, Spain; (E.L.-V.); (C.G.-P.); (M.d.M.M.-G.); (F.J.M.-A.); (S.C.-C.); (J.M.C.-C.); (C.S.-F.); (A.E.A.)
- Fundación Medina, 18007 Granada, Spain
| | - Amelia E. Aranega
- Cardiovascular Development Group, Department of Experimental Biology, University of Jaen, 23071 Jaen, Spain; (E.L.-V.); (C.G.-P.); (M.d.M.M.-G.); (F.J.M.-A.); (S.C.-C.); (J.M.C.-C.); (C.S.-F.); (A.E.A.)
- Fundación Medina, 18007 Granada, Spain
| | - Diego Franco
- Cardiovascular Development Group, Department of Experimental Biology, University of Jaen, 23071 Jaen, Spain; (E.L.-V.); (C.G.-P.); (M.d.M.M.-G.); (F.J.M.-A.); (S.C.-C.); (J.M.C.-C.); (C.S.-F.); (A.E.A.)
- Fundación Medina, 18007 Granada, Spain
- Correspondence:
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García-Padilla C, Domínguez JN, Lodde V, Munk R, Abdelmohsen K, Gorospe M, Jiménez-Sábado V, Ginel A, Hove-Madsen L, Aránega AE, Franco D. Identification of atrial-enriched lncRNA Walras linked to cardiomyocyte cytoarchitecture and atrial fibrillation. FASEB J 2022; 36:e22051. [PMID: 34861058 PMCID: PMC8684585 DOI: 10.1096/fj.202100844rr] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/25/2021] [Revised: 11/04/2021] [Accepted: 11/05/2021] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
Abstract
Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most prevalent cardiac arrhythmia in humans. Genetic and genomic analyses have recently demonstrated that the homeobox transcription factor Pitx2 plays a fundamental role regulating expression of distinct growth factors, microRNAs and ion channels leading to morphological and molecular alterations that promote the onset of AF. Here we address the plausible contribution of long non-coding (lnc)RNAs within the Pitx2>Wnt>miRNA signaling pathway. In silico analyses of annotated lncRNAs in the vicinity of the Pitx2, Wnt8 and Wnt11 chromosomal loci identified five novel lncRNAs with differential expression during cardiac development. Importantly, three of them, Walaa, Walras, and Wallrd, are evolutionarily conserved in humans and displayed preferential atrial expression during embryogenesis. In addition, Walrad displayed moderate expression during embryogenesis but was more abundant in the right atrium. Walaa, Walras and Wallrd were distinctly regulated by Pitx2, Wnt8, and Wnt11, and Wallrd was severely elevated in conditional atrium-specific Pitx2-deficient mice. Furthermore, pro-arrhythmogenic and pro-hypertrophic substrate administration to primary cardiomyocyte cell cultures consistently modulate expression of these lncRNAs, supporting distinct modulatory roles of the AF cardiovascular risk factors in the regulation of these lncRNAs. Walras affinity pulldown assays revealed its association with distinct cytoplasmic and nuclear proteins previously involved in cardiac pathophysiology, while loss-of-function assays further support a pivotal role of this lncRNA in cytoskeletal organization. We propose that lncRNAs Walaa, Walras and Wallrd, distinctly regulated by Pitx2>Wnt>miRNA signaling and pro-arrhythmogenic and pro-hypertrophic factors, are implicated in atrial arrhythmogenesis, and Walras additionally in cardiomyocyte cytoarchitecture.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carlos García-Padilla
- Cardiovascular Development Group, Department of Experimental Biology, University of Jaen, Jaen, Spain
| | - Jorge N. Domínguez
- Cardiovascular Development Group, Department of Experimental Biology, University of Jaen, Jaen, Spain
| | - Valeria Lodde
- Laboratory of Genetics and Genomics, National Institute on Aging IRP, National Institutes of Health, Baltimore, Maryland, USA,Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Sassari, Sassari, Italy
| | - Rachel Munk
- Laboratory of Genetics and Genomics, National Institute on Aging IRP, National Institutes of Health, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Kotb Abdelmohsen
- Laboratory of Genetics and Genomics, National Institute on Aging IRP, National Institutes of Health, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Myriam Gorospe
- Laboratory of Genetics and Genomics, National Institute on Aging IRP, National Institutes of Health, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | | | - Antonino Ginel
