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Chen T, Shi Z, Zhao Y, Meng X, Zhao S, Zheng L, Han X, Hu Z, Yao Q, Lin H, Du X, Zhang K, Han T, Hong W. LncRNA Airn maintains LSEC differentiation to alleviate liver fibrosis via the KLF2-eNOS-sGC pathway. BMC Med 2022; 20:335. [PMID: 36171606 PMCID: PMC9520944 DOI: 10.1186/s12916-022-02523-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/07/2022] [Accepted: 08/10/2022] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) have emerged as important regulators in a variety of human diseases. The dysregulation of liver sinusoidal endothelial cell (LSEC) phenotype is a critical early event in the fibrotic process. However, the biological function of lncRNAs in LSEC still remains unclear. METHODS The expression level of lncRNA Airn was evaluated in both human fibrotic livers and serums, as well as mouse fibrotic livers. Gain- and loss-of-function experiments were performed to detect the effect of Airn on LSEC differentiation and hepatic stellate cell (HSC) activation in liver fibrosis. Furthermore, RIP, RNA pull-down-immunoblotting, and ChIP experiments were performed to explore the underlying mechanisms of Airn. RESULTS We have identified Airn was significantly upregulated in liver tissues and LSEC of carbon tetrachloride (CCl4)-induced liver fibrosis mouse model. Moreover, the expression of AIRN in fibrotic human liver tissues and serums was remarkably increased compared with healthy controls. In vivo studies showed that Airn deficiency aggravated CCl4- and bile duct ligation (BDL)-induced liver fibrosis, while Airn over-expression by AAV8 alleviated CCl4-induced liver fibrosis. Furthermore, we revealed that Airn maintained LSEC differentiation in vivo and in vitro. Additionally, Airn inhibited HSC activation indirectly by regulating LSEC differentiation and promoted hepatocyte (HC) proliferation by increasing paracrine secretion of Wnt2a and HGF from LSEC. Mechanistically, Airn interacted with EZH2 to maintain LSEC differentiation through KLF2-eNOS-sGC pathway, thereby maintaining HSC quiescence and promoting HC proliferation. CONCLUSIONS Our work identified that Airn is beneficial to liver fibrosis by maintaining LSEC differentiation and might be a serum biomarker for liver fibrogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ting Chen
- Department of Histology and Embryology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, China
| | - Zhemin Shi
- Department of Histology and Embryology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, China
| | - Yanmian Zhao
- Department of Histology and Embryology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, China
| | - Xiaoxiang Meng
- Department of Histology and Embryology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, China
| | - Sicong Zhao
- Department of Histology and Embryology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, China
| | - Lina Zheng
- Department of Histology and Embryology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, China
| | - Xiaohui Han
- Department of Histology and Embryology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, China
| | - Zhimei Hu
- Department of Histology and Embryology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, China
| | - Qingbin Yao
- Department of Histology and Embryology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, China
| | - Huajiang Lin
- Department of Hepatology and Gastroenterology, Tianjin Union Medical Center, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin Union Medical Center affiliated to Nankai University, Tianjin, China
| | - Xiaoxiao Du
- Department of Histology and Embryology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, China
| | - Kun Zhang
- Department of Histology and Embryology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, China.
| | - Tao Han
- Department of Hepatology and Gastroenterology, Tianjin Union Medical Center, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin Union Medical Center affiliated to Nankai University, Tianjin, China.
| | - Wei Hong
- Department of Histology and Embryology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, China.
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Jiao Y, Zhao D, Gao F, Hu X, Hu X, Li M, Cui Y, Wei X, Xie C, Zhao Y, Gao Y. MicroRNA-520c-3p suppresses vascular endothelium dysfunction by targeting RELA and regulating the AKT and NF-κB signaling pathways. J Physiol Biochem 2021; 77:47-61. [PMID: 33411212 DOI: 10.1007/s13105-020-00779-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/09/2020] [Accepted: 12/04/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Endothelial injury, which can cause endothelial inflammation and dysfunction, is an important mechanism for the development of atherosclerotic plaque. This study aims to investigate the functional role of miR-520c-3p in vascular endothelium during inflammatory diseases such as atherosclerosis. Quantitative real-time PCR was used to detect miR-520c-3p expression in in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) after treatment with platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF). Furthermore, the effects of miR-520c-3p overexpression and silencing on cell proliferation, adhesion, and apoptosis were assessed. Bioinformatics analysis and Biotin-labeled miRNA pull-down assay were used to confirm the targets of miR-520-3p. Then, the effects of miR-520c-3p on AKT and NF-κB signaling pathways were detected by western blot. Herein, we observed that the expression level of miR-520c-3p was downregulated in HUVECs under PDGF stimulation. Overexpression of miR-520c-3p not only decreased cell adhesion but also promoted proliferation and inhibited apoptosis to protect the viability of endothelial cells. It was confirmed that RELA is the target of miR-520c-3p. MiR-520c-3p inhibited the protein phosphorylation of AKT and RELA, and si-RELA reversed the promotion of AKT and RELA protein phosphorylation by anti-miR-520c-3p. In summary, our study suggested that miRNA-520c-3p targeting RELA through AKT and NF-κB signaling pathways regulated the proliferation, apoptosis, and adhesion of vascular endothelial cells. We conclude that miR-520c-3p may play an important role in the suppression of endothelial injury, which could serve as a biomarker and therapeutic target for atherosclerosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yan Jiao
