MicroRNA-223-5p and -3p Cooperatively Suppress Necroptosis in Ischemic/Reperfused Hearts

The study of the mechanism of non-coding RNA regulation of programmed cell death in diabetic cardiomyopathy

Diabetic cardiomyopathy (DCM) represents a distinct myocardial disorder elicited by diabetes mellitus, characterized by aberrations in myocardial function and structural integrity. This pathological condition predominantly manifests in individuals with diabetes who do not have concurrent coronary artery disease or hypertension. An escalating body of scientific evidence substantiates the pivotal role of programmed cell death (PCD)-encompassing apoptosis, autophagy, pyroptosis, ferroptosis, and necroptosis-in the pathogenic progression of DCM, thereby emerging as a prospective therapeutic target. Additionally, numerous non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) have been empirically verified to modulate the biological processes underlying programmed cell death, consequently influencing the evolution of DCM. This review systematically encapsulates prevalent types of PCD manifest in DCM as well as nascent discoveries regarding the regulatory influence of ncRNAs on programmed cell death in the pathogenesis of DCM, with the aim of furnishing novel insights for the furtherance of research in PCD-associated disorders relevant to DCM.

Ticagrelor downregulates the expression of proatherogenic and proinflammatory miR125-b compared to clopidogrel: A randomized, controlled trial

BACKGROUND

Platelet P2Y12 antagonist ticagrelor reduces cardiovascular mortality after acute myocardial infarction (AMI) compared to clopidogrel, but the underlying mechanism is unknown. Because activated platelets release proatherogenic and proinflammatory microRNAs, including miR-125a, miR-125b and miR-223, we hypothesized that the expression of these miRNAs is lower on ticagrelor, compared to clopidogrel.

OBJECTIVES

We compared miR-125a, miR-125b and miR-223 expression in plasma of patients after AMI treated with ticagrelor or clopidogrel.

METHODS

After percutaneous coronary intervention on acetylsalicylic acid and clopidogrel, 60 patients with first AMI were randomized to switch to ticagrelor or to continue with clopidogrel. Plasma expression of miR-223, miR-125a-5p, miR-125b was measured using quantitative polymerase chain reaction at baseline and after 72 h and 6 months of treatment with ticagrelor or clopidogrel in patients and one in 30 healthy volunteers. Multiple electrode aggregometry using ADP test was used to determine platelet reactivity in response to P2Y12 inhibitors.

RESULTS

Expression of miR-125b was higher in patients with AMI 72 h and 6 months, compared to healthy volunteers (p = 0.001), whereas expression of miR-125a-5p and miR-223 were comparable. In patients randomized to ticagrelor, expression of miR-125b decreased at 72 h (p = 0.007) and increased back to baseline at 6 months (p = 0.005). Expression of miR-125a-5p and miR-223 was not affected by the switch from clopidogrel to ticagrelor.

CONCLUSIONS

Ticagrelor treatment leads to lower plasma expression of miR-125b after AMI, compared to clopidogrel. Higher expression of miR-125b might explain recurrent thrombotic events and worse clinical outcomes in patients treated with clopidogrel, compared to ticagrelor.

The ability of microRNAs to regulate the immune response in ischemia/reperfusion inflammatory pathways

MicroRNAs play a crucial role in regulating the immune responses induced by ischemia/reperfusion injury. Through their ability to modulate gene expression, microRNAs adjust immune responses by targeting specific genes and signaling pathways. This review focuses on the impact of microRNAs on the inflammatory pathways triggered during ischemia/reperfusion injury and highlights their ability to modulate inflammation, playing a critical role in the pathophysiology of ischemia/reperfusion injury. Dysregulated expression of microRNAs contributes to the pathogenesis of ischemia/reperfusion injury, therefore targeting specific microRNAs offers an opportunity to restore immune homeostasis and improve patient outcomes. Understanding the complex network of immunoregulatory microRNAs could provide novel therapeutic interventions aimed at attenuating excessive inflammation and preserving tissue integrity.

Noncoding RNAs: the crucial role of programmed cell death in osteoporosis

Osteoporosis is the most common skeletal disease characterized by an imbalance between bone resorption and bone remodeling. Osteoporosis can lead to bone loss and bone microstructural deterioration. This increases the risk of bone fragility and fracture, severely reducing patients' mobility and quality of life. However, the specific molecular mechanisms involved in the development of osteoporosis remain unclear. Increasing evidence suggests that multiple noncoding RNAs show differential expression in the osteoporosis state. Meanwhile, noncoding RNAs have been associated with an increased risk of osteoporosis and fracture. Noncoding RNAs are an important class of factors at the level of gene regulation and are mainly involved in cell proliferation, cell differentiation, and cell death. Programmed cell death is a genetically-regulated form of cell death involved in regulating the homeostasis of the internal environment. Noncoding RNA plays an important role in the programmed cell death process. The exploration of the noncoding RNA-programmed cell death axis has become an interesting area of research and has been shown to play a role in many diseases such as osteoporosis. In this review, we summarize the latest findings on the mechanism of noncoding RNA-mediated programmed cell death on bone homeostasis imbalance leading to osteoporosis. And we provide a deeper understanding of the role played by the noncoding RNA-programmed cell death axis at the gene regulatory level of osteoporosis. We hope to provide a unique opportunity to develop novel diagnostic and therapeutic approaches for osteoporosis.

Dapagliflozin prevents kidney podocytes pyroptosis via miR-155-5p/HO-1/NLRP3 axis modulation

Diabetic nephropathy (DN) is a significant clinical microvascular complication associated with diabetes mellitus (DM), and end-stage diabetes giving rise to kidney failure is developing into the major etiological factor of chronic kidney failure. Dapagliflozin is reported to limit podocyte damage in DM, which has proven to protect against renal failure. Mounting evidence has demonstrated that pyroptosis is associated with DM progression. Nevertheless, whether pyroptosis causes DN and the underlying molecular pathways remain obscure. In this study, we aimed to explore the antipyroptotic attributes of dapagliflozin and elucidate the underlying mechanisms of kidney damage in diabetes. In vivo, experiments were conducted in streptozotocin (STZ)-induced type 2 diabetic mice, which were administered dapagliflozin via gavage for 6 weeks. Subsequently, the specific organizational characteristics and expression of pyroptosis-related genes were evaluated. Intragastric dapagliflozin administration markedly reduced renal tissue injury. Meanwhile, dapagliflozin also attenuated the expression level of pyroptosis associated genes, including ASC, cleaved Caspase-1, GSDMD N-termini, NLRP3, IL-18, and IL-1β in renal tissue of dapagliflozin-treated animals. Similar antipyroptotic effects were observed in palmitic acid (PA)-treated mouse podocytes. We also found that heme oxygenase 1 (HO-1) enhanced the protection of mouse podocyte clone 5 cells (MPC5). Moreover, miR-155-5p inhibition increased pyroptosis in PA-treated MPC5 cells, suggesting that miR-155-5p acts as an endogenous stimulator that increases HO-1 expression and reduces pyroptosis. Hence, our findings imply that dapagliflozin inhibits podocyte pyroptosis via the miR-155-5p/HO-1/NLRP3 axis in DM. Furthermore, dapagliflozin substitution may be regarded as an effective strategy for preventing pyroptosis in the kidney, including a therapeutic option for treating pyroptosis-related DN.

Extracellular vesicles purified from serum-converted human platelet lysates offer strong protection after cardiac ischaemia/reperfusion injury

Extracellular vesicles (EVs) from cultured cells or bodily fluids have been demonstrated to show therapeutic value following myocardial infarction. However, challenges in donor variation, EV generation and isolation methods, and material availability have hindered their therapeutic use. Here, we show that human clinical-grade platelet concentrates from a blood establishment can be used to rapidly generate high concentrations of high purity EVs from sero-converted platelet lysate (SCPL-EVs) with minimal processing, using size-exclusion chromatography. Processing removed serum carrier proteins, coagulation factors and complement proteins from the original platelet lysate and the resultant SCPL-EVs carried a range of trophic factors and multiple recognised cardioprotective miRNAs. As such, SCPL-EVs protected rodent and human cardiomyocytes from hypoxia/re-oxygenation injury and stimulated angiogenesis of human cardiac microvessel endothelial cells. In a mouse model of myocardial infarction with reperfusion, SCPL-EV delivery using echo-guided intracavitary percutaneous injection produced large improvements in cardiac function, reduced scar formation and promoted angiogenesis. Since platelet-based biomaterials are already widely used clinically, we believe that this therapy could be rapidly suitable for a human clinical trial.