- Department Cardiac Surgery, Hospital de Sant Pau, Barcelona, Spain,Biomedical Research Institute IIB Sant Pau, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Leif Hove-Madsen
- CIBERCV, Barcelona, Spain,Biomedical Research Institute IIB Sant Pau, Barcelona, Spain,Biomedical Research Institute Barcelona (IIBB-CSIC), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Amelia E. Aránega
- Cardiovascular Development Group, Department of Experimental Biology, University of Jaen, Jaen, Spain
| | - Diego Franco
- Cardiovascular Development Group, Department of Experimental Biology, University of Jaen, Jaen, Spain
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10
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Yang C, Zhang Y, Yang B. MIAT, a potent CVD-promoting lncRNA. Cell Mol Life Sci 2021; 79:43. [PMID: 34921634 PMCID: PMC11072732 DOI: 10.1007/s00018-021-04046-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/19/2021] [Revised: 10/30/2021] [Accepted: 11/17/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
The initial identification of long non-coding RNA myocardial infarction associated transcript (MIAT) as a genetic risk factor of myocardial infarction has made this lncRNA (designated as lncR-MIAT here) a focus of intensive studies worldwide. Emerging evidence supports that lncR-MIAT is susceptible in its expression to multiple deleterious factors like angiotensin II, isoproterenol, hypoxia, and infection and is anomaly overexpressed in serum, plasma, blood cells and myocardial tissues under a variety of cardiovascular conditions including myocardial infarction, cardiac hypertrophy, diabetic cardiomyopathy, dilated cardiomyopathy, sepsis cardiomyopathy, atrial fibrillation and microvascular dysfunction. Experimental results consistently demonstrated that upregulation of lncR-MIAT plays active roles in the pathological processes of the cardiovascular system and knockdown of this lncRNA effectively ameliorates the adverse conditions. The available data revealed that lncR-MIAT acts through multiple mechanisms such as competitive endogenous RNA, natural antisense RNA and RNA/protein interactions. Moreover, the functional domains of lncR-MIAT accounting for certain specific cellular functions of the full-length transcript have been identified and characterized. These insights will not only tremendously advance our understanding of lncRNA biology and pathophysiology, but also offer good opportunities for more innovative and precise design of agents that have the potential to be developed into new drugs for better therapy of cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) in the future. Herein, we provide an overview of lncR-MIAT, focusing on its roles in cardiovascular diseases, underline the unique cellular/molecular mechanisms for its actions, and speculate the perspectives about the translational studies on the potential diagnostic and therapeutic applications of lncR-MIAT.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chao Yang
- Department of Pharmacology (The State-Province Key Laboratories of Biomedicine Pharmaceutics of China, Key Laboratory of Cardiovascular Research, Ministry of Education), College of Pharmacy, Harbin Medical University, 157 Baojian Road, Nangang District, Harbin, Heilongjiang, 150081, People's Republic of China
- Department of Biochemistry, Qiqihar Medical University, Qiqihar, 161000, Heilongjiang, People's Republic of China
| | - Yong Zhang
- Department of Pharmacology (The State-Province Key Laboratories of Biomedicine Pharmaceutics of China, Key Laboratory of Cardiovascular Research, Ministry of Education), College of Pharmacy, Harbin Medical University, 157 Baojian Road, Nangang District, Harbin, Heilongjiang, 150081, People's Republic of China
- Institute of Metabolic Disease, Heilongjiang Academy of Medical Science, Harbin, 150086, People's Republic of China
| | - Baofeng Yang
- Department of Pharmacology (The State-Province Key Laboratories of Biomedicine Pharmaceutics of China, Key Laboratory of Cardiovascular Research, Ministry of Education), College of Pharmacy, Harbin Medical University, 157 Baojian Road, Nangang District, Harbin, Heilongjiang, 150081, People's Republic of China.
