LncRNA CRNDE is involved in the pathogenesis of renal fibrosis by regulating renal epithelial cell mesenchymal-epithelial transition via targeting miR-29a-3p

Expression Profiles and Bioinformatic Analysis of Circular RNAs in Db/Db Mice with Cardiac Fibrosis

Introduction

Cardiac fibrosis is one of the important causes of heart failure and death in diabetic cardiomyopathy (DCM) patients. Circular RNAs (circRNAs) are covalently closed RNA molecules in eukaryotes and have high stability. Their role in myocardial fibrosis with diabetic cardiomyopathy (DCM) remain to be fully elucidated. This study aimed to understand the expression profiles of circRNAs in myocardial fibrosis with DCM, exploring the possible biomarkers and therapeutic targets for DCM.

Methods

At 21 weeks of age, db/db mice established the type 2 DCM model measured by echocardiography, and the cardiac tissue was extracted for Hematoxylin-eosin, Masson's trichrome staining, and transmission electron microscopy. Subsequently, the expression profile of circRNAs in myocardial fibrosis of db/db mice was constructed using microarray hybridization and verified by real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction. A circRNA-microRNA-messenger RNA coexpression network was constructed, Gene Ontology and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes pathway enrichment analysis were done.

Results

Compared with normal control mice, db/db mice had 77 upregulated circRNAs and 135 downregulated circRNAs in their chromosomes (fold change ≥1.5, P ≤ 0.05). Moreover, the enrichment analysis of circRNA host genes showed that these differentially expressed circRNAs were mainly involved in mitogen-activated protein kinase signaling pathways. CircPHF20L1, circCLASP1, and circSLC8A1 were the key circRNAs. Moreover, circCLASP1/miR-182-5p/Wnt7a, circSLC8A1/miR-29b-1-5p/Col12a1, and most especially circPHF20L1/miR-29a-3p/Col6a2 might be three novel axes in the development of myocardial fibrosis in DCM.

Conclusion

The findings will provide some novel circRNAs and molecular pathways for the prevention or clinical treatment of DCM through intervention with specific circRNAs.

LncRNA MSC-AS1 regulates SNIP1 SUMOylation-mediated EMT by binding to SENP1 to promote intestinal fibrosis in Crohn's disease

As a common complication of Crohn's disease (CD), the mechanism underlying CD intestinal fibrosis remains unclear. Studies have shown that epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) is a key step in the development of intestinal fibrosis in CD. It is currently known that the long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) MSC-AS1 plays an important role in regulating the secretion of inflammatory mediators and EMT; however, its role in intestinal fibrosis remains unclear. MSC-AS1 was significantly upregulated in the CD intestinal tissue and intestinal tissue of mice treated with 2,4,6-trinitrobenzenesulfonic acid. Downregulation of its expression can inhibit EMT and alleviates intestinal fibrosis by regulating SNIP1. In addition, MSC-AS1 directly interacted with SENP1, blocking the deSUMOylation of SNIP1 and inhibiting its activity. Furthermore, we found that SENP1 enhanced the expression of SNIP1 and reduced intestinal fibrosis. In summary, MSC-AS1 regulates EMT through the SENP1/SNIP1 axis to promote fibrosis, and may be considered a potential molecular target for the treatment of CD and intestinal fibrosis.

Exploring the Therapeutic Significance of microRNAs and lncRNAs in Kidney Diseases

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) and long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) are two crucial classes of transcripts that belong to the major group of non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs). These RNA molecules have significant influence over diverse molecular processes due to their crucial role as regulators of gene expression. However, the dysregulated expression of these ncRNAs constitutes a fundamental factor in the etiology and progression of a wide variety of multifaceted human diseases, including kidney diseases. In this context, over the past years, compelling evidence has shown that miRNAs and lncRNAs could be prospective targets for the development of next-generation drugs against kidney diseases as they participate in a number of disease-associated processes, such as podocyte and nephron death, renal fibrosis, inflammation, transition from acute kidney injury to chronic kidney disease, renal vascular changes, sepsis, pyroptosis, and apoptosis. Hence, in this current review, we critically analyze the recent findings concerning the therapeutic inferences of miRNAs and lncRNAs in the pathophysiological context of kidney diseases. Additionally, with the aim of driving advances in the formulation of ncRNA-based drugs tailored for the management of kidney diseases, we discuss some of the key challenges and future prospects that should be addressed in forthcoming investigations.