Bisphenol A Regulates the TNFR1 Pathway and Excessive ROS Mediated by miR-26a-5p/ADAM17 Axis to Aggravate Selenium Deficiency-Induced Necroptosis in Broiler Veins

Selenium (Se) deficiency can affect the expression of microRNA (miRNA) and induce necroptosis, apoptosis, etc., resulting in damage to various tissues and organs. Bisphenol A (BPA) exposure can cause adverse consequences such as oxidative stress, endothelial dysfunction, and atherosclerosis. The toxic effects of combined treatment with Se-deficiency and BPA exposure may have a synergistic effect. We replicated the BPA exposure and Se-deficiency model in broiler to investigate whether the combined treatment of Se-deficiency and BPA exposure induced necroptosis and inflammation of chicken vascular tissue via the miR-26A-5p/ADAM17 axis. We found that Se deficiency and BPA exposure significantly inhibited the expression of miR-26a-5p and increased the expression of ADAM17, thereby increasing reactive oxygen species (ROS) production. Subsequently, we discovered that the tumor necrosis factor receptor (TNFR1), which was highly expressed, activated the necroptosis pathway through receptor-interacting protein kinase 1 (RIPK1), receptor-interacting protein kinase 3 (RIPK3), and mixed-lineage kinase domain-like (MLKL), and regulated the heat shock proteins-related genes expressions and inflammation-related genes expressions after exposure to BPA and selenium deficiency. In vitro, we found that miR-26a-5p knockdown and increased ADAM17 can induce necroptosis by activating the TNFR1 pathway. Similarly, both N-Acetyl-L-cysteine (NAC), Necrostatin-1 (Nec-1), and miR-26a-5p mimic prevented necroptosis and inflammation caused by BPA exposure and Se deficiency. These results suggest that BPA exposure activates the miR-26a-5p/ADAM17 axis and exacerbates Se deficient-induced necroptosis and inflammation through the TNFR1 pathway and excess ROS. This study lays a data foundation for future ecological and health risk assessments of nutrient deficiencies and environmental toxic pollution.

Obstructive sleep apnea alters microRNA levels: Effects of continuous positive airway pressure

Background

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) has been linked to cytokine-mediated chronic inflammatory states. Continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) is an established therapy for OSA, but its effects on inflammation remain unclear. A recent study from our group identified soluble cytokine receptors altered in OSA patients and modified by CPAP adherence. However, the upstream regulatory pathways responsible for these shifts in proinflammatory cascades with OSA and CPAP therapy remained unknown. Accordingly, this study mapped OSA and CPAP-modulated soluble cytokine receptors to specific microRNAs and then tested the hypothesis that OSA and CPAP adherence shift cytokine-related microRNA expression profiles.

Study Design

Plasma samples were collected from patients with OSA (n=50) at baseline and approximately 90 days after CPAP initiation and compared to referent control subjects (n=10). Patients with OSA were further divided into cohorts defined by adherence vs nonadherence to CPAP therapy. The microRNAs that mapped to soluble cytokine receptors of interest were subjected to quantitative polymerase chain reaction.

Results

At baseline, increased hsa-miR-15a-5p, hsa-miR-15b-5p, hsa-miR-16-5p, hsa-miR-195-5p, hsa-miR-424-5p, hsa-miR-223-3p, and hsa-miR-223-5p were observed in patients with OSA compared to controls (p<0.05). In CPAP adherent patients (n=22), hsa-miR233-3p and hsa-miR233-5p decreased at follow-up (p<0.05) whereas there was no change in miR levels from baseline in non-adherent CPAP patients (n=28). The miRs hsa-miR233-3p and hsa-miR233-5p mapped to both proinflammatory and innate immunity activation; the inflammasome.

Conclusion

A specific set of microRNAs, including hsa-miR233-3p and hsa-miR233-5p, may serve as a marker of inflammatory responses in patients with OSA, and be used to assess attenuation of inflammasome activation by CPAP.

miR-223-3p Prevents Necroptotic Macrophage Death by Targeting Ripk3 in a Negative Feedback Loop and Consequently Ameliorates Advanced Atherosclerosis

BACKGROUND

The formation of large necrotic cores results in vulnerable atherosclerotic plaques, which can lead to severe cardiovascular diseases. However, the specific regulatory mechanisms underlying the development of necrotic cores remain unclear.

METHODS

To evaluate how the modes of lesional cell death are reprogrammed during the development of atherosclerosis, the expression levels of key proteins that are involved in the necroptotic, apoptotic, and pyroptotic pathways were compared between different stages of plaques in humans and mice. Luciferase assays and loss-of-function studies were performed to identify the microRNA-mediated regulatory mechanism that protects foamy macrophages from necroptotic cell death. The role of this mechanism in atherosclerosis was determined by using a knockout mouse model with perivascular drug administration and tail vein injection of microRNA inhibitors in Apoe-/- mice.

RESULTS

Here, we demonstrate that the necroptotic, rather than the apoptotic or pyroptotic, pathway is more activated in advanced unstable plaques compared with stable plaques in both humans and mice, which closely correlates with necrotic core formation. The upregulated expression of Ripk3 (receptor-interacting protein kinase 3) promotes the C/EBPβ (CCAAT/enhancer binding protein beta)-dependent transcription of the microRNA miR-223-3p, which conversely inhibits Ripk3 expression and forms a negative feedback loop to regulate the necroptosis of foamy macrophages. The knockout of the Mir223 gene in bone marrow cells accelerates atherosclerosis in Apoe-/- mice, but this effect can be rescued by Ripk3 deficiency or treatment with the necroptosis inhibitors necrostatin-1 and GSK-872. Like the Mir223 knockout, treating Apoe-/- mice with miR-223-3p inhibitors increases atherosclerosis.

CONCLUSIONS

Our study suggests that miR-223-3p expression in macrophages protects against atherosclerotic plaque rupture by limiting the formation of necrotic cores, thus providing a potential microRNA therapeutic candidate for atherosclerosis.

Skin treatment with non-thermal plasma modulates the immune system through miR-223-3p and its target genes

Non-thermal plasma, a partially ionized gas, holds significant potential for clinical applications, including wound-healing support, oral therapies, and anti-tumour treatments. While its applications showed promising outcomes, the underlying molecular mechanisms remain incompletely understood. We thus apply non-thermal plasma to mouse auricular skin and conducted non-coding RNA sequencing, as well as single-cell blood sequencing. In a time-series analysis (five timepoints spanning 2 hours), we compare the expression of microRNAs in the plasma-treated left ears to the unexposed right ears of the same mice as well as to the ears of unexposed control mice. Our findings indicate specific effects in the treated ears for a set of five miRNAs: mmu-miR-144-5p, mmu-miR-144-3p, mmu-miR-142a-5p, mmu-miR-223-3p, and mmu-miR-451a. Interestingly, mmu-miR-223-3p also exhibits an increase over time in the right non-treated ear of the exposed mice, suggesting systemic effects. Notably, this miRNA, along with mmu-miR-142a-5p and mmu-miR-144-3p, regulates genes and pathways associated with wound healing and tissue regeneration (namely ErbB, FoxO, Hippo, and PI3K-Akt signalling). This co-regulation is particularly remarkable considering the significant seed dissimilarities among the miRNAs. Finally, single-cell sequencing of PBMCs reveals the downregulation of 12 from 15 target genes in B-cells, Cd4+ and Cd8+ T-cells. Collectively, our data provide evidence for a systemic effect of non-thermal plasma.

Novel, non-conventional pathways of necroptosis in the heart and other organs: Molecular mechanisms, regulation and inter-organelle interplay

Necroptosis, a cell death modality that is defined as a necrosis-like cell death depending on the receptor-interacting protein kinase 3 (RIPK3) and mixed lineage kinase domain-like pseudokinase (MLKL), has been found to underlie the injury of various organs. Nevertheless, the molecular background of this cell loss seems to also involve, at least under certain circumstances, some novel axes, such as RIPK3-PGAM5-Drp1 (mitochondrial protein phosphatase 5-dynamin-related protein 1), RIPK3-CaMKII (Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II) and RIPK3-JNK-BNIP3 (c-Jun N-terminal kinase-BCL2 Interacting Protein 3). In addition, endoplasmic reticulum stress and oxidative stress via the higher production of reactive oxygen species produced by the mitochondrial enzymes and the enzymes of the plasma membrane have been implicated in necroptosis, thereby depicting an inter-organelle interplay in the mechanisms of this cell death. However, the role and relationship between these novel non-conventional signalling and the well-accepted canonical pathway in terms of tissue- and/or disease-specific prioritisation is completely unknown. In this review, we provide current knowledge on some necroptotic pathways being not directly associated with RIPK3-MLKL execution and report studies showing the role of respective microRNAs in the regulation of necroptotic injury in the heart and in some other tissues having a high expression of the pro-necroptotic proteins.

Long Non-coding RNA Involved in the Pathophysiology of Atrial Fibrillation

BACKGROUND

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is a prevalent and chronic cardiovascular disorder associated with various pathophysiological alterations, including atrial electrical and structural remodeling, disrupted calcium handling, autonomic nervous system dysfunction, aberrant energy metabolism, and immune dysregulation. Emerging evidence suggests that long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) play a significant role in the pathogenesis of AF.

OBJECTIVE

This discussion aims to elucidate the involvement of AF-related lncRNAs, with a specific focus on their role as miRNA sponges that modulate crucial signaling pathways, contributing to the progression of AF. We also address current limitations in AF-related lncRNA research and explore potential future directions in this field. Additionally, we summarize feasible strategies and promising delivery systems for targeting lncRNAs in AF therapy.

CONCLUSION

In conclusion, targeting AF-related lncRNAs holds substantial promise for future investigations and represents a potential therapeutic avenue for managing AF.

