Inhibitory effect of recombinant human CXCL8(3-72)K11R/G31P on atherosclerotic plaques in a mouse model of atherosclerosis

Anti-CXCR2 antibody-coated nanoparticles with an erythrocyte-platelet hybrid membrane layer for atherosclerosis therapy

Atherosclerosis is the leading cause of mortality globally. RBC-platelet hybrid membrane-coated nanoparticles ([RBC-P]NPs), which biologically mimic platelets in vivo, display evidence of anti-atherosclerotic activity. The efficacy of a targeted RBC-platelet hybrid membrane-coated nanoparticles ([RBC-P]NP)-based approach was investigated as a primary preventive measure against atherosclerosis. A ligand-receptor interactome analysis conducted with circulating platelets and monocytes derived from CAD patients and healthy controls identified CXCL8-CXCR2 as a key platelet ligand-monocyte receptor dyad in CAD patients. Based on this analysis, a novel anti-CXCR2 [RBC-P]NP that specifically binds to CXCR2 and blocks the interaction between CXCL8 and CXCR2 was engineered and characterized. Administering anti-CXCR2 [RBC-P]NPs to Western diet-fed Ldlr^-/- mice led to diminished plaque size, necrosis, and intraplaque macrophage accumulation relative to control [RBC-P]NPs or vehicle. Importantly, anti-CXCR2 [RBC-P]NPs demonstrated no adverse bleeding/hemorrhagic effects. A series of in vitro experiments was conducted to characterize anti-CXCR2 [RBC-P]NP's mechanism of action in plaque macrophages. Mechanistically, anti-CXCR2 [RBC-P]NPs inhibited p38α (Mapk14)-mediated, pro-inflammatory M1 skewing and corrected efferocytosis in plaque macrophages. This targeted [RBC-P]NP-based approach, in which the cardioprotective effects of anti-CXCR2 [RBC-P]NP therapy overweighs its bleeding/hemorrhagic risks, could potentially be used to proactively manage atherosclerotic progression in at-risk populations.

Regulation of oxidized LDL-induced proliferation and migration in human vascular smooth muscle cells by a novel circ_0007478/miR-638/ROCK2 ceRNA network

BACKGROUND

Circular RNAs (circRNAs) have been implicated in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis (AS) and the migration and proliferation of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) under oxidized low-density lipoprotein (ox-LDL). Here, we defined the exact action of human circ_0007478 in VSMC migration and proliferation induced by ox-LDL.

METHODS

Human VSMCs (HVSMCs) were exposed to ox-LDL. Circ_0007478, microRNA (miR)-638, and rho-associated protein kinase 2 (ROCK2) levels were gauged by quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) and western blot. Cell viability and proliferation were assessed by MTT and EdU assays, respectively. Transwell assays were used to detect cell migration and invasion. Dual-luciferase reporter and RNA immunoprecipitation (RIP) assays were used to evaluate the direct relationship between miR-638 and circ_0007478 or ROCK2.

RESULTS

Our data indicated that circ_0007478 expression was augmented in AS serum samples and ox-LDL-treated HVSMCs. Depletion of circ_0007478 attenuated HVSMC proliferation, migration, and invasion induced by ox-LDL. Mechanistically, circ_0007478 targeted miR-638 by directly pairing to miR-638. Reduction of miR-638 reversed the effects of circ_0007478 depletion on ox-LDL-evoked proliferation, migration, and invasion in HVSMCs. ROCK2 was a direct miR-638 target and miR-638-mediated inhibition of ROCK2 relieved ox-LDL-evoked HVSMC proliferation, migration, and invasion. Furthermore, circ_0007478 was identified as a competing endogenous RNA (ceRNA) for miR-638 to modulate ROCK2 expression.

CONCLUSION

Our present study establishes an undescribed ceRNA regulatory network, in which circ_0007478 targets miR-638 to upregulate ROCK2, thereby contributing to ox-LDL-induced proliferation and migration in HVSMCs.

A Network Pharmacology Study to Explore the Underlying Mechanism of Safflower (Carthamus tinctorius L.) in the Treatment of Coronary Heart Disease

