A functional variant in ST2 gene is associated with risk of hypertension via interfering MiR-202-3p

MicroRNAs and proteolytic cleavage of receptors in cancers: A comprehensive review of regulatory interactions and therapeutic implications

Cancer remains a challenging disease worldwide, necessitating innovative approaches to better comprehend its underlying molecular mechanisms and devise effective therapeutic strategies. Over the past decade, microRNAs (miRNAs) have emerged as crucial players in cancer progression due to their regulatory roles in various cellular processes. Moreover, the involvement of unwanted soluble receptors has gained increasing attention because they contribute to tumorigenesis or drug resistance by disrupting normal signaling pathways and neutralizing ligands. This comprehensive review explores the intricate interplay between miRNAs and unwanted-soluble receptors in the context of cancer biology. This study provides an analysis of the regulatory interactions between miRNAs and these receptors, elucidating how miRNAs can either suppress or enhance their expression. MiRNAs can directly target receptor transcripts, thereby regulating soluble receptor levels. They also modulate the proteolytic cleavage of membrane-bound receptors into soluble forms by targeting sheddases, such as ADAMs and MMPs. Furthermore, the review delves into the therapeutic potential of manipulating miRNAs to modulate unwanted soluble receptors. Various strategies, including synthetic miRNA mimics or anti-miRNAs, hold promise for restoring or inhibiting miRNA function to counteract aberrant receptor activity. Moreover, exploring miRNA-based delivery systems may provide targeted and precise therapies that minimizing off-target effects. In conclusion, this review sheds light on the intricate regulatory networks involving miRNAs and unwanted soluble receptors in cancer biology thereby uncovering novel therapeutic targets, and paving the way for developing innovative anti-cancer therapies.

Expression of soluble ST2 in patients with essential hypertension and its relationship with left ventricular hypertrophy

AIMS

Identification and intervention of left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) in essential hypertension (EH) are important for the prevention of adverse cardiovascular events. However, effective methods for diagnosing LVH are still lacking. This study aimed to explore the relationship between soluble ST2 (sST2) and LVH in EH patients to identify a potential specific biomarker for hypertensive LVH.

METHODS AND RESULTS

This study included 97 EH patients. Based on the criteria for LVH, participants were divided into the LVH group (n = 52) and the non-LVH group (n = 45). The level of serum sST2 was detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Pearson correlation analysis, logistic regression analysis, and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis were used to investigate the potential of sST2 as a biomarker of LVH in EH patients. Compared with the non-LVH group, the sST2 level was elevated in EH patients with LVH (P < 0.001). Pearson correlation analysis indicated that the sST2 level was positively correlated with the left ventricular mass index in EH patients (r = 0.454, P < 0.001). Logistic regression analysis showed that the odds ratio (OR) value of LVH was 2.990, suggesting that sST2 is an independent risk factor for LVH in EH patients [OR = 2.990, 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.650-5.419; P < 0.001]. The area under the ROC curve was 0.767 (95% CI, 0.669-0.866; P < 0.001), with a sensitivity of 0.808 and specificity of 0.689, indicating the possibility of considering sST2 as a biomarker for diagnosing LVH.

CONCLUSIONS

Up-regulation of sST2 is strongly related to LVH in EH patients, is an independent risk factor for hypertensive LVH, and can be used as a biomarker for the diagnosis of LVH.

Association of IL1R1 Coding Variant With Plasma-Level Soluble ST2 and Risk of Aortic Dissection

Objective: Aortic dissection (AD) is characterized by an acute onset, rapid progress, and high mortality. Levels of soluble ST2 (sST2) on presentation are elevated in patients with acute AD, which can be used to discriminate AD patients from patients with chest pain. sST2 concentrations were found to be highly heritable in the general population. The aim of this study was to investigate the associations of variations in ST2-related gene expression with sST2 concentrations and AD risk. Methods: This case-control study involving a total of 2,277 participants were conducted, including 435 AD patients and age- and sex-matched 435 controls in the discovery stage, and 464 patients and 943 controls in the validation stage. Eight ST2-related genes were selected by systematic review. Tag single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were screened out from the Chinese population of the 1,000 Genomes Database. Twenty-one ST2-related SNPs were genotyped, and plasma sST2 concentrations were measured. Results: In the discovery stage, rs13019803 located in IL1R1 was significantly associated with AD after Bonferroni correction (p = 0.0009) and was correlated with circulating sST2 levels in patients with type A AD(AAD) [log-sST2 per C allele increased by 0.180 (95%) CI: 0.002 - 0.357] but not in type B. Combining the two stages together, rs13019803C was associated with plasma sST2 level in AAD patients [log-sST2 increased by 0.141 (95% CI: 0.055-0.227) for per C allele]. Odds ratio of rs13019803 on the risk of AAD is 1.67 (95% CI: 1.33-2.09). Conclusions: The IL1R1 SNP rs13019803C is associated with higher sST2 levels and increased risk of AAD.

