MicroRNA-1278 ameliorates the inflammation of cardiomyocytes during myocardial ischemia by targeting both IL-22 and CXCL14

The role and mechanism study of Cxcl14 in chronic critically ill cardiac dysfunction

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the role and mechanism of Cxcl14 in cardiac function impairment in chronic critical illness (CCI).

METHOD

Clinical data from CCI patients with heart failure and uncomplicated CCI cases were collected. Serum Cxcl14 concentrations were quantified via ELISA. A CCI heart function injury mouse model (CLP model) was established, and the heart function and morphological indicators was measured. The inflammatory infiltration of myocardial tissue, the Cxcl4 expression levels and myocardial fibrosis related proteins, and the alleviating effect of anti-Cxcl14 antibody on CCI cardiac dysfunction was detected.

RESULT

The serum level of Cxcl14 was found to exhibit a positive correlation with N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) levels and a negative correlation with left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) in patients with CCI. Subsequent investigations into the role of Cxcl14 in CCI-related cardiac dysfunction revealed significant findings. In the CLP model, Cxcl14 was shown to reduce both LVEF and left ventricular intramural shortening fraction (LVFS), while simultaneously increasing the expression of α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) and collagen III in myocardial tissue. Additionally, Cxcl14 elevated the levels of ED-1, myeloperoxidase (MPO), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), and interleukin-6 (IL-6), promoting inflammatory cell infiltration in the myocardium. Administration of an anti-Cxcl14 antibody mitigated these effects, providing a potential therapeutic intervention.

CONCLUSION

The expression of Cxcl14 was positively associated with the onset and severity of cardiac dysfunction in CCI patients. In the CLP mouse model, Cxcl14 aggravated myocardial injury and fibrosis, while promoting the infiltration of inflammatory cells into myocardial tissue.

Decoding the cytokine code for heart failure based on bioinformatics, machine learning and Bayesian networks

BACKGROUND

Despite maximal pharmacological treatment guided by clinical guidelines, the prognosis of heart failure (HF) remains poor, posing a significant public health burden. This necessitates uncovering novel pathological and cardioprotective pathways. Targeting cytokines presents a promising therapeutic strategy for HF, yet their intricate mechanisms in HF progression remain obscure.

METHODS

HF datasets were obtained from the GEO database. Cytokine-related genes were identified through WGCNA and the CytReg database. GO and KEGG enrichment analyses were conducted using the clusterProfiler package. Reactome pathway enrichment analysis and Bayesian regulatory network construction were performed using the CBNplot package. Key genes were identified via LASSO regression and RF algorithms, with diagnostic accuracy evaluated by ROC curves. Potential therapeutic drugs were predicted using the DSigDB database, and immune cell infiltration was assessed with the CIBERSORT package.

RESULTS

We identified 13 cytokine-related genes associated with HF. Enrichment analyses indicated these genes mediate inflammatory responses and immune cell recruitment. Bayesian network analysis revealed two cytokine regulatory chains: IL34-CCL5-CCL4 and IL34-CCL5-CXCL12. Machine learning algorithms identified five key cytokine genes: CCL4, CCL5, CXCL12, CXCL14, and IL34. The DSigDB database predicted 47 potential therapeutic drugs, including Proscillaridin. Immune infiltration analysis showed significant differences in seven immune cell types between HF and healthy samples.

CONCLUSION

Our study provides insights into cytokines' molecular mechanisms in HF pathophysiology and highlights potential immunomodulatory strategies, gene therapies, and candidate drugs. Future research should validate these findings in clinical settings to develop effective HF therapies.

Cardiac biopsies reveal differences in transcriptomics between left and right ventricle in patients with or without diagnostic signs of heart failure

New or mild heart failure (HF) is mainly caused by left ventricular dysfunction. We hypothesised that gene expression differ between the left (LV) and right ventricle (RV) and secondly by type of LV dysfunction. We compared gene expression through myocardial biopsies from LV and RV of patients undergoing elective coronary bypass surgery (CABG). Patients were categorised based on LV ejection fraction (EF), diastolic function and NT-proBNP into pEF (preserved; LVEF ≥ 45%), rEF (reduced; LVEF < 45%) or normal LV function. Principal component analysis of gene expression displayed two clusters corresponding to LV and RV. Up-regulated genes in LV included natriuretic peptides NPPA and NPPB, transcription factors/coactivators STAT4 and VGLL2, ion channel related HCN2 and LRRC38 associated with cardiac muscle contraction, cytoskeleton, and cellular component movement. Patients with pEF phenotype versus normal differed in gene expression predominantly in LV, supporting that diastolic dysfunction and structural changes reflect early LV disease in pEF. DKK2 was overexpressed in LV of HFpEF phenotype, potentially leading to lower expression levels of β-catenin, α-SMA (smooth muscle actin), and enhanced apoptosis, and could be a possible factor in the development of HFpEF. CXCL14 was down-regulated in both pEF and rEF, and may play a role to promote development of HF.

First trimester circulating miR-194-5p and miR-1278 improve prediction of preeclampsia

OBJECTIVES

To identify first trimester circulating microRNAs associated with preeclampsia (PE) and assess their predictive value in two independent cohorts METHODS: Circulating microRNAs were quantified from plasma samples collected at first trimester of pregnancy in women from Gen3G (discovery; N = 385 normotensives/22 PE) and 3D (replication; N = 260 normotensives/24 PE) prospective birth cohorts. MicroRNAs associated with PE in Gen3G were identified using DESeq2 (p-value ≤ 0.05). Replicated microRNAs (selection criteria: p-value ≤ 0.05 in Gen3G, same direction of association, nominal one-side p-value ≤ 0.1 in 3D) were included in a stepwise logistic regression model to assess their predictive values alone and in combination with PE risk factors.