Exercise increases MEF2A abundance in rat cardiac muscle by downregulating microRNA-223-5p

Exercise plays an important role in cardiac health and enhances the transport of glucose in cardiac muscle by increasing the glucose transporter-4 (GLUT4) content at the cell membrane. The GLUT4 gene is a target of myocyte enhancer transcription factor 2A (MEF2A). Several transcription factors are regulated by microRNAs (miRs), small non-coding RNAs that control gene expression at the posttranscriptional level. In this study we tested the hypothesis that exercise regulates the expression of miR-223 and that MEF2A is a direct target of miR-223. Quantitative reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) and western blot experiments showed that GLUT4 gene expression and protein abundance increased by 30 and 23%, respectively, in the microsomal fraction immediately after exercise, and had returned to control levels after 18 h. In contrast, the increase in GLUT4 in the membrane fraction was delayed. Exercise also increased the protein abundance of transcription factors involved in GLUT4 expression. Immediately after exercise, the protein abundance of MEF2A, nuclear respiratory factor 1 (NRF1), and forkhead box O1 (FOXO1) increased by 18, 30, and 40%, respectively. qRT-PCR experiments showed that miR-223-3p and miR-223-5p expression decreased immediately after exercise by 60 and 30%, respectively, and luciferase assays indicated that MEF2A is a target of the 5p strand of miR-223. Overexpression of miR-223-5p in H9c2 cells decreased the protein abundance of MEF2A. Our results suggest that the exercise-induced increase in GLUT4 content in cardiac muscle is partly due to the posttranscriptional increase in MEF2A protein abundance caused by the decrease in miR-223-5p expression. The exercise-induced decrease in miR-223-3p expression likely contributes to the increases in NRF1 and FOXO1 abundance and GLUT4 content.

A Novel Defined PANoptosis-Related miRNA Signature for Predicting the Prognosis and Immune Characteristics in Clear Cell Renal Cell Carcinoma: A miRNA Signature for the Prognosis of ccRCC

Clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC) is one of the most prevalent cancers, and PANoptosis is a distinct, inflammatory-programmed cell death regulated by the PANoptosome. The essential regulators of cancer occurrence and progression are microRNAs (miRNAs). However, the potential function of PANoptosis-related microRNAs (PRMs) in ccRCC remains obscure. This study retrieved ccRCC samples from The Cancer Genome Atlas database and three Gene Expression Omnibus datasets. PRMs were recognized based on previous reports in the scientific literature. Regression analyses were used to identify the prognosis PRMs and construct a PANoptosis-related miRNA prognostic signature based on the risk score. We discovered that high-risk patients had poorer survival prognoses and were significantly linked to high-grade and advanced-stage tumors, using a variety of R software packages and web analysis tools. Furthermore, we demonstrated that the low-risk group had significant changes in their metabolic pathways. In contrast, the high-risk group was characterized by high immune cell infiltration, immune checkpoint expression, and low half-maximum inhibition concentration (IC50) values of chemotherapeutic agents. This suggests that high-risk patients may benefit more from immunotherapy and chemotherapy. In conclusion, we constructed a PANoptosis-related microRNA signature and revealed its potential significance in clinicopathological features and tumor immunity, thereby providing new precise treatment strategies.

Inflammatory microRNAs in cardiovascular pathology: another brick in the wall

The regulatory role of microRNAs (miRNAs) is mainly mediated by their effect on protein expression and is recognized in a multitude of pathophysiological processes. In recent decades, accumulating evidence has interest in these factors as modulatory elements of cardiovascular pathophysiology. Furthermore, additional biological processes have been identified as new components of cardiovascular disease etiology. In particular, inflammation is now considered an important cardiovascular risk factor. Thus, in the present review, we will focus on the role of a subset of miRNAs called inflamma-miRs that may regulate inflammatory status in the development of cardiovascular pathology. According to published data, the most representative candidates that play functional roles in thromboinflammation are miR-21, miR-33, miR-34a, miR-146a, miR-155, and miR-223. We will describe the functions of these miRNAs in several cardiovascular pathologies in depth, with specific emphasis on the molecular mechanisms related to atherogenesis. We will also discuss the latest findings on the role of miRNAs as regulators of neutrophil extracellular traps and their impact on cardiovascular diseases. Overall, the data suggest that the use of miRNAs as therapeutic tools or biomarkers may improve the diagnosis or prognosis of adverse cardiovascular events in inflammatory diseases. Thus, targeting or increasing the levels of adequate inflamma-miRs at different stages of disease could help mitigate or avoid the development of cardiovascular morbidities.

A novel prognostic signature for clear cell renal cell carcinoma constructed using necroptosis-related miRNAs

Background

This work aims to analyze the relationship between necroptosis-related microRNAs (miRNAs) and the prognosis of clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC).

Methods

The miRNAs expression profiles of ccRCC and normal renal tissues from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database were used to construct a matrix of the 13 necroptosis-related miRNAs. Cox regression analysis was used to construct a signature to predict the overall survival of ccRCC patients. The genes targeted by the necroptosis-related miRNAs in the prognostic signature were predicted using miRNA databases. Gene Ontology (Go) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) analyses were used to investigate the genes targeted by the necroptosis-related miRNAs. The expression levels of selected miRNAs in 15 paired samples (of ccRCC tissues and adjacent normal renal tissues) were investigated using reverse transcriptase quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR).

Results

Six necroptosis-related miRNAs were found to differentially expressed between ccRCC and normal renal tissues. A prognostic signature consisting of miR-223-3p, miR-200a-5p, and miR-500a-3p was constructed using Cox regression analysis and risk scores were calculated. Multivariate Cox regression analysis showed that the hazard ratio was 2.0315 (1.2627–3.2685, P = 0.0035), indicating that the risk score of the signature was an independent risk factor. The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve showed that the signature has a favorable predictive capacity and the Kaplan-Meier survival analysis indicated that ccRCC patients with higher risk scores had worse prognoses (P < 0.001). The results of the RT-qPCR verified that all three miRNAs used in the signature were differentially expressed between ccRCC and normal tissues (P < 0.05).

Conclusion

The three necroptosis-related-miRNAs used in this study could be a valuable signature for the prognosis of ccRCC patients. Necroptosis-related miRNAs should be further explored as prognostic indicators for ccRCC.

Liraglutide Attenuates Myocardial Ischemia/Reperfusion Injury Through the Inhibition of Necroptosis by Activating GLP-1R/PI3K/Akt Pathway

Necroptosis is a crucial programmed cell death that is tightly associated with myocardial ischemia/reperfusion injury (MI/RI). Liraglutide is an effective option for the treatment of type 2 diabetes and has recently been reported to exert cardioprotective effects on MI/RI. Researchers do not know whether the cardioprotective effect of liraglutide is involved in regulating necroptosis. This study aimed to explore the effect of liraglutide on MI/RI-induced necroptosis and its potential mechanisms. Hypoxia/reoxygenation (H/R) was performed on H9c2 cells in vitro to simulate ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury, and an MI/RI rat model was established in vivo by ligating the anterior descending branch of the left coronary artery. H/R or I/R damage was assessed by performing biochemical assay, Hoechst 33342/PI staining, H&E (hematoxylin and eosin) staining, and Annexin-V/PI staining. Our data revealed that liraglutide resulted in markedly increased cell viability and reduced cardiac enzyme release by protecting cardiomyocytes from a necrosis-like phenotype after H/R. The myocardial infarct size and cardiac enzyme release were reduced in the heart tissues from the liraglutide-treated group. The levels of necroptosis-associated proteins (receptor-interacting protein kinase 3 (RIPK3), p-RIPK3, and phosphorylated-mixed lineage kinase domain-like protein (p-MLKL)) were also reduced by the liraglutide treatment. Mechanistically, we revealed that liraglutide exerted cardioprotective effects through a glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor (GLP-1R) and phosphatidylinositol-3 kinase (PI3K)-dependent pathway. Both the GLP-1R inhibitor exendin (9-39) and the PI3K inhibitor LY294002 abrogated the protective effects of liraglutide in vitro. We found that liraglutide may attenuate MI/RI by inhibiting necroptosis, in part by enhancing the activity of the GLP-1R/PI3K/Akt pathway.

The Role of ncRNAs in Cardiac Infarction and Regeneration

Myocardial infarction is the most prevalent cardiovascular disease worldwide, and it is defined as cardiomyocyte cell death due to a lack of oxygen supply. Such a temporary absence of oxygen supply, or ischemia, leads to extensive cardiomyocyte cell death in the affected myocardium. Notably, reactive oxygen species are generated during the reperfusion process, driving a novel wave of cell death. Consequently, the inflammatory process starts, followed by fibrotic scar formation. Limiting inflammation and resolving the fibrotic scar are essential biological processes with respect to providing a favorable environment for cardiac regeneration that is only achieved in a limited number of species. Distinct inductive signals and transcriptional regulatory factors are key components that modulate cardiac injury and regeneration. Over the last decade, the impact of non-coding RNAs has begun to be addressed in many cellular and pathological processes including myocardial infarction and regeneration. Herein, we provide a state-of-the-art review of the current functional role of diverse non-coding RNAs, particularly microRNAs (miRNAs), long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs), and circular RNAs (circRNAs), in different biological processes involved in cardiac injury as well as in distinct experimental models of cardiac regeneration.