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Wang Y, Sun X, Sun X. The Functions of LncRNA H19 in the Heart. Heart Lung Circ 2021; 31:341-349. [PMID: 34840062 DOI: 10.1016/j.hlc.2021.10.022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/17/2021] [Revised: 10/20/2021] [Accepted: 10/27/2021] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
Abstract
Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are major causes of morbidity and mortality worldwide. Great effort has been put into exploring early diagnostic biomarkers and innovative therapeutic strategies for preventing CVD progression over the last two decades. Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) have been identified as novel regulators in cardiac development and cardiac pathogenesis. For example, lncRNA H19 (H19), also known as a fetal gene abundant in adult heart and skeletal muscles and evolutionarily conserved in humans and mice, has a regulatory role in aortic aneurysm, myocardial hypertrophy, extracellular matrix reconstitution, and coronary artery diseases. Yet, the exact function of H19 in the heart remains unknown. This review summarises the functions of H19 in the heart and discusses the challenges and possible strategies of H19 research for cardiovascular disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yao Wang
- Shandong Institute of Endocrine and Metabolic Diseases, Shandong First Medical University & Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences, Jinan, China
| | - Xiaojing Sun
- Department of Geriatrics, Shandong Provincial Hospital Affiliated to Shandong First Medical University, Jinan, China
| | - Xianglan Sun
- Department of Geriatrics, Department of Geriatric Endocrinology, Shandong Provincial Hospital Affiliated to Shandong First Medical University, Jinan, China.
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12
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The Key Lnc (RNA)s in Cardiac and Skeletal Muscle Development, Regeneration, and Disease. J Cardiovasc Dev Dis 2021; 8:jcdd8080084. [PMID: 34436226 PMCID: PMC8397000 DOI: 10.3390/jcdd8080084] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/03/2021] [Revised: 06/29/2021] [Accepted: 07/15/2021] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) play a key role in the regulation of transcriptional and epigenetic activity in mammalian cells. Comprehensive analysis of these ncRNAs has revealed sophisticated gene regulatory mechanisms which finely tune the proper gene output required for cellular homeostasis, proliferation, and differentiation. However, this elaborate circuitry has also made it vulnerable to perturbations that often result in disease. Among the many types of ncRNAs, long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) appear to have the most diverse mechanisms of action including competitive binding to miRNA targets, direct binding to mRNA, interactions with transcription factors, and facilitation of epigenetic modifications. Moreover, many lncRNAs display tissue-specific expression patterns suggesting an important regulatory role in organogenesis, yet the molecular mechanisms through which these molecules regulate cardiac and skeletal muscle development remains surprisingly limited. Given the structural and metabolic similarities of cardiac and skeletal muscle, it is likely that several lncRNAs expressed in both of these tissues have conserved functions in establishing the striated muscle phenotype. As many aspects of regeneration recapitulate development, understanding the role lncRNAs play in these processes may provide novel insights to improve regenerative therapeutic interventions in cardiac and skeletal muscle diseases. This review highlights key lncRNAs that function as regulators of development, regeneration, and disease in cardiac and skeletal muscle. Finally, we highlight lncRNAs encoded by imprinted genes in striated muscle and the contributions of these loci on the regulation of gene expression.
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Non-Coding RNAs in the Cardiac Action Potential and Their Impact on Arrhythmogenic Cardiac Diseases. HEARTS 2021. [DOI: 10.3390/hearts2030026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Cardiac arrhythmias are prevalent among humans across all age ranges, affecting millions of people worldwide. While cardiac arrhythmias vary widely in their clinical presentation, they possess shared complex electrophysiologic properties at cellular level that have not been fully studied. Over the last decade, our current understanding of the functional roles of non-coding RNAs have progressively increased. microRNAs represent the most studied type of small ncRNAs and it has been demonstrated that miRNAs play essential roles in multiple biological contexts, including normal development and diseases. In this review, we provide a comprehensive analysis of the functional contribution of non-coding RNAs, primarily microRNAs, to the normal configuration of the cardiac action potential, as well as their association to distinct types of arrhythmogenic cardiac diseases.