RESULTS

Seventy-three circulating microRNAs were associated with PE (p-value ≤ 0.05) in Gen3G. Five microRNAs were replicated in 3D and included in a stepwise logistic regression model with PE clinical risk factors (maternal age, body mass index and mean arterial pressure (MAP) at first trimester, parity, and smoking status) and gestational age at first visit. The best model included miR-194-5p, miR-1278, maternal age, MAP at first trimester and parity and results in an area under the curve (AUC) of 0.861 [CI 95 %: 0.787-0.935] in Gen3G. Compared to risk factors only, the addition of microRNAs improves the AUC (from 0.826 to 0.861; p = 0.03). In 3D, the best model reached an AUC of 0.842 [CI 95 %: 0.769-0.914].

CONCLUSIONS

Circulating miR-194-5p and miR-1278 enhance early detection of women at risk of PE and offer great potential as predictors of PE in combination with classic risk factors.

Circ_0000285 regulates nasopharyngeal carcinoma progression through miR-1278/FNDC3B axis

BACKGROUND

Nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) is cancer with high mortality and poor prognosis. Circular RNAs (circRNAs) have been identified in a wide variety of cancers. But the functional mechanism of circ_000285 in NPC remains unclear.

PURPOSE

To decipher the biological function and molecular mechanism of circ_000285 in NPC.

METHODS

Quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR) was applied for detecting the expression of circ_0000285, miR-1278, and FNDC3B. Western blot was used to measure the protein levels of Fibronectin type III domain containing 3B (FNDC3B), Bcl2 associated X (Bax), and B cell leukemia/lymphoma 2 (Bcl2). Cell proliferation, migration, and invasion were analyzed by colony formation, 5-ethynyl-2'-deoxyuridine (EdU), and transwell assays. Cell apoptosis was detected by flow cytometry assays. ELISA assay was used to analyze Caspase-3 activity. Bioinformatics was used to predict, and the target relationship between miR-1278 and circ_0000285 or FNDC3B was verified by luciferase reporter assay. Tumor xenograft models were established to examine how circ_0000285 functions during the mediation of NPC tumor growth in vivo.

RESULTS

Increased circ_0000285 and FNDC3B expressions, and a decreased miR-1278 expression were observed in NPC tissues and cell lines. Knockdown of circ_0000285 inhibited NPC cell proliferation, migration, invasion, and while promoting NPC cell apoptosis in vitro. Circ_0000285 knockdown-mediated anti-tumor effects in NPC cells could be largely reversed by silencing of miR-1278 or overexpression of FNDC3B. Circ_0000285 could up-regulate FNDC3B expression by sponging miR-1278 in NPC cells. Knockdown of circ_0000285 could inhibit tumor growth in vivo.

CONCLUSION

Circ_0000285 upregulates FNDC3B expression by adsorbing miR-1278 to promote NPC development.

Hypoxic/Ischemic Inflammation, MicroRNAs and δ-Opioid Receptors: Hypoxia/Ischemia-Sensitive Versus-Insensitive Organs

Hypoxia and ischemia cause inflammatory injury and critically participate in the pathogenesis of various diseases in various organs. However, the protective strategies against hypoxic and ischemic insults are very limited in clinical settings up to date. It is of utmost importance to improve our understanding of hypoxic/ischemic (H/I) inflammation and find novel therapies for better prevention/treatment of H/I injury. Recent studies provide strong evidence that the expression of microRNAs (miRNAs), which regulate gene expression and affect H/I inflammation through post-transcriptional mechanisms, are differentially altered in response to H/I stress, while δ-opioid receptors (DOR) play a protective role against H/I insults in different organs, including both H/I-sensitive organs (e.g., brain, kidney, and heart) and H/I-insensitive organs (e.g., liver and muscle). Indeed, many studies have demonstrated the crucial role of the DOR-mediated cyto-protection against H/I injury by several molecular pathways, including NLRP3 inflammasome modulated by miRNAs. In this review, we summarize our recent studies along with those of others worldwide, and compare the effects of DOR on H/I expression of miRNAs in H/I-sensitive and -insensitive organs. The alternation in miRNA expression profiles upon DOR activation and the potential impact on inflammatory injury in different organs under normoxic and hypoxic conditions are discussed at molecular and cellular levels. More in-depth investigations into this field may provide novel clues for new protective strategies against H/I inflammation in different types of organs.

The Regulation Mechanisms and Clinical Application of MicroRNAs in Myocardial Infarction: A Review of the Recent 5 Years

Myocardial infarction (MI) is the most frequent end-point of cardiovascular pathology, leading to higher mortality worldwide. Due to the particularity of the heart tissue, patients who experience ischemic infarction of the heart, still suffered irreversible damage to the heart even if the vascular reflow by treatment, and severe ones can lead to heart failure or even death. In recent years, several studies have shown that microRNAs (miRNAs), playing a regulatory role in damaged hearts, bring light for patients to alleviate MI. In this review, we summarized the effect of miRNAs on MI with some mechanisms, such as apoptosis, autophagy, proliferation, inflammatory; the regulation of miRNAs on cardiac structural changes after MI, including angiogenesis, myocardial remodeling, fibrosis; the application of miRNAs in stem cell therapy and clinical diagnosis; other non-coding RNAs related to miRNAs in MI during the past 5 years.