Platelet Internalization Mediates Ferroptosis in Myocardial Infarction

BACKGROUND

Myocardial cell death is the hallmark of myocardial infarction. In the process of myocardial injury, platelets contribute to the pathogenesis by triggering intense inflammatory responses. Yet, it is still unclear if platelets regulate cardiomyocyte death directly, thereby exacerbating myocardial injury in myocardial infarction.

METHODS

We describe a mechanism underlying the correlative association between platelets accumulation and myocardial cell death by using myocardial infarction mouse model and patient specimens.

RESULTS

Myocardial infarction induces platelets internalization, resulting in the release of miR-223-3p, a platelet-enriched miRNA. By targeting the ACSL3, miR-223-3p delivered by internalized platelets cause the reduction of stearic acid-phosphatidylcholine in cardiomyocytes. The presence of stearic acid-phosphatidylcholine protects cardiomyocytes against ferroptosis.

CONCLUSIONS

Our work reveals a novel mechanism of platelet-mediated myocardial injury, highlighting antiplatelet therapies could potentially represent a multimechanism treatment of myocardial infarction, and implying ferroptosis being considered as novel target for therapeutics.

Monocyte exposure to fine particulate matter results in miRNA release: A link between air pollution and potential clinical complication

Chronic exposure to PM_2.5 contributes to the pathogenesis of numerous disorders, although the underlying mechanisms remain unknown. The study investigated whether exposure of human monocytes to PM_2.5 is associated with alterations in miRNAs. Monocytes were exposed in vitro to PM_2.5 collected during winter and summer, followed by miRNA isolation from monocytes. Additionally, in 140 persons chronically exposed to air pollution, some miRNA patterns were isolated from serum seasonally. Between-season differences in chemical PM_2.5 composition were observed. Some miRNAs were expressed both in monocytes and in human serum. MiR-34c-5p and miR-223-5p expression was more pronounced in winter. Bioinformatics analyses showed that selected miRNAs were involved in the regulation of several pathways. The expression of the same miRNA species in monocytes and serum suggests that these cells are involved in the production of miRNAs implicated in the development of disorders mediated by inflammation, oxidative stress, proliferation, and apoptosis after exposure to PM_2.5.

Comprehensive analysis of transcriptomics and metabolomics to understand chronic ethanol induced murine cardiotoxicity

Alcohol abuse has attracted public attention and long-term alcohol exposure can lead to alcohol-featured non-ischemic dilated cardiomyopathy. However, the precise underlying mechanisms of alcoholic cardiomyopathy remain to be elucidated. This study aimed to comprehensively characterize alcohol abuse-mediated effects on downstream metabolites and genes transcription using a multi-omics strategy. We established chronic ethanol intoxication model in adult male C57BL/6 mice through 8 weeks of 95% alcohol vapor administration and performed metabolomics analysis, mRNA-seq and microRNA-seq analysis with myocardial tissues. Firstly, ethanol markedly induced ejection fraction reductions, cardiomyocyte hypertrophy, and myocardial fibrosis in mice with myocardial oxidative injury. In addition, the omics analysis identified a total of 166 differentially expressed metabolites (DEMs), 241 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) and 19 differentially expressed microRNAs (DEmiRNAs), respectively. The results highlighted that alcohol abuse mainly interfered with endogenous lipids, amino acids and nucleotides production and the relevant genes transcription in mice hearts. Based on KEGG database, the affected signaling pathways are primarily mapped to the antigen processing and presentation, regulation of actin cytoskeleton, AMPK signaling pathway, tyrosine metabolism and PPAR signaling pathway, etc. Furthermore, 9 hub genes related to oxidative stress from DEGs were selected based on function annotation, and potential alcoholic cardiotoxic oxidative stress biomarkers were determined through establishing PPI network and DEmiRNAs-DEGs cross-talk. Altogether, our data strongly supported the conclusion that ethanol abuse characteristically affected amino acid and energy metabolism, nucleotide metabolism and especially lipids metabolism in mice hearts, and underlined the values of lipids signaling and oxidative stress in the treatment strategies.

Pioglitazone Protects Against Hypoxia-Induced Cardiomyocyte Apoptosis Through Inhibiting NLRP3/Caspase-1 Pathway in vivo and in vitro

This study aims to explore the underlying mechanisms of how Pioglitazone (Pio) affects myocardial ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) injury. In this study, after pretreatment of Pio, the pathologic change of myocardial tissues was measured via hematoxylin and eosin staining. The release of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and nitric oxide (NO) were measured. The cardiomyocyte apoptosis was detected via TUNEL assay and flow cytometry assay. The mitochondrial membrane potential (ΔΨm) was estimated using the JC-1 probe. The release of cytochrome c in mitochondria and the translocation of cytochrome c in the cytosol were measured using western blot. Additionally, apoptosis-associated molecules and NOD-like receptor pyrin domain containing-3 (NLRP3)/caspase-1 pathway-related molecules were measured using western blot, quantitative real-time-polymerase chain reaction, and immunofluorescence staining. Results showed that the pretreatment of Pio significantly decreased myocardial tissue damage. Pio pretreatment inhibited the release of creatine kinase and LDH but promoted NO release in serum and H9c2 cell supernatants. Moreover, the pretreatment of Pio notably alleviated cardiomyocyte apoptosis. Pio pretreatment also maintained the mitochondrial membrane potential and prevented cytochrome c release in H/R-induced cardiomyocytes. Additionally, we confirmed that Pio pretreatment inhibited cardiomyocyte apoptosis via repressing the NLRP3/caspase-1 pathway. In conclusion, our study demonstrated that Pio could inhibit myocardial I/R injury and cardiomyocyte apoptosis by inhibiting the activation of the NLRP3/caspase-1 signaling pathway.

microRNA Expression Levels Change in Neonatal Patients During and After Exposure to Cardiopulmonary Bypass

Background The systemic inflammation that occurs after exposure to cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB), which is especially severe in neonatal patients, is associated with poorer outcomes and is not well understood. In order to gain deeper insight into how exposure to bypass activates inflammatory responses in circulating leukocytes, we studied changes in microRNA (miRNA) expression during and after exposure to bypass. miRNAs are small noncoding RNAs that have important roles in modulating protein levels and function of cells. Methods and Results We performed miRNA-sequencing on leukocytes isolated from neonatal patients with CPB (n=5) at 7 time points during the process of CPB, including before the initiation of bypass, during bypass, and at 3 time points during the first 24 hours after weaning from bypass. We identified significant differentially expressed miRNAs using generalized linear regression models, and miRNAs were defined as statistically significant using a false discovery rate-adjusted P<0.05. We identified gene targets of these miRNAs using the TargetScan database and identified significantly enriched biological pathways for these gene targets. We identified 54 miRNAs with differential expression during and after CPB. These miRNAs clustered into 3 groups, including miRNAs that were increased during and after CPB (3 miRNAs), miRNAs that decreased during and after CPB (10 miRNAs), and miRNAs that decreased during CPB but then increased 8 to 24 hours after CPB. A total of 38.9% of the target genes of these miRNAs were significantly differentially expressed in our previous study. miRNAs with altered expression levels are predicted to significantly modulate pathways related to inflammation and signal transduction. Conclusions The unbiased profiling of the miRNA changes that occur in the circulating leukocytes of patients with bypass provides deeper insight into the mechanisms that underpin the systemic inflammatory response that occurs in patients after exposure to CPB. These data will help the development of novel treatments and biomarkers for bypass-associated inflammation.

MiR-223 and MiR-186 Are Associated with Long-Term Mortality after Myocardial Infarction

Background—The identification and stratification of patients at risk of fatal outcomes after myocardial infarction (MI) is of considerable interest to guide secondary prevention therapies. Currently, no accurate biomarkers are available to identify subjects who are at risk of suffering acute manifestations of coronary heart disease as well as to predict adverse events after MI. Non-coding circulating microRNAs (miRNAs) have been proposed as novel diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers in cardiovascular diseases. The aims of the study were to investigate the clinical value of a panel of circulating miRNAs as accurate biomarkers associated with MI and mortality risk prediction in patients with documented MI. Methods and Results—seven circulating plasma miRNAs were analyzed in 67 MI patients and 80 control subjects at a high cardiovascular risk but without known coronary diseases. Multivariate logistic regression analyses demonstrated that six miRNAs were independently associated with MI occurrence. Among them, miR-223 and miR-186 reliably predicted long-term mortality in MI patients, in particular miR-223 (HR 1.57 per one-unit increase, p = 0.02), after left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) adjustment. Kaplan–Meier survival analyses provided a predictive threshold value of miR-223 expression (p = 0.028) for long-term mortality. Conclusions—Circulating miR-223 and miR-186 are promising predictive biomarkers for long-term mortality after MI.

Circulating MicroRNAs and myocardial involvement severity in chronic Chagas cardiomyopathy

Background

Chronic Chagas Cardiomyopathy (CCM) is characterized by a unique pathophysiology in which inflammatory, microvascular and neuroendocrine processes coalesce in the development of one of the most severe cardiomyopathies affecting humans. Despite significant advances in understanding the molecular mechanisms involved in this disease, scarce information is available regarding microRNAs and clinical parameters of disease severity. We aimed to evaluate the association between circulating levels of six microRNAs with markers of myocardial injury and prognosis in this population.