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Long non-coding RNA GAS5 aggravates myocardial depression in mice with sepsis via the microRNA-449b/HMGB1 axis and the NF-κB signaling pathway. Biosci Rep 2021; 41:227999. [PMID: 33645622 PMCID: PMC8035624 DOI: 10.1042/bsr20201738] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/28/2020] [Revised: 12/30/2020] [Accepted: 01/06/2021] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Sepsis is a common cause of deaths of patients in intensive care unit. The study aims to figure out the role of long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) GAS5 in the myocardial depression in mice with sepsis. Cecal ligation and puncture (CLP) was applied to induce sepsis in mice, and then the heart function, myocardium structure, and the inflammatory response were evaluated. Differentially expressed lncRNAs in mice with sepsis were identified. Then gain- and loss-of-functions of GAS5 were performed in mice to evaluate its role in mouse myocardial depression. The lncRNA-associated microRNA (miRNA)-mRNA network was figured out via an integrative prediction and detection. Myocardial injury was observed by overexpression of high-mobility group box 1 (HMGB1) in septic mice with knockdown of GAS5 expression. Activity of NF-κB signaling was evaluated, and NF-κB inhibition was induced in mice with sepsis and overexpression of GAS5. Collectively, CLP resulted in myocardial depression and injury, and increased inflammation in mice. GAS5 was highly expressed in septic mice. GAS5 inhibition reduced myocardial depression, myocardial injury and inflammation responses in septic mice. GAS5 was identified to bind with miR-449b and to elevate HMGB1 expression, thus activating the NF-κB signaling. HMGB1 overexpression or NF-κB inactivation reduced the GAS5-induced myocardial depression and inflammation in septic mice. Our study suggested that GAS5 might promote sepsis-induced myocardial depression via the miR-449b/HMGB1 axis and the following NF-κB activation.
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García-Padilla C, Lozano-Velasco E, López-Sánchez C, Garcia-Martínez V, Aranega A, Franco D. Non-Coding RNAs in Retinoic Acid as Differentiation and Disease Drivers. Noncoding RNA 2021; 7:ncrna7010013. [PMID: 33671241 PMCID: PMC8005990 DOI: 10.3390/ncrna7010013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/21/2021] [Revised: 02/14/2021] [Accepted: 02/15/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
All-trans retinoic acid (RA) is the most active metabolite of vitamin A. Several studies have described a pivotal role for RA signalling in different biological processes such as cell growth and differentiation, embryonic development and organogenesis. Since RA signalling is highly dose-dependent, a fine-tuning regulatory mechanism is required. Thus, RA signalling deregulation has a major impact, both in development and disease, related in many cases to oncogenic processes. In this review, we focus on the impact of ncRNA post-transcriptional regulatory mechanisms, especially those of microRNAs and lncRNAs, in RA signalling pathways during differentiation and disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carlos García-Padilla
- Department of Experimental Biology, University of Jaen, 23071 Jaen, Spain; (C.G.-P.); (E.L.-V.); (A.A.)
- Department of Human Anatomy and Embryology, University of Extremadura, 06006 Badajoz, Spain; (C.L.-S.); (V.G.-M.)
- Institute of Molecular Pathology Biomarkers, University of Extremadura, 06006 Badajoz, Spain
| | - Estefanía Lozano-Velasco
- Department of Experimental Biology, University of Jaen, 23071 Jaen, Spain; (C.G.-P.); (E.L.-V.); (A.A.)
- Fundación Medina, 18016 Granada, Spain
| | - Carmen López-Sánchez
- Department of Human Anatomy and Embryology, University of Extremadura, 06006 Badajoz, Spain; (C.L.-S.); (V.G.-M.)
- Institute of Molecular Pathology Biomarkers, University of Extremadura, 06006 Badajoz, Spain
| | - Virginio Garcia-Martínez
- Department of Human Anatomy and Embryology, University of Extremadura, 06006 Badajoz, Spain; (C.L.-S.); (V.G.-M.)
- Institute of Molecular Pathology Biomarkers, University of Extremadura, 06006 Badajoz, Spain
| | - Amelia Aranega
- Department of Experimental Biology, University of Jaen, 23071 Jaen, Spain; (C.G.-P.); (E.L.-V.); (A.A.)
- Fundación Medina, 18016 Granada, Spain
| | - Diego Franco
- Department of Experimental Biology, University of Jaen, 23071 Jaen, Spain; (C.G.-P.); (E.L.-V.); (A.A.)
