1
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Wang D, Baghoomian A, Zhang Z, Cui Y, Whang EC, Li X, Fraga J, Spellman RA, Dong TS, Li W, Gupta A, Benhammou JN, Sallam T. Hepatic lipopolysaccharide binding protein partially uncouples inflammation from fibrosis in MAFLD. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.06.17.599212. [PMID: 38948798 PMCID: PMC11212925 DOI: 10.1101/2024.06.17.599212] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/02/2024]
Abstract
Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), recently renamed metabolic-associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD), is the most common liver disease worldwide. The progression to fibrosis, occurring against a backdrop of hepatic steatosis and inflammation, critically determines liver-related morbidity and mortality. Inflammatory processes contribute to various stages of MAFLD and thought to instigate hepatic fibrosis. For this reason, targeting inflammation has been heavily nominated as a strategy to mitigate liver fibrosis. Lipopolysaccharide binding protein (LBP) is a secreted protein that plays an established role in innate immune responses. Here, using adoptive transfer studies and tissue-specific deletion models we show that hepatocytes are the dominant contributors to circulating LBP. In a murine model of MAFLD, hepatocyte-specific deletion of LBP restrained hepatic inflammation and improved liver function abnormalities, but not measures of fibrosis. Human studies, including genetic evidence, corroborate an important role for LBP in hepatic inflammation with minimal impact on fibrosis. Collectively, our data argues against the idea that targeting hepatic inflammation is a viable approach to reducing fibrosis.
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2
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Huang L, Sharma D, Feng X, Pan Z, Wu S, Munoz D, Bekker A, Hu H, Tao YX. RALY participates in nerve trauma-induced nociceptive hypersensitivity through triggering Eif4g2 gene expression in primary sensory neurons. Br J Pharmacol 2024; 181:735-751. [PMID: 37782223 PMCID: PMC10873045 DOI: 10.1111/bph.16259] [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: 04/04/2023] [Revised: 08/29/2023] [Accepted: 09/13/2023] [Indexed: 10/03/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Peripheral nerve trauma-induced dysregulation of pain-associated genes in the primary sensory neurons of dorsal root ganglion (DRG) contributes to neuropathic pain genesis. RNA-binding proteins participate in gene transcription. We hypothesized that RALY, an RNA-binding protein, participated in nerve trauma-induced dysregulation of DRG pain-associated genes and nociceptive hypersensitivity. METHODS AND RESULTS Immunohistochemistry staining showed that RALY was expressed exclusively in the nuclei of DRG neurons. Peripheral nerve trauma caused by chronic constriction injury (CCI) of unilateral sciatic nerve produced time-dependent increases in the levels of Raly mRNA and RALY protein in injured DRG. Blocking this increase through DRG microinjection of adeno-associated virus 5 (AAV5)-expressing Raly shRNA reduced the CCI-induced elevation in the amount of eukaryotic initiation factor 4 gamma 2 (Eif4g2) mRNA and Eif4g2 protein in injured DRG and mitigated the development and maintenance of CCI-induced nociceptive hypersensitivity, without altering basal (acute) response to noxious stimuli and locomotor activity. Mimicking DRG increased RALY through DRG microinjection of AAV5 expressing Raly mRNA up-regulated the expression of Eif4g2 mRNA and Eif4g2 protein in the DRG and led to hypersensitive responses to noxious stimuli in the absence of nerve trauma. Mechanistically, CCI promoted the binding of RALY to the promoter of Eif4g2 gene and triggered its transcriptional activity. CONCLUSION AND IMPLICATIONS Our findings indicate that RALY participates in nerve trauma-induced nociceptive hypersensitivity likely through transcriptionally triggering Eif4g2 expression in the DRG. RALY may be a potential target in neuropathic pain management.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lina Huang
- Department of Anesthesiology, New Jersey Medical School, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, Newark, NJ 07103, USA
| | - Dilip Sharma
- Department of Anesthesiology, New Jersey Medical School, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, Newark, NJ 07103, USA
| | - Xiaozhou Feng
- Department of Anesthesiology, New Jersey Medical School, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, Newark, NJ 07103, USA
| | - Zhiqiang Pan
- Department of Anesthesiology, New Jersey Medical School, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, Newark, NJ 07103, USA
| | - Shaogen Wu
- Department of Anesthesiology, New Jersey Medical School, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, Newark, NJ 07103, USA
| | - Daisy Munoz
- Department of Anesthesiology, New Jersey Medical School, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, Newark, NJ 07103, USA
| | - Alex Bekker
- Department of Anesthesiology, New Jersey Medical School, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, Newark, NJ 07103, USA
| | - Huijuan Hu