Methods

Patients with CCM and reduced ejection fraction were included in a prospective exploratory cohort study. We assessed the association of natural log-transformed values of six circulating microRNAs (miR-34a-5p, miR-208a-5p, miR-185-5p, miR-223-5p, let-7d-5p, and miR-454-5p) with NT-proBNP levels and echocardiographic variables using linear regression models adjusted for potential confounders. By using Cox Proportional Hazard models, we examined whether levels of microRNAs could predict a composite outcome (CO), including all-cause mortality, cardiac transplantation, and implantation of a left ventricular assist device (LVAD). Finally, for mRNAs showing significant associations, we predicted the target genes and performed pathway analyses using Targetscan and Reactome Pathway Browser.

Results

Seventy-four patients were included (59% males, median age: 64 years). After adjustment for age, sex, body mass index, and heart failure medications, only increasing miR-223-5p relative expression levels were significantly associated with better myocardial function markers, including left atrium area (Coef. -10.2; 95% CI -16.35; -4.09), end-systolic (Coef. -45.3; 95% CI -74.06; -16.61) and end-diastolic volumes (Coef. -46.1; 95% CI -81.99; -10.26) of the left ventricle. Moreover, we observed that higher miR-223-5p levels were associated with better left-ventricle ejection fraction and lower NT-proBNP levels. No associations were observed between the six microRNAs and the composite outcome. A total of 123 target genes for miR-223-5p were obtained. From these, several target pathways mainly related to signaling by receptor tyrosine kinases were identified.

Conclusions

The present study found an association between miR-223-5p and clinical parameters of CCM, with signaling pathways related to receptor tyrosine kinases as a potential mechanism linking low levels of miR-223-5p with CCM worsening.

Non-coding RNAs in necroptosis, pyroptosis, and ferroptosis in cardiovascular diseases

Accumulating evidence has proved that non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) play a critical role in the genetic programming and gene regulation of cardiovascular diseases (CVDs). Cardiovascular disease morbidity and mortality are rising and have become a primary public health issue that requires immediate resolution through effective intervention. Numerous studies have revealed that new types of cell death, such as pyroptosis, necroptosis, and ferroptosis, play critical cellular roles in CVD progression. It is worth noting that ncRNAs are critical novel regulators of cardiovascular risk factors and cell functions by mediating pyroptosis, necroptosis, and ferroptosis. Thus, ncRNAs can be regarded as promising therapeutic targets for treating and diagnosing cardiovascular diseases. Recently, there has been a surge of interest in the mediation of ncRNAs on three types of cell death in regulating tissue homeostasis and pathophysiological conditions in CVDs. Although our understanding of ncRNAs remains in its infancy, the studies reviewed here may provide important new insights into how ncRNAs interact with CVDs. This review summarizes what is known about the functions of ncRNAs in modulating cell death-associated CVDs and their role in CVDs, as well as their current limitations and future prospects.

Citicoline Modifies the Expression of Specific miRNAs Related to Cardioprotection in Patients with ST-Segment Elevation Myocardial Infarction Subjected to Coronary Angioplasty

Extracellular vesicles are recognized as signaling mediators between cells both in physiological and pathological communication. In this work, we explored the potential effect of citicoline to modify relevant proteins or miRNAs for cardioprotection in the smallest population of such microvesicles; i.e., in exosomes from patients diagnosed with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) undergoing coronary angioplasty. The plasma-exosome-enriched fraction from these patients was characterized. Their cellular origin was assessed by flow cytometry and Western blot, whereas miRNA expression was evaluated by real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). The content of caveolin-1, caveolin-3, and hnRNPA2B1, which play a relevant role in selective transport of miRNAs into microvesicles, along with the effect on cell viability of the exosomes obtained from citicoline-treated and untreated groups were also analyzed. Our results showed that hypoxic stress increases exosome release into the circulation. Moreover, we found that CD146+ increased in exosomes from citicoline-treated patients, while CD142+ decreased in these patients compared to the placebo group. No changes were detected in the protein levels of caveolin-1, caveolin-3, and hnRNPA2B1. Citicoline administration modified the expression of miR233-3p, miR92, and miR21-5p in exosomes. Cell viability decreased in the presence of exosomes from infarcted patients, while incubation of H9c2 cells with exosomes from patients reperfused with citicoline did not affect cell viability. In conclusion, citicoline administration modifies the expression of specific miRNAs related to cardioprotection in exosomes.

Toll-Like Receptor 3 in Cardiovascular Diseases

Toll-like receptor 3 (TLR3) is an important member of the innate immune response receptor toll-like receptors (TLRs) family, which plays a vital role in regulating immune response, promoting the maturation and differentiation of immune cells, and participating in the response of pro-inflammatory factors. TLR3 is activated by pathogen-associated molecular patterns and damage-associated molecular patterns, which support the pathophysiology of many diseases related to inflammation. An increasing number of studies have confirmed that TLR3, as a crucial medium of innate immunity, participates in the occurrence and development of cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) by regulating the transcription and translation of various cytokines, thus affecting the structure and physiological function of resident cells in the cardiovascular system, including vascular endothelial cells, vascular smooth muscle cells, cardiomyocytes, fibroblasts and macrophages. The dysfunction and structural damage of vascular endothelial cells and proliferation of vascular smooth muscle cells are the key factors in the occurrence of vascular diseases such as pulmonary arterial hypertension, atherosclerosis, myocardial hypertrophy, myocardial infarction, ischaemia/reperfusion injury, and heart failure. Meanwhile, cardiomyocytes, fibroblasts, and macrophages are involved in the development of CVDs. Therefore, the purpose of this review was to explore the latest research published on TLR3 in CVDs and discuss current understanding of potential mechanisms by which TLR3 contributes to CVDs. Even though TLR3 is a developing area, it has strong treatment potential as an immunomodulator and deserves further study for clinical translation.

MSC-Derived Extracellular Vesicles Activate Mitophagy to Alleviate Renal Ischemia/Reperfusion Injury via the miR-223-3p/NLRP3 Axis

Background

MSC-derived extracellular vehicles (EVs) exhibit a protective functional role in renal ischemia/reperfusion injury (RIRI). Recent studies have revealed that mitophagy could be a potential target process in the treatment of RIRI. However, whether MSC-derived EVs are involved in the regulation of mitophagy in RIRI remains largely unknown to date.

Methods

RIRI model was established in vivo in mice by subjecting them to renal ischemia/reperfusion. TCMK-1 cells were subjected to hypoxia/reoxygenation (H/R) stimulation to mimic RIRI in vitro. BMSCs and BMSC-derived EVs were isolated and identified. Renal injury was assessed using H&E staining. The qPCR and western blot analyses were conducted to detect the mRNA and protein levels. Apoptosis was evaluated using the TUNEL assay and flow cytometry analysis. The EVs, autophagosomes, and mitochondria were observed using TEM. The colocalization of autophagosomes with mitochondria was confirmed through the confocal assay. The direct binding of miR-223-3p to NLRP3 was validated through the dual-luciferase assay.

Results

BMSCs and BMSC-derived EVs were successfully isolated from mice and identified. The protective effect of BMSC-derived EVs against RIRI was validated both in vitro and in vivo, which was indicated by a decrease in apoptosis and inflammasome activation and an increase in mitophagy. However, this protective effect was impaired in the miR-223-3p-depleted EVs, suggesting that miR-223-3p mediated this protective effect. Further mechanistic investigation revealed that miR-223-3p suppressed inflammasome activation to enhance mitophagy by directly targeting NLRP3.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the protective role of BMSC-derived EVs and exosome-delivered miR-223-3p in RIRI was validated. Exogenous miR-223-3p directly targeted NLRP3 to attenuate inflammasome activation, thereby promoting mitophagy.

Necroptosis in heart disease: Molecular mechanisms and therapeutic implications

Cell death is a crucial event underlying cardiac ischemic injury, pathological remodeling, and heart failure. Unlike apoptosis, necrosis had long been regarded as a passive and unregulated process. However, recent studies demonstrate that a significant subset of necrotic cell death is actively mediated through regulated pathways - a process known as "regulated necrosis". As a form of regulated necrosis, necroptosis is mediated by death receptors and executed through the activation of receptor interacting protein kinase 3 (RIPK3) and its downstream substrate mixed lineage kinase-like domain (MLKL). Recent studies have provided compelling evidence that necroptosis plays an important role in myocardial homeostasis, ischemic injury, pathological remodeling, and heart failure. Moreover, it has been shown that genetic and pharmacological manipulations of the necroptosis signaling pathway elicit cardioprotective effects. Important progress has also been made regarding the molecular mechanisms that regulate necroptotic cell death in vitro and in vivo. In this review, we discuss molecular and cellular mechanisms of necroptosis, potential crosstalk between necroptosis and other cell death pathways, functional implications of necroptosis in heart disease, and new therapeutic strategies that target necroptosis signaling.