- Fundación Medina, 18016 Granada, Spain
- Correspondence:
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Abstract
Cardiac development is a complex developmental process that is initiated soon after gastrulation, as two sets of precardiac mesodermal precursors are symmetrically located and subsequently fused at the embryonic midline forming the cardiac straight tube. Thereafter, the cardiac straight tube invariably bends to the right, configuring the first sign of morphological left–right asymmetry and soon thereafter the atrial and ventricular chambers are formed, expanded and progressively septated. As a consequence of all these morphogenetic processes, the fetal heart acquired a four-chambered structure having distinct inlet and outlet connections and a specialized conduction system capable of directing the electrical impulse within the fully formed heart. Over the last decades, our understanding of the morphogenetic, cellular, and molecular pathways involved in cardiac development has exponentially grown. Multiples aspects of the initial discoveries during heart formation has served as guiding tools to understand the etiology of cardiac congenital anomalies and adult cardiac pathology, as well as to enlighten novels approaches to heal the damaged heart. In this review we provide an overview of the complex cellular and molecular pathways driving heart morphogenesis and how those discoveries have provided new roads into the genetic, clinical and therapeutic management of the diseased hearts.
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Role of epigenetic mechanisms regulated by enhancers and long noncoding RNAs in cardiovascular disease. Curr Opin Cardiol 2020; 35:234-241. [PMID: 32205477 DOI: 10.1097/hco.0000000000000728] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/14/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW Hyperlipidemia, hypertension, diabetes and related metabolic disorders increase the risk for cardiovascular disease (CVD). Despite significant progress in the identification of key mechanisms and genetic polymorphisms linked to various CVDs, the rates of CVDs continue to escalate, underscoring the need to evaluate additional mechanisms for more effective therapies. Environment and lifestyle changes can alter epigenetic mechanisms mediated by histone modifications and long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) which play important roles in gene regulation. The review summarizes recent findings on the role of epigenetic mechanisms in CVD. RECENT FINDINGS Recent studies identified dysregulated histone modifications and chromatin modifying proteins at cis-regulatory elements, including enhancers/super-enhancers, mediating the expression of genes associated with CVD in vascular and immune cells in response to growth factors and inflammatory mediators. Several lncRNAs have also been reported to contribute to pathological gene expression via cis and trans mechanisms involving interactions with nuclear proteins, co-operation with enhancers/super enhancers and acting as microRNA sponges. SUMMARY Epigenomic approaches in cells affected in CVDs can be exploited to understand the function of genetic polymorphisms at cis-regulatory elements and crosstalk between enhancers and lncRNAs associated with disease susceptibility and progression. The reversible nature of epigenetics provides opportunities for the development of novel therapeutic strategies for CVD.
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Pagiatakis C, Hall IF, Condorelli G. Long non-coding RNA H19: a new avenue for RNA therapeutics in cardiac hypertrophy? Eur Heart J 2020; 41:3475-3476. [PMID: 32944740 DOI: 10.1093/eurheartj/ehaa663] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
| | - Ignacio Fernando Hall
- Humanitas Clinical and Research Center-IRCCS, Rozzano (MI), Italy.,Institute of Genetics and Biomedical Research, National Research Council, Rozzano (MI), Italy
| | - Gianluigi Condorelli
- Humanitas Clinical and Research Center-IRCCS, Rozzano (MI), Italy.,Humanitas University, Pieve Emanuele (MI), Italy
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Li X, Ni L, Wang W, Zong L, Yao B. LncRNA Fendrr inhibits hypoxia/reoxygenation-induced cardiomyocyte apoptosis by downregulating p53 expression. J Pharm Pharmacol 2020; 72:1211-1220. [PMID: 32537758 DOI: 10.1111/jphp.13298] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/05/2020] [Accepted: 05/08/2020] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE LncRNA Fendrr plays an important role in cardiac development, but its role in myocardial ischaemia-reperfusion (I/R) injury remains unclear. P53 has been shown to be an important regulator of apoptosis and is involved in myocardial I/R-induced apoptosis. This study aims at investigating whether Fendrr affects hypoxia/reoxygenation (H/R)-induced cardiomyocyte