- Department of Anesthesiology, New Jersey Medical School, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, Newark, NJ 07103, USA
- Department of Physiology, Pharmacology & Neuroscience, New Jersey Medical School, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, Newark, NJ07103, USA
| | - Yuan-Xiang Tao
- Department of Anesthesiology, New Jersey Medical School, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, Newark, NJ 07103, USA
- Department of Physiology, Pharmacology & Neuroscience, New Jersey Medical School, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, Newark, NJ07103, USA
- Department of Cell Biology & Molecular Medicine, New Jersey Medical School, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, Newark, NJ07103, USA
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3
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Zhang Z, Cui Y, Su V, Wang D, Tol MJ, Cheng L, Wu X, Kim J, Rajbhandari P, Zhang S, Li W, Tontonoz P, Villanueva CJ, Sallam T. A PPARγ/long noncoding RNA axis regulates adipose thermoneutral remodeling in mice. J Clin Invest 2023; 133:e170072. [PMID: 37909330 PMCID: PMC10617768 DOI: 10.1172/jci170072] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/06/2023] [Accepted: 09/06/2023] [Indexed: 11/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Interplay between energy-storing white adipose cells and thermogenic beige adipocytes contributes to obesity and insulin resistance. Irrespective of specialized niche, adipocytes require the activity of the nuclear receptor PPARγ for proper function. Exposure to cold or adrenergic signaling enriches thermogenic cells though multiple pathways that act synergistically with PPARγ; however, the molecular mechanisms by which PPARγ licenses white adipose tissue to preferentially adopt a thermogenic or white adipose fate in response to dietary cues or thermoneutral conditions are not fully elucidated. Here, we show that a PPARγ/long noncoding RNA (lncRNA) axis integrates canonical and noncanonical thermogenesis to restrain white adipose tissue heat dissipation during thermoneutrality and diet-induced obesity. Pharmacologic inhibition or genetic deletion of the lncRNA Lexis enhances uncoupling protein 1-dependent (UCP1-dependent) and -independent thermogenesis. Adipose-specific deletion of Lexis counteracted diet-induced obesity, improved insulin sensitivity, and enhanced energy expenditure. Single-nuclei transcriptomics revealed that Lexis regulates a distinct population of thermogenic adipocytes. We systematically map Lexis motif preferences and show that it regulates the thermogenic program through the activity of the metabolic GWAS gene and WNT modulator TCF7L2. Collectively, our studies uncover a new mode of crosstalk between PPARγ and WNT that preserves white adipose tissue plasticity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhengyi Zhang
- Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine
- Department of Physiology, and
- Molecular Biology Institute, UCLA, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Ya Cui
- Division of Computational Biomedicine, Biological Chemistry, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, California, USA
| | - Vivien Su
- Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine
- Department of Physiology, and
- Molecular Biology Institute, UCLA, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Dan Wang
- Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine
- Department of Physiology, and
- Molecular Biology Institute, UCLA, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Marcus J. Tol
- Molecular Biology Institute, UCLA, Los Angeles, California, USA
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, UCLA, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Lijing Cheng
- Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine
- Department of Physiology, and
- Molecular Biology Institute, UCLA, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Xiaohui Wu
- Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine
- Department of Physiology, and
- Molecular Biology Institute, UCLA, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Jason Kim
- Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine
- Department of Physiology, and
- Molecular Biology Institute, UCLA, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Prashant Rajbhandari
- Diabetes, Obesity, and Metabolism Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, USA
| | - Sicheng Zhang
- Molecular Biology Institute, UCLA, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Wei Li
- Division of Computational Biomedicine, Biological Chemistry, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, California, USA
| | - Peter Tontonoz
- Molecular Biology Institute, UCLA, Los Angeles, California, USA
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, UCLA, Los Angeles, California, USA
- Department of Biological Chemistry and
| | - Claudio J. Villanueva
- Molecular Biology Institute, UCLA, Los Angeles, California, USA
- Department of Integrative Biology and Physiology, College of Life Sciences, UCLA, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Tamer Sallam
- Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine
- Department of Physiology, and