Safflower has long been used to treat coronary heart disease (CHD). However, the underlying mechanism remains unclear. The goal of this study was to predict the therapeutic effect of safflower against CHD using a network pharmacology and to explore the underlying pharmacological mechanisms. Firstly, we obtained relative compounds of safflower based on the TCMSP database. The TCMSP and PubChem databases were used to predict targets of these active compounds. Then, we built CHD-related targets by the DisGeNET database. The protein-protein interaction (PPI) network graph of overlapping genes was obtained after supplying the common targets of safflower and CHD into the STRING database. The PPI network was then used to determine the top ten most significant hub genes. Furthermore, the DAVID database was utilized for the enrichment analysis on Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG). To validate these results, a cell model of CHD was established in EAhy926 cells using oxidized low-density lipoprotein (ox-LDL). Safflower was determined to have 189 active compounds. The TCMSP and PubChem databases were used to predict 573 targets of these active compounds. The DisGeNET database was used to identify 1576 genes involved in the progression of CHD. The top ten hub genes were ALB, IL6, IL1B, VEGFA, STAT3, MMP9, TLR4, CCL2, CXCL8, and IL10. GO functional enrichment analysis yielded 92 entries for biological process (BP), 47 entries for cellular component (CC), 31 entries for molecular function (MF), and 20 signaling pathways, which were obtained from KEGG pathway enrichment screening. Based on these findings, the FoxO signaling pathway is critical in the treatment of CHD by safflower. The in vitro results showed that safflower had an ameliorating effect on ox-LDL-induced apoptosis and mitochondrial membrane potential. The western blot results showed that safflower decreased Bax expression and acetylation of FoxO1 proteins while increasing the expression of Bcl-2 and SIRT1 proteins. Safflower can be used in multiple pathways during CHD treatment and can exert anti-apoptotic effects by regulating the expression of Bax, Bcl-2, and SIRT1/FoxO1 signaling pathway-related proteins.

Rosmarinic Acid Attenuates the Lipopolysaccharide-Provoked Inflammatory Response of Vascular Smooth Muscle Cell via Inhibition of MAPK/NF-κB Cascade

Rosmarinic acid (RA) is a phenolic compound that has several bioactivities, such as anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activities. Here, we further investigate the anti-inflammatory effect of RA on rat A7r5 aortic smooth muscle cells with exposure to lipopolysaccharide (LPS). Our findings showed that low-dose RA (10–25 μM) did not influence the cell viability and morphology of A7r5 cells and significantly inhibited LPS-induced mRNA expression of the pro-inflammatory mediators TNFα, IL-8, and inducible NO synthase (iNOS). Consistently, RA reduced the production of TNFα, IL-8, and NO by A7r5 cells with exposure to LPS. Signaling cascade analysis showed that LPS induced activation of Erk, JNK, p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK), and NF-κB, and RA treatments attenuated the activation of the three MAPKs and NF-κB. Moreover, cotreatment with RA and Erk, JNK, p38 MAPK, or NF-κB inhibitors further downregulated the mRNA expression of TNFα, IL-8, and iNOS, and decreased the production of TNFα, IL-8, and NO by A7r5 cells. Taken together, these findings indicate that RA may ameliorate the LPS-provoked inflammatory response of vascular smooth muscle cells by inhibition of MAPK/NF-κB signaling.

Exploring potential genes and pathways related to calcific aortic valve disease

Calcific aortic valve disease (CAVD) is currently the most prevalent valvular disease. However, the pathological mechanism of CAVD has not yet been fully elucidated, and no drugs can delay or halt the progression of CAVD. This study aimed to screen for potential biomarkers and pathways of CAVD through bioinformatics analysis. The identification of differentially expressed genes (DEGs) between calcific aortic valves and the control group was performed based on four microarray datasets: GSE12644, GSE51472, GSE77287 and GSE83453. Gene Ontology and Kyoto Encyclopaedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway enrichment analysis were conducted. Furthermore, the protein-protein interaction network, and microRNA-target interaction was performed, and hub genes were obtained by using twelve cytoHubba algorithms. As a result, 327 DEGs were identified, including 206 up-regulated and 121 down-regulated genes. KEGG analysis showed that these DEGs were mainly enriched in the PI3K-AKT signaling pathway, ECM-receptor interaction, cytokine-cytokine receptor interaction, and chemokine signaling pathway etc. Moreover, we identified 19 hub genes: CXCL8, CXCL12, CSF1R, HCK, PLEK, CCL5, TLR8, VCAM1, CCR1, CCR7, FPR1, TYROBP, CX3CR1, KIT, PPBP, SPP1, SYK, TLR7, and VWF. And multiple potential miRNAs, including miR-141, miR-34a, miR-155, and miR-486, were identified. And western blot was performed to validate the expression level of hub genes. In conclusion, this study identified several promising biomarkers and pathways for CAVD, which may provide novel molecular markers for diagnosis and targeted therapy.