apoptosis through p53. METHODS The left anterior descending coronary artery of the rat was ligated for 30 min and then reperfusion for 120 min by releasing the suture. Neonatal rat ventricular myocytes (NRVM) and rat cardiac cell line H9c2 were cultured for 6 h in hypoxia (95% N2 and 5% CO2 ), followed by reoxygenation (95% air and 5% CO2 ) for 6 h. Transfection were performed in cells. Apoptosis was detected by flow cytometry. Moreover, RNA pull-down, RNA immunoprecipitation, ubiquitination assay, GST pull-down assay and co-immunoprecipitation were used to detect the regulation of Fendrr on p53 protein. KEY FINDINGS Fendrr was decreased in I/R-induced myocardium and H/R-induced cardiomyocyte, and overexpression of Fendrr inhibited H/R-induced NRVM or H9c2 cells apoptosis. Further research found that the 1381-2100 nt of Fendrr bound to p53 protein and Fendrr promoted t direct binding of p53 to Cop1. The inhibition of Fendrr reduced the binding of E3 ubiquitin-protein ligase constitutive photomorphogenesis protein 1 (COP1) to p53 and reduced the ubiquitination of p53. Furthermore, the inhibition of Fendrr on H/R-induced NRVM or H9c2 cells apoptosis could be reversed by overexpression of p53. CONCLUSIONS Fendrr can inhibit H/R-induced cardiomyocyte apoptosis, which is partly through promoting the ubiquitination and degradation of p53 by increasing the binding of Cop1 and p53.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiang Li
- Department of Cardiovascular, Affiliated Hospital of Jining Medical University, Jining, China
| | - Liangchun Ni
- Department of Cardiovascular, Affiliated Hospital of Jining Medical University, Jining, China
| | - Weixin Wang
- Department of Cardiovascular, Affiliated Hospital of Jining Medical University, Jining, China
| | - Liang Zong
- Department of Cardiovascular, Affiliated Hospital of Jining Medical University, Jining, China
| | - Bi Yao
- Department of Cardiovascular, Affiliated Hospital of Jining Medical University, Jining, China
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Congenital heart diseases: genetics, non-inherited risk factors, and signaling pathways. EGYPTIAN JOURNAL OF MEDICAL HUMAN GENETICS 2020. [DOI: 10.1186/s43042-020-0050-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Abstract
Background
Congenital heart diseases (CHDs) are the most common congenital anomalies with an estimated prevalence of 8 in 1000 live births. CHDs occur as a result of abnormal embryogenesis of the heart. Congenital heart diseases are associated with significant mortality and morbidity. The damage of the heart is irreversible due to a lack of regeneration potential, and usually, the patients may require surgical intervention. Studying the developmental biology of the heart is essential not only in understanding the mechanisms and pathogenesis of congenital heart diseases but also in providing us with insight towards developing new preventive and treatment methods.
Main body
The etiology of congenital heart diseases is still elusive. Both genetic and environmental factors have been implicated to play a role in the pathogenesis of the diseases. Recently, cardiac transcription factors, cardiac-specific genes, and signaling pathways, which are responsible for early cardiac morphogenesis have been extensively studied in both human and animal experiments but leave much to be desired. The discovery of novel genetic methods such as next generation sequencing and chromosomal microarrays have led to further study the genes, non-coding RNAs and subtle chromosomal changes, elucidating their implications to the etiology of congenital heart diseases. Studies have also implicated non-hereditary risk factors such as rubella infection, teratogens, maternal age, diabetes mellitus, and abnormal hemodynamics in causing CHDs.
These etiological factors raise questions on multifactorial etiology of CHDs. It is therefore important to endeavor in research based on finding the causes of CHDs. Finding causative factors will enable us to plan intervention strategies and mitigate the consequences associated with CHDs. This review, therefore, puts forward the genetic and non-genetic causes of congenital heart diseases. Besides, it discusses crucial signaling pathways which are involved in early cardiac morphogenesis. Consequently, we aim to consolidate our knowledge on multifactorial causes of CHDs so as to pave a way for further research regarding CHDs.
Conclusion
The multifactorial etiology of congenital heart diseases gives us a challenge to explicitly establishing specific causative factors and therefore plan intervention strategies. More well-designed studies and the use of novel genetic technologies could be the way through the discovery of etiological factors implicated in the pathogenesis of congenital heart diseases.
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