- Molecular Biology Institute, UCLA, Los Angeles, California, USA
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4
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Hu H, Zhao K, Fang D, Wang Z, Yu N, Yao B, Liu K, Wang F, Mei Y. The RNA binding protein RALY suppresses p53 activity and promotes lung tumorigenesis. Cell Rep 2023; 42:112288. [PMID: 36952348 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2023.112288] [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: 08/19/2022] [Revised: 02/10/2023] [Accepted: 03/03/2023] [Indexed: 03/24/2023] Open
Abstract
The tumor suppressor p53 plays a pivotal role in tumor prevention. The activity of p53 is mainly restrained by the ubiquitin E3 ligase Mdm2. However, it is not well understood how the Mdm2-p53 pathway is intricately regulated. Here we report that the RNA binding protein RALY functions as an oncogenic factor in lung cancer. RALY simultaneously binds to Mdm2 and the deubiquitinating enzyme USP7. Via these interactions, RALY not only stabilizes Mdm2 by stimulating the deubiquitinating activity of USP7 toward Mdm2 but also increases the trans-E3 ligase activity of Mdm2 toward p53. Consequently, RALY enhances Mdm2-mediated ubiquitination and degradation of p53. Functionally, RALY promotes lung tumorigenesis, at least partially, via negative regulation of p53. These findings suggest that RALY destabilizes p53 by modulating the function of Mdm2 at multiple levels. Our study also indicates a critical role for RALY in promoting lung tumorigenesis via p53 inhibition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hao Hu
- Hefei National Laboratory for Physical Sciences at Microscale, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230027, Anhui, China
| | - Kailiang Zhao
- Hefei National Laboratory for Physical Sciences at Microscale, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230027, Anhui, China
| | - Debao Fang
- Hefei National Laboratory for Physical Sciences at Microscale, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230027, Anhui, China
| | - Zhongyu Wang
- Hefei National Laboratory for Physical Sciences at Microscale, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230027, Anhui, China
| | - Ning Yu
- Hefei National Laboratory for Physical Sciences at Microscale, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230027, Anhui, China
| | - Bo Yao
- Hefei National Laboratory for Physical Sciences at Microscale, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230027, Anhui, China
| | - Kaiyue Liu
- Hefei National Laboratory for Physical Sciences at Microscale, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230027, Anhui, China
| | - Fang Wang
- Hefei National Laboratory for Physical Sciences at Microscale, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230027, Anhui, China
| | - Yide Mei
- Hefei National Laboratory for Physical Sciences at Microscale, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230027, Anhui, China; The CAS Key Laboratory of Innate Immunity and Chronic Disease, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230027, Anhui, China; Center for Advanced Interdisciplinary Science and Biomedicine of IHM, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230027, Anhui, China.
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5
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New Insights on the Regulation of the Insulin-Degrading Enzyme: Role of microRNAs and RBPs. Cells 2022; 11:cells11162538. [PMID: 36010613 PMCID: PMC9406717 DOI: 10.3390/cells11162538] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/22/2022] [Revised: 08/04/2022] [Accepted: 08/05/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
The evident implication of the insulin-degrading enzyme (IDE) in Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), among its capacity to degrade insulin and amyloid-β peptide (Aβ), suggests that IDE could be an essential link in the relation between hyperinsulinemia, insulin resistance and AD. However, little is known about the cellular and molecular regulation of IDE expression, and even less has been explored regarding the post-transcriptional regulation of IDE, although it represents a great molecular target of interest for therapeutic treatments. We recently described that miR-7, a novel candidate for linking AD and T2DM at the molecular level, regulates IDE and other key genes in both pathologies, including some key genes involved in the insulin signaling pathway. Here, we explored whether other miRNAs as well as other post-transcriptional regulators, such as RNA binding proteins (RBP), could potentially participate in the regulation of IDE expression in vitro. Our data showed that in addition to miR-7, miR-125, miR-490 and miR-199 regulate IDE expression at the post-transcriptional level. Moreover, we also found that IDE contains multiple potential binding sites for several RBPs, and a narrow-down prediction analysis led us to speculate on a novel regulation of IDE by RALY and HuD. Taken together, these results demonstrate the novel players controlling IDE expression that could represent potential therapeutical targets to treat several metabolic diseases with a high impact on human health, including AD and T2DM.