Immune Mechanism, Gene Module, and Molecular Subtype Identification of Astragalus Membranaceus in the Treatment of Dilated Cardiomyopathy: An Integrated Bioinformatics Study

Astragalus membranaceus has complex components as a natural drug and has multilevel, multitarget, and multichannel effects on dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM). However, the immune mechanism, gene module, and molecular subtype of astragalus membranaceus in the treatment of DCM are still not revealed. Microarray information of GSE84796 was downloaded from the GEO database, including RNA sequencing data of seven normal cardiac tissues and ten DCM cardiac tissues. A total of 4029 DCM differentially expressed genes were obtained, including 1855 upregulated genes and 2174 downregulated genes. GO/KEGG/GSEA analysis suggested that the activation of T cells and B cells was the primary cause of DCM. WGCNA was used to obtain blue module genes. The blue module genes are primarily ADCY7, BANK1, CD1E, CD19, CD38, CD300LF, CLEC4E, FLT3, GPR18, HCAR3, IRF4, LAMP3, MRC1, SYK, and TLR8, which successfully divided DCM into three molecular subtypes. Based on the CIBERSORT algorithm, the immune infiltration profile of DCM was analyzed. Many immune cell subtypes, including the abovementioned immune cells, showed different levels of increased infiltration in the myocardial tissue of DCM. However, this infiltration pattern was not obviously correlated with clinical characteristics, such as age, EF, and sex. Based on network pharmacology and ClueGO, 20 active components of Astragalus membranaceus and 40 components of DMCTGS were obtained from TCMSP. Through analysis of the immune regulatory network, we found that Astragalus membranaceus effectively regulates the activation of immune cells, such as B cells and T cells, cytokine secretion, and other processes and can intervene in DCM at multiple components, targets, and levels. The above mechanisms were verified by molecular docking results, which confirmed that AKT1, VEGFA, MMP9, and RELA are promising potential targets of DCM.

Identification of key pathways and genes in carotid atherosclerosis through bioinformatics analysis of RNA-seq data

While acknowledging carotid atherosclerosis (CAS) as a risk factor for ischemic stroke, reports on its pathogenesis are scarce. This study aimed to explore the potential mechanism of CAS through RNA-seq data analysis. Carotid intima tissue samples from CAS patients and healthy subjects were subjected to RNA-seq analysis, which yielded, 1,427 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) related to CAS. Further, enrichment analysis (Gene Ontology, KEGG pathway, and MOCDE analysis) was performed on the DEGs. Hub genes identified via the protein-protein interaction network (PPI) were then analyzed using TRRUST, DisGeNET, PaGenBase, and CMAP databases. Results implicated inflammation and immunity in the pathogenesis of CAS. Also, lung disease was associated with CAS. Hub genes were expressed in multiple diseases, mainly regulated by RELA and NFKB1. Moreover, three small-molecule compounds were found via the CMAP database for management of CAS; hub genes served as potential targets. Collectively, inflammation and immunity are the potential pathological mechanisms of CAS. This study implicates CeForanide, Chenodeoxycholic acid, and 0317956-0000 as potential drug candidates for CAS treatment.

Transcriptome-wide N6-methyladenosine methylation landscape of coronary artery disease

Aim: To reveal transcriptome-wide N6-methyladenosine (m6A) methylome of coronary artery disease (CAD). Materials & methods: The m6A levels of RNA from peripheral blood mononuclear cells measured by colorimetry were significantly decreased in CAD cases. Transcriptome-wide m6A methylome profiled by methylated RNA immunoprecipitation sequencing (MeRIP-seq) identified differentially methylated m6A sites within both mRNAs and lncRNAs between CAD and control group. Results: Bioinformatic analysis indicated that differentially methylated genes were involved in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis. MeRIP-quantitative real-time PCR assay confirmed the reliability of MeRIP-seq data. Finally, the rat carotid artery balloon injury model was performed to confirm the role of m6A demethylase FTO in neointima formation. Conclusion: Our study provided a resource of differentially methylated m6A profile for uncovering m6A biological functions in the pathogenesis of CAD.

Blocking circ_UBR4 suppressed proliferation, migration, and cell cycle progression of human vascular smooth muscle cells in atherosclerosis

The circ_UBR4 (hsa_circ_0010283) is a novel abnormally overexpressed circRNA in oxidized low-density lipoprotein (ox-LDL)-induced model of atherosclerosis (AS) in human vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs). However, its role in the dysfunction of VSMCs remains to be further investigated. Here, we attempted to explore its role in ox-LDL-induced excessive proliferation and migration in VSMCs by regulating Rho/Rho-associated coiled-coil containing kinase 1 (ROCK1), a therapeutic target of AS. Expression of circ_UBR4 and ROCK1 was upregulated, whereas miR-107 was downregulated in human AS serum and ox-LDL-induced VSMCs. Depletion of circ_UBR4 arrested cell cycle, suppressed cell viability, colony-forming ability, and migration ability, and depressed expression of proliferating cell nuclear antigen and matrix metalloproteinase 2 in VSMCs in spite of the opposite effects of ox-LDL. Notably, ROCK1 upregulation mediated by plasmid transfection or miR-107 deletion could counteract the suppressive role of circ_UBR4 knockdown in ox-LDL-induced VSMCs proliferation, migration, and cell cycle progression. In mechanism, miR-107 was identified as a target of circ_UBR4 to mediate the regulatory effect of circ_UBR4 on ROCK1. circ_UBR4 might be a contributor in human AS partially by regulating VSMCs’ cell proliferation, migration, and cell cycle progression via circ_UBR4/miR-107/ROCK1 pathway.