Genetic Association of Interleukin 33/ST2 Polymorphisms With Behcet's Uveitis

Interleukin (IL)33, a member of the IL1 superfamily, functions as a nuclear factor and mediates biological effects by interacting with the ST2 receptor. Recent studies have described IL33 as an emerging pro-inflammatory cytokine in the immune system, and IL33/ST2 gene polymorphisms have been implicated in the pathogenesis of various immune diseases. However, the underlying mechanisms of IL33/ST2 in Behcet's disease (BD) remain to be defined. Here, we investigated the association between IL33/ST2 gene polymorphisms and BD in 585 BD uveitis (BDU) patients and 834 healthy controls using Agena MassARRAY iPLEX platform. We found that rs3821204 was associated with the development of BDU. Moreover, the frequency of rs2210463 G allele was lower in patients with genital involvement. Association analysis revealed a much greater genetic difference between complete-type and incomplete-type BD groups, including three SNPs (rs7044343, rs1048274, and rs2210463). Our findings suggest that IL33/ST2 gene polymorphisms are involved in the pathogenesis of BDU. Different genetic backgrounds may exist in complete-type and incomplete-type BD patients.

CD44, IL-33, and ST2 Gene Polymorphisms on Hepatocellular Carcinoma Susceptibility in the Chinese Population

The interleukin- (IL-) 33/ST2 axis plays a pivotal role in tumorigenesis through influencing cancer stemness and other mechanisms. CD44 is one of the critical markers of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) among the cancer stem cells (CSCs). There is still a lack of CD44 gene single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) combined with IL-33/ST2 pathway single-nucleotide polymorphisms in HCC susceptibility analysis literature, although CD44 and IL-33/ST2 have been reported separately in human cancers. This study is aimed at investigating the relationship between CD44, IL-33, and ST2 SNPs and HCC susceptibility and clinicopathological features. We analyzed 565 HCC patients and 561 healthy controls in the Chinese population. The genes for CD44rs187115A>G, IL-33 rs1929992A>G, and ST2 rs3821204G>C were typed using the SNaPshot method. We found that the distribution frequencies of CD44 and ST2 alleles and genotypes in both the HCC case group and the control group were statistically significant (p < 0.05). The results showed that individuals carrying at least one G allele of the CD44 rs187115 gene were at a higher risk than the AA genotype carriers (p = 0.007, odds ratio (OR) = 1.429, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.102-1.854). Similarly, individuals with at least one C allele of ST2 rs3821204 had a higher risk of HCC than those with GG genes (p ≤ 0.001, OR = 1.647, 95% CI: 1.296-2.093). Combining the haplotype analysis of the 3 loci suggested that CD44 rs187115, IL-33 rs1929992, and ST2 rs3821204 are associated with the risk of HCC and could potentially serve as useful genetic markers for HCC in some populations of China.

Blood microRNA 202-3p associates with the risk of essential hypertension by targeting soluble ST2

MicroRNA (miR)-202-3p has attracted a great deal of attention in the fields of oncology, gynecology, and metabolic disorders. However, its role in cardiovascular diseases remains to be clarified. We previously found that disruption of miR-202-3p mediated regulation of expression of soluble (s)ST2, a decoy receptor for interleukin (IL)-33, promotes essential hypertension (EH). In the present study, we first measured miR-202-3p expression levels in the blood of 182 EH cases and 159 healthy controls using TaqMan assays. miR-202-3p levels were shown to be significantly higher in EH cases than controls (fold change = 3.58, P<0.001). Logistic regression analysis revealed that higher miR-202-3p expression was associated with an increased occurrence of EH (adjusted odds ratio (OR): 1.57; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.36-1.82; P<0.001). Addition of miR-202-3p to traditional risk factors showed an additive prediction value for EH. Further functional experiments indicated that miR-202-3p could be induced by angiotensin II (Ang II) and inhibited by Ang II-triggered soluble ST2 (sST2) expression in a negative feedback manner. Moreover, blood miR-202-3p levels were negatively correlated with sST2 expression in vivo. Our study shows that blood miR-202-3p levels were significantly associated with the occurrence of EH. These findings indicate that miR-202-3p exerts a protective role against EH by antagonizing the induction of sST2 by Ang II.