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6
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Qiao Y, Shi Q, Yuan X, Ding J, Li X, Shen M, Huang S, Chen Z, Wang L, Zhao Y, He X. RNA binding protein RALY activates the cholesterol synthesis pathway through an MTA1 splicing switch in hepatocellular carcinoma. Cancer Lett 2022; 538:215711. [PMID: 35490918 DOI: 10.1016/j.canlet.2022.215711] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/19/2022] [Revised: 04/21/2022] [Accepted: 04/22/2022] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Alternative splicing is an important RNA processing event that contributes to RNA complexity and protein diversity in cancer. Accumulating evidence demonstrates the essential roles of some alternatively spliced genes in carcinogenesis. However, the potential roles of alternatively spliced genes in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) are still largely unknown. Here we showed that the HnRNP Associated with Lethal Yellow Protein Homolog (RALY) gene is upregulated and associated with poor outcomes in HCC patients. RALY acts as a tumor-promoting factor by cooperating with splicing factor 3b subunit 3 (SF3B3) and modulating the splicing switch of Metastasis Associated 1 (MTA1) from MTA-S to MTA1-L. Normally, MTA1-S inhibits cell proliferation by reducing the transcription of cholesterol synthesis genes. In HCC, RALY and SF3B3 cooperate to regulate the MTA1 splicing switch, leading to a reduction in the MTA1-S level, and alleviating the inhibitory effect of MTA1-S on cholesterol synthesis genes, thus promoting HCC cell proliferation. In conclusion, our results revealed that the RALY-SF3B3/MTA1/cholesterol synthesis pathway contributes essentially to hepatic carcinogenesis and could serve as a promising therapeutic target for HCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yejun Qiao
- Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center and Institutes of Biomedical Sciences, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China
| | - Qili Shi
- Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center and Institutes of Biomedical Sciences, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China
| | - Xu Yuan
- Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center and Institutes of Biomedical Sciences, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China
| | - Jie Ding
- Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center and Institutes of Biomedical Sciences, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China
| | - Xinrong Li
- Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center and Institutes of Biomedical Sciences, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China
| | - Mengting Shen
- Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center and Institutes of Biomedical Sciences, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China
| | - Shenglin Huang
- Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center and Institutes of Biomedical Sciences, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China; Key Laboratory of Breast Cancer in Shanghai, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China; Shanghai Key Laboratory of Radiation Oncology, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China
| | - Zhiao Chen
- Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center and Institutes of Biomedical Sciences, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China; Key Laboratory of Breast Cancer in Shanghai, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China; Shanghai Key Laboratory of Radiation Oncology, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China
| | - Lu Wang
- Department of Hepatic Surgery, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China.
| | - Yingjun Zhao
- Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center and Institutes of Biomedical Sciences, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China; Key Laboratory of Breast Cancer in Shanghai, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China; Shanghai Key Laboratory of Radiation Oncology, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China.
| | - Xianghuo He
- Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center and Institutes of Biomedical Sciences, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China; Key Laboratory of Breast Cancer in Shanghai, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China; Shanghai Key Laboratory of Radiation Oncology, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China; Collaborative Innovation Center for Cancer Personalized Medicine, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 211166, China.
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7
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Hennessy EJ. LncRNAs and Cardiovascular Disease. ADVANCES IN EXPERIMENTAL MEDICINE AND BIOLOGY 2022; 1363:71-95. [PMID: 35220566 DOI: 10.1007/978-3-030-92034-0_5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
Abstract
A novel class of RNA molecule emerged from human transcriptome sequencing studies termed long non-coding RNAs. These RNA molecules differ from other classes of non-coding RNAs such as microRNAs in their sizes, sequence motifs and structures. Studies have demonstrated that long non-coding RNAs play a prominent role in the development and progression of cardiovascular disease. They provide the cell with tiered levels of gene regulation interacting with DNA, other RNA molecules or proteins acting in various capacities to control a variety of cellular mechanisms. Cell specificity is a hallmark of lncRNA studies and they have been identified in macrophages, smooth muscle cells, endothelial cells and hepatocytes. Recent lncRNA studies have uncovered functional micropeptides encoded within lncRNA genes that can have a different function to the lncRNA. Disease associated mutations in the genome tend to occur in non-coding regions signifying the importance of non-coding genes in disease associations. There is a great deal of work to be done in the non-coding RNA field and tremendous therapeutic potential due to their cell type specificity. A better understanding of the functions and interactions of lncRNAs will inevitably have clinical implications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elizabeth J Hennessy
- University of Pennsylvania, Perelman School of Medicine, Institute for Translational Medicine and Therapeutics (ITMAT), Philadelphia, PA, USA.