Inflammatory Chemokines in Atherosclerosis

Atherosclerosis is a long-term, chronic inflammatory disease of the vessel wall leading to the formation of occlusive or rupture-prone lesions in large arteries. Complications of atherosclerosis can become severe and lead to cardiovascular diseases (CVD) with lethal consequences. During the last three decades, chemokines and their receptors earned great attention in the research of atherosclerosis as they play a key role in development and progression of atherosclerotic lesions. They orchestrate activation, recruitment, and infiltration of immune cells and subsequent phenotypic changes, e.g., increased uptake of oxidized low-density lipoprotein (oxLDL) by macrophages, promoting the development of foam cells, a key feature developing plaques. In addition, chemokines and their receptors maintain homing of adaptive immune cells but also drive pro-atherosclerotic leukocyte responses. Recently, specific targeting, e.g., by applying cell specific knock out models have shed new light on their functions in chronic vascular inflammation. This article reviews recent findings on the role of immunomodulatory chemokines in the development of atherosclerosis and their potential for targeting.

Overexpression of miR-29a-3p Suppresses Proliferation, Migration, and Invasion of Vascular Smooth Muscle Cells in Atherosclerosis via Targeting TNFRSF1A

Objective

Increasing evidence highlights the significance of microRNAs (miRNAs) in the progression of atherosclerosis (AS). Our aim was to probe out the role and regulatory mechanism of miR-29a-3p in AS.

Methods

An in vivo model of AS was conducted by high-fat diet ApoE^-/- mice. Oxidized low-density lipoprotein- (ox-LDL-) exposed vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) were utilized as an in vitro of AS. Serum levels of total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) were detected. Hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) and Masson's staining was presented to investigate the pathological changes. miR-29a-3p and TNFRSF1A expression was detected by RT-qPCR. Proliferative, migrated, and invaded abilities of VSMCs were determined via a series of assays. The interaction between miR-29a-3p and TNFRSF1A was verified through luciferase reporter assay.

Results

Upregulated miR-29a-3p and downregulated TNFRSF1A were found both in vitro and in vivo models of AS. miR-29a-3p mimic distinctly decreased the serum levels of TC, TG, and LDL-C and increased serum HDL-C levels. Moreover, its overexpression could ameliorate plaque formation of AS mice. In ox-LDL-induced VSMCs, miR-29a-3p overexpression notably decreased cell proliferation, migration, and invasion, which was reversed by TNFRSF1A overexpression. Also, miR-29a-3p could directly target the 3'UTR of TNFRSF1A.

Conclusion

miR-29a-3p overexpression ameliorated plaque formation of AS and suppressed proliferation, migration, and invasion of ox-LDL-induced VSMCs via TNFRSF1A, which offered novel insights into the progression of AS.

Functional lncRNA-miRNA-mRNA networks in rabbit carotid atherosclerosis

Atherosclerosis is one of the most common clinical cardiovascular disorders. Accumulating evidence indicates that lncRNAs exert critical functions in atherosclerosis; however, their functional roles and regulatory mechanisms remain unclear. In this study, we induced atherosclerotic plaques in three rabbit carotid arteries through an atherogenic diet and balloon injury; three age-matched rabbits were fed normal chow and served as controls. We thoroughly investigated the RNA (mRNA, lncRNA and miRNA) expression profiles in atherosclerotic rabbit carotid models with deep RNA sequencing. We identified several significantly differentially expressed RNAs. The corresponding lncRNA-miRNA-mRNA network was constructed, and the significantly dysregulated network was selected. Furthermore, Gene Ontology and  Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes analyses indicated that the mRNAs in the network were involved in leukocyte activation, cell proliferation, cell adhesion molecules and cytokine-cytokine receptor interaction. After rigorous screening, we obtained a differentially expressed lncRNA-miRNA-mRNA interaction network associated with atherosclerosis. In the network, XLOC_054118 and XLOC_030217 upregulate the CHI3L1, SOAT, CTSB and CAPG genes by competitively binding to the miRNA ocu-miR-96-5p. XLOC_062719 and XLOC_063297 upregulate CTSS, CTSB and EDNRA genes by competitively binding to the miRNA ocu-miR-185-5p.