RIP3 Contributes to Cardiac Hypertrophy by Influencing MLKL-Mediated Calcium Influx

Receptor-interacting protein 3(RIP3), a RIP family member, has been reported as a critical regulator of necroptosis and involves in the pathogenesis of various heart diseases. However, its role in the development of myocardial hypertrophy after pressure overload is unclear. We aimed to investigate the roles of RIP3 in pathological cardiac hypertrophy. A rat model of myocardial hypertrophy induced by the aortic banding method was used in this study. Neonatal rat cardiomyocytes (NRCMs) were stimulated with angiotensin II (Ang-II) or phenylephrine (PE) to induce neurohumoral stress. Our results showed that RIP3 level was significantly elevated in the hypertrophic myocardium tissues from patients, rats subjected to AB surgery, and NRCMs treated with Ang-II or PE. After downregulation of RIP3 expression in NRCMs, the phenotypes of myocardial hypertrophy were obviously alleviated. In mechanism, we demonstrated that RIP3 interacts with mixed lineage kinase domain-like protein (MLKL) and promotes its cell membrane localization to increase the influx of calcium within cells, thereby mediating the development of myocardial hypertrophy. More interestingly, we found the blockage of calcium influx by 2-aminoethoxydiphenyl borate, and lanthanum chloride efficiently reverses RIP3-induced cardiac remodeling in NRCMs. Taken together, our findings indicate a key role of the RIP3-MLKL signaling pathway in myocardial hypertrophy, which may be a novel promising treatment strategy for myocardial hypertrophy.

MiR-223 as a Regulator and Therapeutic Target in Liver Diseases

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are endogenous non-coding single-stranded small molecule RNAs consisting of 20–24 nucleotides that are highly conserved in species evolution. Expression of miRNAs is strictly tissue-specific, and it is chronological in fungi and plants, as well as in animals. MiR-223 has been shown to play a key role in innate immunity, and dysregulation of its expression contributes to the pathogenesis of multiple inflammatory diseases, and cancers. In this article the biosynthesis and functions of miR-223 in innate immunity are reviewed, and the role of miR-223 in liver physiopathology and therapeutic prospects are highlighted.

Impact of the Main Cardiovascular Risk Factors on Plasma Extracellular Vesicles and Their Influence on the Heart's Vulnerability to Ischemia-Reperfusion Injury

The majority of cardiovascular deaths are associated with acute coronary syndrome, especially ST-elevation myocardial infarction. Therapeutic reperfusion alone can contribute up to 40 percent of total infarct size following coronary artery occlusion, which is called ischemia-reperfusion injury (IRI). Its size depends on many factors, including the main risk factors of cardiovascular mortality, such as age, sex, systolic blood pressure, smoking, and total cholesterol level as well as obesity, diabetes, and physical effort. Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are membrane-coated particles released by every type of cell, which can carry content that affects the functioning of other tissues. Their role is essential in the communication between healthy and dysfunctional cells. In this article, data on the variability of the content of EVs in patients with the most prevalent cardiovascular risk factors is presented, and their influence on IRI is discussed.

Prediction and analysis of microRNAs involved in COVID-19 inflammatory processes associated with the NF-kB and JAK/STAT signaling pathways

COVID-19 is the cause of a pandemic associated with substantial morbidity and mortality. As yet, there is no available approved drug to eradicate the virus. In this review article, we present an alternative study area that may contribute to the development of therapeutic targets for COVID-19. Growing evidence is revealing further pathophysiological mechanisms of COVID-19 related to the disregulation of inflammation pathways that seem to play a critical role toward COVID-19 complications. The NF-kB and JAK/STAT signaling pathways are highly activated in acute inflammation, and the excessive activity of these pathways in COVID-19 patients likely exacerbates the inflammatory responses of the host. A group of non-coding RNAs (miRNAs) manage certain features of the inflammatory process. In this study, we discuss recent advances in our understanding of miRNAs and their connection to inflammatory responses. Additionally, we consider the link between perturbations in miRNA levels and the onset of COVID-19 disease. Furthermore, previous studies published in the online databases, namely web of science, MEDLINE (PubMed), and Scopus, were reviewed for the potential role of miRNAs in the inflammatory manifestations of COVID-19. Moreover, we disclosed the interactions of inflammatory genes using STRING DB and designed interactions between miRNAs and target genes using Cityscape software. Several miRNAs, particularly miR-9, miR-98, miR-223, and miR-214, play crucial roles in the regulation of NF-kB and JAK-STAT signaling pathways as inflammatory regulators. Therefore, this group of miRNAs that mitigate inflammatory pathways can be further regarded as potential targets for far-reaching-therapeutic strategies in COVID-19 diseases.

lncRNA KCNQ1OT1 may function as a competitive endogenous RNA in atrial fibrillation by sponging miR‑223‑3p

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is one of the most common forms of cardiac arrhythmia. Novel evidence has indicated that a competing endogenous RNA (ceRNA) mechanism may occur in AF. The present study aimed to identify differentially expressed microRNAs (miRNAs/miRs) in AF and predict their targeting long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) to identify a potential ceRNA network involved in AF using bioinformatics analysis. The GSE68475 microarray dataset was downloaded from the Gene Expression Omnibus database and differentially expressed miRNAs in AF were obtained. In addition, right atrial appendage (RAA) tissues from patients with AF were collected to determine the expression levels of the miRNAs identified following bioinformatics analysis using reverse transcription-quantitative PCR (n=8 per group). Subsequently, Gene Ontology (GO) functional term and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) signaling pathway enrichment analyses of the target genes of differentially expressed miRNAs of interest were performed. The potential upstream lncRNAs targeting the identified miRNAs were predicted using bioinformatics analysis. A dual luciferase reporter assay was used to verify the existence of a targeted relationship between the differentially expressed miRNA and lncRNA of interest. The results identified 43 differentially expressed miRNAs, including 23 upregulated miRNAs. The trends in the expression levels of miR-223-3p were inconsistent between the microarray data and those recorded in the RAA tissues from patients with persistent AF. Therefore, miR-223-3p was selected as the miRNA of interest for further investigations. The target gene of miR-233-3p was found to be enriched in 57 GO terms and 21 KEGG signaling pathways. According to the bioinformatics prediction, 69 lncRNAs targeting miR-223-3p were identified, including the lncRNA growth arrest-specific transcript 5, lncRNA KCNQ1 opposite strand/antisense transcript 1 (KCNQ1OT1) and lncRNA MYC-induced long non-coding RNA. The results from dual luciferase assay confirmed that miR-223-3p was a direct target of KCNQ1OT1. A ceRNA regulatory relationship may exist between KCNQ1OT1 and miR-223-3p in AF, providing therefore a novel potential research target for further studies.

Catecholamine Surges Cause Cardiomyocyte Necroptosis via a RIPK1-RIPK3-Dependent Pathway in Mice

Background: Catecholamine surges and resultant excessive β-adrenergic stimulation occur in a broad spectrum of diseases. Excessive β-adrenergic stimulation causes cardiomyocyte necrosis, but the underlying mechanism remains obscure. Necroptosis, a major form of regulated necrosis mediated by RIPK3-centered pathways, is implicated in heart failure; however, it remains unknown whether excessive β-adrenergic stimulation-induced cardiac injury involves necroptosis. Hence, we conducted the present study to address these critical gaps.

Methods and Results: Two consecutive daily injections of isoproterenol (ISO; 85 mg/kg, s.c.) or saline were administered to adult mixed-sex mice. At 24 h after the second ISO injection, cardiac area with Evans blue dye (EBD) uptake and myocardial protein levels of CD45, RIPK1, Ser166-phosphorylated RIPK1, RIPK3, and Ser345-phosphorylated MLKL (p-MLKL) were significantly greater, while Ser321-phosphorylated RIPK1 was significantly lower, in the ISO-treated than in saline-treated wild-type (WT) mice. The ISO-induced increase of EBD uptake was markedly less in RIPK3^−/− mice compared with WT mice (p = 0.016). Pretreatment with the RIPK1-selective inhibitor necrostatin-1 diminished ISO-induced increases in RIPK3 and p-MLKL in WT mice and significantly attenuated ISO-induced increases of EBD uptake in WT but not RIPK3^−/− mice.

Conclusions: A large proportion of cardiomyocyte necrosis induced by excessive β-adrenergic stimulation belongs to necroptosis and is mediated by a RIPK1–RIPK3-dependent pathway, identifying RIPK1 and RIPK3 as potential therapeutic targets for catecholamine surges.

miRNA-223 as a regulator of inflammation and NLRP3 inflammasome, the main fragments in the puzzle of immunopathogenesis of different inflammatory diseases and COVID-19

Millions of people around the world are involved with COVID-19 due to infection with SARS-CoV-2. Virological features of SARS-CoV-2, including its genomic sequence, have been identified but the mechanisms governing COVID-19 immunopathogenesis have remained uncertain. miR-223 is a hematopoietic cell-derived miRNA that is implicated in regulating monocyte-macrophage differentiation, neutrophil recruitment, and pro-inflammatory responses. The miR-223 controls inflammation by targeting a variety of factors, including TRAF6, IKKα, HSP-70, FOXO1, TLR4, PI3K/AKT, PARP-1, HDAC2, ITGB3, CXCL2, CCL3, IL-6, IFN-I, STMN1, IL-1β, IL-18, Caspase-1, NF-κB, and NLRP3. The key role of miR-223 in regulating the inflammatory process and its antioxidant and antiviral role can suggest this miRNA as a potential regulatory factor in the process of COVID-19 immunopathogenesis.