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8
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Pan Z, Du S, Wang K, Guo X, Mao Q, Feng X, Huang L, Wu S, Hou B, Chang Y, Liu T, Chen T, Li H, Bachmann T, Bekker A, Hu H, Tao Y. Downregulation of a Dorsal Root Ganglion-Specifically Enriched Long Noncoding RNA is Required for Neuropathic Pain by Negatively Regulating RALY-Triggered Ehmt2 Expression. ADVANCED SCIENCE (WEINHEIM, BADEN-WURTTEMBERG, GERMANY) 2021; 8:e2004515. [PMID: 34383386 PMCID: PMC8356248 DOI: 10.1002/advs.202004515] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/23/2020] [Revised: 03/19/2021] [Indexed: 05/07/2023]
Abstract
Nerve injury-induced maladaptive changes of gene expression in dorsal root ganglion (DRG) neurons contribute to neuropathic pain. Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) are emerging as key regulators of gene expression. Here, a conserved lncRNA is reported, named DRG-specifically enriched lncRNA (DS-lncRNA) for its high expression in DRG neurons. Peripheral nerve injury downregulates DS-lncRNA in injured DRG due, in part, to silencing of POU domain, class 4, transcription factor 3, a transcription factor that interacts with the DS-lncRNA gene promoter. Rescuing DS-lncRNA downregulation blocks nerve injury-induced increases in the transcriptional cofactor RALY-triggered DRG Ehmt2 mRNA and its encoding G9a protein, reverses the G9a-controlled downregulation of opioid receptors and Kcna2 in injured DRG, and attenuates nerve injury-induced pain hypersensitivities in male mice. Conversely, DS-lncRNA downregulation increases RALY-triggered Ehmt2/G9a expression and correspondingly decreases opioid receptor and Kcna2 expression in DRG, leading to neuropathic pain symptoms in male mice in the absence of nerve injury. Mechanistically, downregulated DS-lncRNA promotes more binding of increased RALY to RNA polymerase II and the Ehmt2 gene promoter and enhances Ehmt2 transcription in injured DRG. Thus, downregulation of DS-lncRNA likely contributes to neuropathic pain by negatively regulating the expression of RALY-triggered Ehmt2/G9a, a key neuropathic pain player, in DRG neurons.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhiqiang Pan
- Department of AnesthesiologyNew Jersey Medical School, RutgersThe State University of New JerseyNewarkNJ07103USA
| | - Shibin Du
- Department of AnesthesiologyNew Jersey Medical School, RutgersThe State University of New JerseyNewarkNJ07103USA
| | - Kun Wang
- Department of AnesthesiologyNew Jersey Medical School, RutgersThe State University of New JerseyNewarkNJ07103USA
| | - Xinying Guo
- Department of AnesthesiologyNew Jersey Medical School, RutgersThe State University of New JerseyNewarkNJ07103USA
| | - Qingxiang Mao
- Department of AnesthesiologyNew Jersey Medical School, RutgersThe State University of New JerseyNewarkNJ07103USA
| | - Xiaozhou Feng
- Department of AnesthesiologyNew Jersey Medical School, RutgersThe State University of New JerseyNewarkNJ07103USA
| | - Lina Huang
- Department of AnesthesiologyNew Jersey Medical School, RutgersThe State University of New JerseyNewarkNJ07103USA
| | - Shaogen Wu
- Department of AnesthesiologyNew Jersey Medical School, RutgersThe State University of New JerseyNewarkNJ07103USA
| | - Bailing Hou
- Department of AnesthesiologyNew Jersey Medical School, RutgersThe State University of New JerseyNewarkNJ07103USA
| | - Yun‐Juan Chang
- The Office of Advanced Research ComputingRutgersThe State University of New JerseyNewarkNJ07103USA
| | - Tong Liu
- Center for Advanced Proteomics ResearchDepartments of Biochemistry, Microbiology & Molecular GeneticsNew Jersey Medical School, RutgersThe State University of New JerseyNewarkNJ07103USA
| | - Tong Chen
- Center for Advanced Proteomics ResearchDepartments of Biochemistry, Microbiology & Molecular GeneticsNew Jersey Medical School, RutgersThe State University of New JerseyNewarkNJ07103USA
| | - Hong Li
- Center for Advanced Proteomics ResearchDepartments of Biochemistry, Microbiology & Molecular GeneticsNew Jersey Medical School, RutgersThe State University of New JerseyNewarkNJ07103USA
| | - Thomas Bachmann
- Department of AnesthesiologyNew Jersey Medical School, RutgersThe State University of New JerseyNewarkNJ07103USA
| | - Alex Bekker
- Department of AnesthesiologyNew Jersey Medical School, RutgersThe State University of New JerseyNewarkNJ07103USA
| | - Huijuan Hu
- Department of AnesthesiologyNew Jersey Medical School, RutgersThe State University of New JerseyNewarkNJ07103USA
- Department of Physiology, Pharmacology & NeuroscienceNew Jersey Medical SchoolRutgersThe State University of New JerseyNewarkNJ07103USA