MicroRNA-202-3p Targets Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor and Is Involved in Depression-Like Behaviors

BACKGROUND

Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and microRNA (miRNA) play crucial roles in the etiology of depression. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying this disease are not fully understood. The primary objective of this study was to investigate the relationship between miR-202-3p and BDNF in a chronic unpredictable mild stress (CUMS) model.

METHODS

Depression model was established with chronic mild unpredictable mild stimulation (CUMS) combined with solitary feeding. The expression levels of miR-202-3p and BDNF in rat hippocampus were measured by qRT-PCR. The novelty inhibition feeding test (NSFT), sucrose preference test (SPT), and forced swimming test (FST) were used to evaluate the functions of miR-202-3p and BDNF. Target gene prediction and screening and luciferase reporter assay were used to verify the target of miR-202-3p. The expression levels of BNDF, CREB1 and p-CREB1 were detected by Western blot.

RESULTS

Upregulation of miR-202-3p was associated with decreased expression of BDNF in the hippocampus of the CUMS model. Antidepressant was observed when LV-BDNF or LV-si-miR-202-3p was injected into the hippocampus. In addition, in the rat hippocampus and cultured nerve cells, the expression levels of BDNF and cyclic AMP response element binding protein 1 (CREB1), which is a target gene of BDNF, were reduced after LV-miR-202-3p injection. Overexpression of miR-202-3p aggravated depressive behavior and decreased the expression levels of BDNF. Luciferase reporter assay also confirmed that BDNF was a target of miR-202-3p.

CONCLUSION

Silencing miR-202-3p can reduce the damage to hippocampal nerve in CUMS rats; the mechanism may be related to the upregulation of BNDF expression. miR-202-3p may be an effective target for the treatment of depression.

MiR-202-3p Inhibits Foam Cell Formation and is Associated with Coronary Heart Disease Risk in a Chinese Population

A previous study and a gene-annotation enrichment analysis for potential targets of the microRNA miR-202-3p both suggest that this microRNA might be implicated in cardiovascular and metabolic diseases. In the present study, the role of miR-202-3p in the pathogenesis of coronary heart disease (CHD) was explored. We conduct a case-control study to detect the expression levels of miR-202-3p in peripheral blood cells and found that miR-202-3p expression was significantly higher in CHD cases than in controls (P < 0.001). miR-202-3p levels were negatively correlated with platelet distribution width (r = -0.348, P = 0.002) and mean platelet volume (r = -0.29, P = 0.01). Further functional analyses suggested that stimulation with oxidized low-density lipoprotein (ox-LDL) induced miR-202-3p expression, and that this microRNA suppressed the formation of ox-LDL-induced macrophage foam cells derived from THP-1 cells in a feedback manner. In addition, miR-202-3p overexpression modulated the expression of several key genes involved in foam cell formation, including that of ABCG4, NCEH1I, and SCARB2. In summary, miR-202-3p was associated with CHD, exerting a protective role against CHD by feedback suppression of ox-LDL-induced macrophage foam cell formation.

Association between microRNA binding site polymorphisms in immunoinflammatory genes and recurrence risk of ischemic stroke

MicroRNA binding site polymorphisms in immunoinflammatory genes have been implicated as candidate biomarkers for prediction of complex human diseases. However, the roles of microRNA binding site polymorphisms in stroke onset and prognosis remain unclear. Thus, for the first time, five potential functional polymorphisms in immunoinflammatory genes (CXCR2 rs1126579, TLR4 rs11536889, ADIPOR2 rs12342, MMP-2 rs7201 and MMP-9 rs1056628) were genotyped in 657 patients with ischemic stroke. These five polymorphisms were not related with age onset of ischemic stroke. However, we found that ADIPOR2 rs12342 was significantly associated with a decreased recurrence risk, especially for the patients with small-vessel disease. Moreover, by using multivariate Cox regression, the variant genotype GG/GA of rs12342 was observed as an independent protective factor for stroke recurrence, even after Bonferroni correction. In addition, after the addition of rs12342 in the model with clinical factors, the new model showed the improved discriminatory ability to predict stroke recurrence. In short, our results suggested that ADIPOR2 rs12342 may be a novel genetic biomarker and therapeutic target for ischemic stroke recurrence. Further studies are required to replicate our findings and clarify the potential biological mechanism.