Non-coding RNAs: The key regulators in NLRP3 inflammasome-mediated inflammatory diseases

Inflammasomes are multiprotein complexes responding to various microbes and endogenous danger signals, contributing to initiating the innate protective response of inflammatory diseases. NLRP3 inflammasome is a crucial regulator of pro-inflammatory cytokines (IL-1β and IL-18) production through activating caspase-1. Non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) are a class of RNA transcripts lacking the ability to encode peptides or proteins. Its dysregulation leads to the development and progression of inflammation in diseases. Recently, accumulating evidence has indicated that NLRP3 inflammasome activation could be modulated by ncRNAs (lncRNAs, miRNAs, and circRNAs) in a variety of inflammatory diseases. This review focuses on the substantial role and function of ncRNAs in the NLRP3 inflammasome activation, providing novel insight for the future therapeutic approach of inflammatory diseases.

miR-3113-5p, miR-223-3p, miR-133a-3p, and miR-499a-5p are sensitive biomarkers to diagnose sudden cardiac death

Background

Sudden cardiac death (SCD) remains a great health threat and diagnostic challenge, especially those cases without positive autopsy findings. Molecular biomarkers have been urgently needed for the diagnosis of SCD displaying negative autopsy results. Due to their nature of stability, microRNAs (miRNAs) have emerged as promising diagnostic biomarkers for cardiovascular diseases.

Methods

This study investigated whether specific cardio-miRNAs (miR-3113-5p, miR-223-3p, miR-499a-5p, and miR-133a-3p) could serve as potential biomarkers for the diagnosis of SCD. Thirty-four SCD cases were selected, 18 categorized as SCD with negative autopsy (SCD-negative autopsy) findings and 16 as SCD with positive autopsy (SCD-positive autopsy) findings such as coronary atherosclerosis and gross myocardial scar. Carbon monoxide (CO) intoxication (n = 14) and fatal injury death (n = 14) that displayed no pathological changes of myocardium were selected as control group, respectively. Histological analyses were performed to reveal the pathological changes and real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) was used to determine the expression of those miRNAs.

Results

It showed that heart samples from the SCD-negative autopsy group displayed no remarkable difference with regard to the expression of cleaved-caspase3, CD31, and CD68 and the extent of fibrotic tissue accumulation when compared with control samples. The four cardio-miRNAs were significantly up-regulated in the SCD samples as compared with control. When discriminating SCD from controls, receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis revealed that the areas under the curve (AUC) of these 4 miRNAs were from 0.7839 to 0.9043 with sensitivity of 64.71–97.06% and specificity of 70–100%. Moreover, when discriminating the specific causes of SCD, the four miRNA expressions increased in the heart from the SCD-negative autopsy group as relative to that from the SCD-positive autopsy group, and a combination of two miRNAs presented higher diagnostic value (AUC = 0.7407–0.8667).

Conclusion

miR-3113-5p, miR-223-3p, miR-499a-5p, and miR-133a-3p may serve as independent diagnostic biomarkers for SCD, and a combination of two of these miRNAs could further discriminate detailed causes of SCD.

Selenomethionine alleviates LPS-induced JNK/NLRP3 inflammasome-dependent necroptosis by modulating miR-15a and oxidative stress in chicken lungs

Selenium (Se) was involved in many physiological processes in humans and animals. microRNAs (miRNAs) also played important roles in lung diseases. However, the regulatory mechanism of miRNA in chicken lungs and the mechanism of lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced pneumonia remained unclear. To further study these mechanisms, we established a supplement of selenomethionine (SeMet) and/or LPS-treated chicken model and a cell model of LPS and/or high and low expression of miR-15a in chicken hepatocellular carcinoma (LMH) cells. We detected the expression of some selenoproteins, p-c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK), nod-like receptor protein 3 (NLRP3), caspase1, receptor-interacting serine-threonine kinase 1 (RIPK1), receptor-interacting serine-threonine kinase 3 (RIPK3), mixed lineage kinase domain-like pseudokinase (MLKL), miR-15a and oxidative stress kits. Additionally, we observed the morphology of lungs by H.E. staining in vitro. The results indicated that necroptosis occurred in LPS-treated chicken and LMH cells. Moreover, LPS stimulation inhibited miR-15a, and increased the expression of JNK, NLRP3, caspase1, RIPK1, RIPK3, MLKL. We also found that LPS treatment not only increased the content of H2O2 and MDA in the lungs but also increased the activities of iNOS and CAT and the content of GSH decreased. Conclusion: SeMet could reduce the oxidative damage and activate NLRP3 inflammasome reaction by stimulating miR-15a/JNK, thus reduced the pulmonary necroptosis induced by LPS.

Cell type-specific microRNA therapies for myocardial infarction

Current interventions fail to recover injured myocardium after infarction and prompt the need for development of cardioprotective strategies. Of increasing interest is the therapeutic use of microRNAs to control gene expression through specific targeting of mRNAs. In this Review, we discuss current microRNA-based therapeutic strategies, describing the outcomes and limitations of key microRNAs with a focus on target cell types and molecular pathways. Last, we offer a perspective on the outlook of microRNA therapies for myocardial infarction, highlighting the outstanding challenges and emerging strategies.

miR-211 alleviates ischaemia/reperfusion-induced kidney injury by targeting TGFβR2/TGF-β/SMAD3 pathway

MicroRNA-211 (miR-211) is closely related to apoptosis and plays an important role in ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury. Whether miR-211 is involved in the protective effects in renal I/R injury is unknown. In this study, we evaluated the role of miR-211 in human tubular epithelial cells in response to hypoxia-reoxygenation (H/R) stimulation and I/R injury in vitro and in vivo. The results revealed that miR-211 was down-regulated and TGFβR2 was up-regulated in human kidney (HK-2) cells subjected to H/R. Luciferase reporter assay showed that TGFβR2 was a direct target of miR-211. Enforced miR-211 expression decreased H/R-induced HK-2 cell apoptosis and increased cell viability, and targeting miR-211 further increased H/R-induced HK-2 cell apoptosis and decreased cell viability. However, the effect of miR-211 was reversed by targeting TGFβR2 or enforced TGFβR2 expression in miR-211 overexpressing cells or miR-211 downexpressing cells. Moreover, we confirmed that miR-211 interacted with TGFβR2, and regulating TGF-β/SMAD3 signal. In vivo in mice, miR-211 overexpression ameliorates biochemical and histological kidney injury, reduces apoptosis in mice following I/R. On the contrary, miR-211 downexpressing promoted histological kidney injury and increased apoptosis in mice following I/R. Inhibition of miR-211 or miR-211 overexpression inhibited TGF-β/SMAD3 pathways or activated TGF-β/SMAD3 signal pathways in vitro and in vivo, which are critical for cell survival. Our findings suggested that miR-211 suppress apoptosis and relieve kidney injury following H/R or I/R via targeting TGFβR2/TGF-β/SMAD3 signals. Therefore, miR-211 may be as therapeutic potential for I/R- induced kidney injury.

Sectm1a deficiency aggravates inflammation-triggered cardiac dysfunction through disruption of LXRα signalling in macrophages

AIMS

Cardiac dysfunction is a prevalent comorbidity of disrupted inflammatory homeostasis observed in conditions such as sepsis (acute) or obesity (chronic). Secreted and transmembrane protein 1a (Sectm1a) has previously been implicated to regulate inflammatory responses, yet its role in inflammation-associated cardiac dysfunction is virtually unknown.

METHODS AND RESULTS

Using the CRISPR/Cas9 system, we generated a global Sectm1a-knockout (KO) mouse model and observed significantly increased mortality and cardiac injury after lipopolysaccharide (LPS) injection, when compared with wild-type (WT) control. Further analysis revealed significantly increased accumulation of inflammatory macrophages in hearts of LPS-treated KO mice. Accordingly, ablation of Sectm1a remarkably increased inflammatory cytokines levels both in vitro [from bone marrow-derived macrophages (BMDMs)] and in vivo (in serum and myocardium) after LPS challenge. RNA-sequencing results and bioinformatics analyses showed that the most significantly down-regulated genes in KO-BMDMs were modulated by LXRα, a nuclear receptor with robust anti-inflammatory activity in macrophages. Indeed, we identified that the nuclear translocation of LXRα was disrupted in KO-BMDMs when treated with GW3965 (LXR agonist), resulting in higher levels of inflammatory cytokines, compared to GW3965-treated WT-cells. Furthermore, using chronic inflammation model of high-fat diet (HFD) feeding, we observed that infiltration of inflammatory monocytes/macrophages into KO-hearts were greatly increased and accordingly, worsened cardiac function, compared to WT-HFD controls.

CONCLUSION

This study defines Sectm1a as a new regulator of inflammatory-induced cardiac dysfunction through modulation of LXRα signalling in macrophages. Our data suggest that augmenting Sectm1a activity may be a potential therapeutic approach to resolve inflammation and associated cardiac dysfunction.