| | - Yuan‐Xiang Tao
- Department of AnesthesiologyNew Jersey Medical School, RutgersThe State University of New JerseyNewarkNJ07103USA
- Department of Physiology, Pharmacology & NeuroscienceNew Jersey Medical SchoolRutgersThe State University of New JerseyNewarkNJ07103USA
- Department of Cell Biology & Molecular MedicineNew Jersey Medical SchoolRutgersThe State University of New JerseyNewarkNJ07103USA
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9
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Salisbury DA, Casero D, Zhang Z, Wang D, Kim J, Wu X, Vergnes L, Mirza AH, Leon-Mimila P, Williams KJ, Huertas-Vazquez A, Jaffrey SR, Reue K, Chen J, Sallam T. Transcriptional regulation of N 6-methyladenosine orchestrates sex-dimorphic metabolic traits. Nat Metab 2021; 3:940-953. [PMID: 34282353 PMCID: PMC8422857 DOI: 10.1038/s42255-021-00427-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2020] [Accepted: 06/11/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Males and females exhibit striking differences in the prevalence of metabolic traits including hepatic steatosis, a key driver of cardiometabolic morbidity and mortality. RNA methylation is a widespread regulatory mechanism of transcript turnover. Here, we show that presence of the RNA modification N6-methyladenosine (m6A) triages lipogenic transcripts for degradation and guards against hepatic triglyceride accumulation. In male but not female mice, this protective checkpoint stalls under lipid-rich conditions. Loss of m6A control in male livers increases hepatic triglyceride stores, leading to a more 'feminized' hepatic lipid composition. Crucially, liver-specific deletion of the m6A complex protein Mettl14 from male and female mice significantly diminishes sex-specific differences in steatosis. We further surmise that the m6A installing machinery is subject to transcriptional control by the sex-responsive BCL6-STAT5 axis in response to dietary conditions. These data show that m6A is essential for precise and synchronized control of lipogenic enzyme activity and provide insights into the molecular basis for the existence of sex-specific differences in hepatic lipid traits.
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Affiliation(s)
- David A Salisbury
- Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
- Molecular Biology Institute, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
- Molecular Biology Interdepartmental Program, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - David Casero
- F. Widjaja Foundation Inflammatory Bowel & Immunobiology Research Institute, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Zhengyi Zhang
- Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
- Molecular Biology Institute, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Dan Wang
- Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
- Molecular Biology Institute, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Jason Kim
- Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
- Molecular Biology Institute, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Xiaohui Wu
- Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
- Molecular Biology Institute, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Laurent Vergnes
- Department of Human Genetics, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Aashiq H Mirza
- Department of Pharmacology, Weill Cornell Medicine, Cornell University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Paola Leon-Mimila
- Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
- Unidad de Genómica de Poblaciones Aplicada a la Salud, Facultad de Química, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Kevin J Williams
- Department of Biological Chemistry, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Adriana Huertas-Vazquez
- Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Samie R Jaffrey
- Department of Pharmacology, Weill Cornell Medicine, Cornell University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Karen Reue
- Molecular Biology Institute, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
- Department of Human Genetics, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Jianjun Chen
- Department of Systems Biology, The Beckman Research Institute of City of Hope, Duarte, CA, USA
| | - Tamer Sallam
- Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA.
- Molecular Biology Institute, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA.
- Molecular Biology Interdepartmental Program, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA.
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