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, College of Basic Medical Sciences, Dalian Medical University, Dalian, China
| | - Dandan Zhao
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, College of Basic Medical Sciences, Dalian Medical University, Dalian, China
| | - Fuhua Gao
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, College of Basic Medical Sciences, Dalian Medical University, Dalian, China
| | - Xiaoyan Hu
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, College of Basic Medical Sciences, Dalian Medical University, Dalian, China
| | - Xinxin Hu
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, College of Basic Medical Sciences, Dalian Medical University, Dalian, China
| | - Mei Li
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, College of Basic Medical Sciences, Dalian Medical University, Dalian, China
| | - Ying Cui
- Liaoning Provincial Core Lab of Medical Molecular Biology, Dalian Medical University, Dalian, China
- Molecular Medicine Laboratory, College of Basic Medical Sciences, Dalian Medical University, Dalian, China
| | - Xiaoqing Wei
- Liaoning Provincial Core Lab of Medical Molecular Biology, Dalian Medical University, Dalian, China
- Molecular Medicine Laboratory, College of Basic Medical Sciences, Dalian Medical University, Dalian, China
| | - Ce Xie
- Liaoning Provincial Core Lab of Medical Molecular Biology, Dalian Medical University, Dalian, China
- Molecular Medicine Laboratory, College of Basic Medical Sciences, Dalian Medical University, Dalian, China
| | - Ying Zhao
- Liaoning Provincial Core Lab of Medical Molecular Biology, Dalian Medical University, Dalian, China.
- Molecular Medicine Laboratory, College of Basic Medical Sciences, Dalian Medical University, Dalian, China.
| | - Ying Gao
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, College of Basic Medical Sciences, Dalian Medical University, Dalian, China.
- Liaoning Provincial Core Lab of Medical Molecular Biology, Dalian Medical University, Dalian, China.
- Molecular Medicine Laboratory, College of Basic Medical Sciences, Dalian Medical University, Dalian, China.
- Liaoning Provincial Core Lab of Medical Molecular Biology, Dalian Medical University, No.9 West Section Lvshun South Road, Dalian, 116044, Liaoning Province, China.
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Weinstein N, Mendoza L, Álvarez-Buylla ER. A Computational Model of the Endothelial to Mesenchymal Transition. Front Genet 2020; 11:40. [PMID: 32226439 PMCID: PMC7080988 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2020.00040] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/28/2019] [Accepted: 01/14/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Endothelial cells (ECs) form the lining of lymph and blood vessels. Changes in tissue requirements or wounds may cause ECs to behave as tip or stalk cells. Alternatively, they may differentiate into mesenchymal cells (MCs). These processes are known as EC activation and endothelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EndMT), respectively. EndMT, Tip, and Stalk EC behaviors all require SNAI1, SNAI2, and Matrix metallopeptidase (MMP) function. However, only EndMT inhibits the expression of VE-cadherin, PECAM1, and VEGFR2, and also leads to EC detachment. Physiologically, EndMT is involved in heart valve development, while a defective EndMT regulation is involved in the physiopathology of cardiovascular malformations, congenital heart disease, systemic and organ fibrosis, pulmonary arterial hypertension, and atherosclerosis. Therefore, the control of EndMT has many promising potential applications in regenerative medicine. Despite the fact that many molecular components involved in EC activation and EndMT have been characterized, the system-level molecular mechanisms involved in this process have not been elucidated. Toward this end, hereby we present Boolean network model of the molecular involved in the regulation of EC activation and EndMT. The simulated dynamic behavior of our model reaches fixed and cyclic patterns of activation that correspond to the expected EC and MC cell types and behaviors, recovering most of the specific effects of simple gain and loss-of-function mutations as well as the conditions associated with the progression of several diseases. Therefore, our model constitutes a theoretical framework that can be used to generate hypotheses and guide experimental inquiry to comprehend the regulatory mechanisms behind EndMT. Our main findings include that both the extracellular microevironment and the pattern of molecular activity within the cell regulate EndMT. EndMT requires a lack of VEGFA and sufficient oxygen in the extracellular microenvironment as well as no FLI1 and GATA2 activity within the cell. Additionally Tip cells cannot undergo EndMT directly. Furthermore, the specific conditions that are sufficient to trigger EndMT depend on the specific pattern of molecular activation within the cell.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nathan Weinstein
- Instituto de Ecología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Mexico City, Mexico.,Centro de Ciencias de la Complejidad, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Luis Mendoza
- Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Elena R Álvarez-Buylla
- Instituto de Ecología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Mexico City, Mexico.,Centro de Ciencias de la Complejidad, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Mexico City, Mexico
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