Overexpression of microRNA-202-3p protects against myocardial ischemia-reperfusion injury through activation of TGF-β1/Smads signaling pathway by targeting TRPM6

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) have been found to act as key regulators in the pathogenesis of myocardial ischemic-reperfusion (I/R) injury. In this study, we explore the role and mechanism of microRNA-202-3p (miR-202-3p) in regulating cardiomyocyte apoptosis, in respective of the TGF-β1/Smads signaling pathway by targeting the transient receptor potential cation channel, subfamily M, member 6 (TRPM6). The targeting relationship between miR-202-3p and TRPM6 was verified by a dual-luciferase reporter gene assay. Sprague-Dawley rat models of myocardial I/R injury were initially established and treated with different mimics, inhibitors and siRNAs to test the effects of miR-202-3p and TRPM6 on myocardial I/R injury. The levels of inflammatory factors; IL-1β, IL-6, TNF-α as well as the degree of myocardial fibrosis and cardiomyocyte apoptosis were determined in rats transfected with different plasmids. TRPM6 was found to be the target of miR-202-3p. Up-regulated miR-202-3p or knockdown of TRPM-6 alleviated oxidative stress and inflammatory response, reduced ventricular mass, altered cardiac hemodynamics, suppressed myocardial infarction, attenuated cell apoptosis, and inhibited myocardial fibrosis. MiR-202-3p overexpression activates the TGF-β1/Smads signaling pathway by negatively regulating TRPM6 expression. Taken together, these findings suggest that miR-202-3p offers protection against ventricular remodeling after myocardial I/R injury via activation of the TGF-β1/Smads signaling pathway.

Association between functional polymorphisms in IL-33/ST2 pathway and risk of osteosarcoma

Interleukin (IL)-33/ST2 pathway plays crucial roles in tumour growth and metastasis. The aim of this study was to investigate the association of two functional polymorphisms (IL-33 rs7025417 and ST2 rs3821204) with osteosarcoma (OS) risk. The rs7025417 and rs3821204 were genotyped by Taqman assay. IL-33mRNA and protein levels were measured by real-time PCR or enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The luciferase activity was measured by a dual luciferase reporter gene assay. The allele-specific transcription factor binding for rs7025417 was examined by ChIP-seq. The IL-33 rs7025417 CC genotype was significantly associated with a decreased risk of OS (CC vs TT: OR = 0.59, 95% CI, 0.41-0.85; recessive model: OR = 0.68, 95% CI, 0.49-0.94; C vs T: OR = 0.76, 95% CI, 0.63-0.91). Combined analysis showed that the IL-33 rs7025417CT/CC-ST2 rs3821204CG/CC and the IL-33 rs7025417CT/CC-ST2 rs3821204GG genotypes also had a decreased risk of OS. IL-33mRNA and protein levels in OS patients were significantly higher than controls. Patients with the rs7025417 CC genotype exhibited lower levels of IL-33 (P = .03). The rs7025417 C allele presented a lower transcriptional activity by disrupting the binding site to c-Myb (P < .01). Moreover, the rs3821204 G/C influences the transcriptional activity and ST2mRNA expression by altering the binding site of miR-202-3p. These findings suggest that the rs7025417 and rs3821204 may have a combined effect to protect against the development of OS by decreasing the expression levels of IL-33 or ST2.

Genetic variants in IL-33/ST2 pathway with the susceptibility to hepatocellular carcinoma in a Chinese population

Interleukin (IL)-33/ST2 pathway plays a pivotal role in tumorigenesis through influencing cancer stemness, tumor growth, metastasis, angiogenesis, and accumulation of regulatory T cells in tumor microenvironments. The aim of this study was to investigate the association of IL-33 rs7025417 and ST2 rs3821204 with the risk of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Genotyping of IL-33 rs7025417 and ST2 rs3821204 was carried out using a Taqman assay. IL-33 and ST2 mRNA was examined using real-time PCR and plasma IL-33 and sST2 levels were measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The ST2 rs3821204 CC genotype was associated with a significantly increased risk of HCC (CC vs. GG: adjusted OR = 2.29, 95% CI, 1.39-3.78; dominant model: adjusted OR = 1.58, 95% CI, 1.12-2.23; recessive model: adjusted OR = 1.88, 95% CI, 1.21-2.93; C vs. G: adjusted OR = 1.53, 95% CI, 1.20-1.95). Gene-environment interaction analysis showed that the risk effect of rs3821204 CG/CC genotypes was more evident in smokers (adjusted OR = 1.70, 95% CI, 1.13-2.55) and drinkers (adjusted OR = 1.57, 95% CI, 1.04-2.37). The increased risk was also observed in combined analysis. Moreover, HCC patients with ST2 rs3821204 CC genotype had higher levels of mRNA and protein expression (P < 0.05). These findings suggest that ST2 rs3821204 CC genotype may contribute to hepatocarcinogenesis by enhancing ST2 production at the transcriptional and translational level.