IMP3 promotes re-endothelialization after arterial injury via increasing stability of VEGF mRNAhv

RNA binding proteins: Mechanistic considerations and perspectives in controlling cardiovascular diseases

Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are becoming serious disease that endangering human health due to the increasing morbidity and mortality, and many molecular targets are involved in this complex pathologic process. Recently, RNA-binding proteins (RBPs) have received potential attention as a promising targets for preventing CVDs, including myocardial hypertrophy, dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM), myocardial fibrosis, and pulmonary hypertension (PH). As important regulators of RNA metabolism, RBPs play important roles in all steps of the gene expression cascade,and affect the occurrence and development of various diseases. In this review, we discuss the regulatory role of RBPs on various CVDs at the post transcriptional modification level based on current research. We also highlight the existing and potential RNA-based therapeutics that could impact future CVD treatments.

Construction of novel 10 signatures in diabetic retinopathy construction of model based on WGCNA: Mechanism of action of RPL3 and MRPL16 protein

Diabetic retinopathy is a common microvascular complication in diabetic patients, which can lead to blindness in severe cases. At present, although a variety of treatment methods are available, the pathological mechanism has not been fully elucidated. As ribosomal proteins, RPL3 and MRPL16 play important roles in cell metabolism and protein synthesis, but their specific roles in diabetic retinopathy are unclear. This study aims to construct new features of diabetic retinopathy by WGCNA method, and reveal the mechanism of RPL3 and MRPL16 protein in diabetic retinopathy, so as to provide new ideas for the early diagnosis and treatment of diabetic retinopathy. The study collected retinal tissue samples from patients with diabetic retinopathy and used high-throughput sequencing techniques to obtain gene expression data. Gene expression data were analyzed by WGCNA method to construct the characteristic module of diabetic retinopathy. On this basis, the genes significantly associated with diabetic retinopathy were screened out, and the mechanism of action of RPL3 and MRPL16 proteins in diabetic retinopathy was studied through bioinformatics analysis and experimental verification. Through WGCNA analysis, we successfully constructed a characteristic module of diabetic retinopathy and screened out genes significantly associated with the disease. Further studies have shown that RPL3 and MRPL16 proteins are up-regulated in diabetic retinopathy and play key roles in cell metabolism and protein synthesis. Through in vitro experiments and animal model verification, we found that the abnormal expression of RPL3 and MRPL16 proteins is closely related to the pathological process of diabetic retinopathy.

IGF2BP3 stabilizes SESN1 mRNA to mitigate oxidized low-density lipoprotein-induced oxidative stress and endothelial dysfunction in human umbilical vein endothelial cells by activating Nrf2 signaling

Atherosclerosis (AS) represents a prevalent initiating factor for cardiovascular events. Insulin-like growth factor 2 mRNA binding protein 3 (IGF2BP3) is an oncofetal RNA-binding protein that participates in cardiovascular diseases. This work aimed to elaborate the effects of IGF2BP3 on AS and the probable mechanism by using an oxidized low-density lipoprotein (ox-LDL)-induced human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) model. Results indicated that IGF2BP3 expression was declined in the blood of AS patients and ox-LDL-induced HUVECs. IGF2BP3 elevation alleviated ox-LDL-provoked viability loss, apoptosis, oxidative DNA damage and endothelial dysfunction in HUVECs. Moreover, IGF2BP3 bound SESN1 and stabilized SESN1 mRNA. Furthermore, SESN1 interference reversed the impacts of IGF2BP3 overexpression on the apoptosis, oxidative DNA damage and endothelial dysfunction of ox-LDL-challenged HUVECs. Additionally, the activation of Nrf2 signaling mediated by IGF2BP3 up-regulation in ox-LDL-treated HUVECs was blocked by SESN1 absence. Collectively, SESN1 stabilized by IGF2BP3 might protect against AS by activating Nrf2 signaling.

Biological significance of METTL5 in atherosclerosis: comprehensive analysis of single-cell and bulk RNA sequencing data

BACKGROUND

N6-methyladenosine (m6A) methylation is involved in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis (AS). Limited studies have examined the role of the m6A methyltransferase METTL5 in AS pathogenesis.

METHODS

This study subjected the AS dataset to differential analysis and weighted gene co-expression network analysis to identify m6A methylation-associated differentially expressed genes (DEGs). Next, the m6A methylation-related DEGs were subjected to consensus clustering to categorize AS samples into distinct m6A subtypes. Single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) analysis was performed to investigate the proportions of each cell type in AS and adjacent healthy tissues and the expression levels of key m6A regulators. The mRNA expression levels of METTL5 in AS and healthy tissues were determined using quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) analysis.

RESULTS

AS samples were classified into two subtypes based on a five-m6A regulator-based model. scRNA-seq analysis revealed that the proportions of T cells, monocytes, and macrophages in AS tissues were significantly higher than those in healthy tissues. Additionally, the levels of m6A methylation were significantly different between AS and healthy tissues. METTL5 expression was upregulated in macrophages, smooth muscle cells (SMCs), and endothelial cells (ECs). qRT-PCR analysis demonstrated that the METTL5 mRNA level in AS tissues was downregulated when compared with that in healthy tissues.

CONCLUSIONS

METTL5 is a potential diagnostic marker for AS subtypes. Macrophages, SMCs, and ECs, which exhibit METTL5 upregulation, may modulate AS progression by regulating m6A methylation levels.