The role of RIPK3-regulated cell death pathways and necroptosis in the pathogenesis of cardiac ischaemia-reperfusion injury

Despite advancements in management of acute myocardial infarction, this disease remains one of the leading causes of death. Timely reestablishment of epicardial coronary blood flow is the cornerstone of therapy; however, substantial amount of damage can occur as a consequence of cardiac ischaemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury. It has been previously proposed that the pathway leading to major cell death, apoptosis, is responsible for cardiac I/R injury. Nevertheless, there is compelling evidence to suggest that necroptosis, a programmed necrosis, contributes remarkably to both myocardial injury and microcirculatory dysfunction following cardiac I/R injury. Receptor-interacting protein kinase 1 (RIPK1), RIPK3, and mixed-lineage kinase domain-like pseudokinase (MLKL) are shown as the major mediators of necroptosis. In addition to the traditional perception that RIPK1/RIPK3/MLKL-dependent plasma membrane rupture is fundamental to this process, several RIPK3-related pathways such as endoplasmic reticulum stress and mitochondrial fragmentation have also been implicated in cardiac I/R injury. In this review, reports from both in vitro and in vivo studies regarding the roles of necroptosis and RIPK3-regulated necrosis in cardiac I/R injury have been collectively summarized and discussed. Furthermore, reports on potential interventions targeting these processes to attenuate cardiac I/R insults to the heart have been presented in this review. Future investigations adding to the knowledge obtained from these previous studies are needed in the pursuit of discovering the most effective pharmacological agent to improve cardiac I/R outcomes.

MiR-223-3p in Cardiovascular Diseases: A Biomarker and Potential Therapeutic Target

Cardiovascular diseases, involving vasculopathy, cardiac dysfunction, or circulatory disturbance, have become the major cause of death globally and brought heavy social burdens. The complexity and diversity of the pathogenic factors add difficulties to diagnosis and treatment, as well as lead to poor prognosis of these diseases. MicroRNAs are short non-coding RNAs to modulate gene expression through directly binding to the 3′-untranslated regions of mRNAs of target genes and thereby to downregulate the protein levels post-transcriptionally. The multiple regulatory effects of microRNAs have been investigated extensively in cardiovascular diseases. MiR-223-3p, expressed in multiple cells such as macrophages, platelets, hepatocytes, and cardiomyocytes to modulate their cellular activities through targeting a variety of genes, is involved in the pathological progression of many cardiovascular diseases. It participates in regulation of several crucial signaling pathways such as phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase/protein kinase B, insulin-like growth factor 1, nuclear factor kappa B, mitogen-activated protein kinase, NOD-like receptor family pyrin domain containing 3 inflammasome, and ribosomal protein S6 kinase B1/hypoxia inducible factor 1 α pathways to affect cell proliferation, migration, apoptosis, hypertrophy, and polarization, as well as electrophysiology, resulting in dysfunction of cardiovascular system. Here, in this review, we will discuss the role of miR-223-3p in cardiovascular diseases, involving its verified targets, influenced signaling pathways, and regulation of cell function. In addition, the potential of miR-223-3p as therapeutic target and biomarker for diagnosis and prediction of cardiovascular diseases will be further discussed, providing clues for clinicians.

Transcriptome Sequencing reveals the expressed profiles of mRNA and ncRNAs and regulate network via ceRNA mediated molecular mechanism of lung adenocarcinoma bone metastasis in Xuanwei

Background

The most ordinary subtype of lung cancer is lung adenocarcinoma (LuAC), which is characterized by strong metastatic ability. And LuAC rates in Xuanwei leads to the poor prognosis and high death rate. In this study, we systematically explored the molecular mechanism of LuAC bone metastasis in Xuanwei by transcriptome sequencing.

Methods

RNA Sequencing was conducted to explore the noncoding RNAs (ncRNAs) expression profiles in primary LuAC and LuAC bone metastasis. We identified differentially expressed mRNAs (DEmRNAs), miRNAs (DEmiRNAs), lncRNAs (DElncRNAs) and circRNAs (DEcircRNAs). Bioinformatics analyses the possible relationships and functions of the LuAC bone metastasis-related competing endogenous RNA (ceRNA). And qRT-PCR was performed to evaluate the expression of these differently expressed genes in serum.

Results

A total of 2,141 DEmRNAs, 43 DEmiRNAs, 136 DElncRNAs and 706 DEcircRNAs were identified in the Xuanwei patients with primary LuAC vs. LuAC bone metastasis, respectively. The circRNA/miRNA/mRNA and lncRNA/miRNA/mRNA networks of LuAC in Xuanwei with bone metastasis were built, and the gene expression mechanisms regulated by ncRNAs were unveiled via the ceRNA regulatory networks. We observe that lncRNA (ADAMTS9-AS2, TEX41, DLEU2, LINC00152)-miR-223-3p-SCARB1 and hsa_circ_0000053-miR-196a-5p/miR-196b-5p-HOXA5 ceRNA networks might play an important role in bone metastasis of Xuanwei LuAC.

Conclusions

We comprehensively identified ceRNA regulatory networks of LuAC in Xuanwei with bone metastasis as well as revealed the contribution of different ncRNAs expression profiles. Our data demonstrate the association between mRNAs and ncRNAs in the metastasis mechanism of LuAC in Xuanwei with bone metastasis.

MicroRNA: An Emerging Predictive, Diagnostic, Prognostic and Therapeutic Strategy in Ischaemic Stroke

Stroke continues to be the third-leading cause of death and disability worldwide. The limited availability of diagnostic tools approved therapeutics and biomarkers that help monitor disease progression or predict future events remain as the major challenges in the field of stroke medicine. Hence, attempts to discover safe and efficacious therapeutics and reliable biomarkers are of paramount importance. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are a class of non-coding RNAs that play important roles in regulating gene expression. Since miRNAs also play important roles in key mechanisms associated with the pathogenesis of stroke, including energy failure, inflammation and cell death, it is possible that miRNAs may serve as reliable blood-based markers for risk prediction, diagnosis and prognosis of ischaemic stroke. Discovery of better neurological outcome and smaller cerebral infarcts in animal models of ischaemic stroke treated with miRNA agomirs or antagomirs indicate that miRNAs may also play a cerebrovascular protective role after an ischaemic stroke. Nonetheless, further evidences on the optimum time for treatment and route of administration are required before effective translation of these findings into clinical practice. Bearing these in mind, this paper reviews the current literature discussing the involvement of miRNAs in major pathologies associated with ischaemic stroke and evaluates their value as reliable biomarkers and therapeutics for ischaemic stroke.

Sevoflurane postconditioning reduces myocardial ischemia reperfusion injury-induced necroptosis by up-regulation of OGT-mediated O-GlcNAcylated RIPK3

Inhalation anesthetics have been demonstrated to have protective effects against myocardial ischemia reperfusion injury (MIRI). O-linked GlcNAcylation (O-GlcNAc) modifications have been shown to protect against MIRI. This study aimed to investigate whether O-GlcNAcylation and necroptosis signaling were important for sevoflurane postconditioning (SPC) induced cardioprotective effects. Apart from rats in the SHAM and sevoflurane (SEVO) group, rats underwent 30 min ischemia followed by 2 h reperfusion. Cardiac hemodynamics and function were determined. In addition, myocardial infarction size, cardiac function parameters, myocardial lactic dehydrogenase (LDH) content, myocardium histopathological changes, necrotic myocardium, O-GlcNAcylation, and protein expression levels of necroptosis biomarkers were measured, together with co-immunoprecipitation experiments using proteins associated with the necroptosis pathway and O-GlcNAcylation. SPC reduced myocardial infarction size, ameliorated cardiac function, restored hemodynamic performance, improved histopathological changes, and reduced receptor-interacting protein kinase 1 (RIPK1)/receptor-interacting protein kinase 3 (RIPK3)/mixed lineage kinase domain-like (MLKL) mediated necroptosis. In addition, SPC up-regulated O-GlcNAc transferase (OGT) mediated O-GlcNAcylation, increased O-GlcNAcylated RIPK3, and inhibited the association of RIPK3 and MLKL. However, OSMI-1, an OGT inhibitor, abolished SPC mediated cardioprotective effects and inhibited OGT mediated up-regulation of O-GlcNAcylation and down-regulation of RIPK3 and MLKL proteins induced by SPC. Our study demonstrated that SPC restrained MIRI induced necroptosis via regulating OGT mediated O-GlcNAcylation of RIPK3 and lessening the formulation of RIPK3/MLKL complex.

Circles in the heart and cardiovascular system

The combination of next-generation sequencing, advanced bioinformatics analysis, and molecular research has now established circular RNAs (circRNAs) as a heterogeneous group of non-coding RNA that is widely and abundantly expressed. CircRNAs are single-stranded RNA, covalently backspliced to form closed circular loops. Different models of back-splicing have been proposed, and mechanisms for circRNA function include sequestering microRNAs, direct interaction with proteins, regulation of transcription, and translation. Exploring the role of circRNAs in different disease settings, and understanding how they contribute to disease progression promises to provide valuable insight into potential novel therapeutic approaches. Here, we review the growing number of published research on circRNAs in the heart and cardiovascular system and summarize the circRNAs that have been implicated in disease.