Reconstruction of a lncRNA-Associated ceRNA Network in Endothelial Cells under Circumferential Stress

Extracellular vesicles-transmitted long non-coding RNA MTUS2-5 promotes proliferation and vascularization of human vascular endothelial cells in patients with Budd-Chiari syndrome

The high rates of misdiagnosis and untreated mortality with regard to Budd-Chiari syndrome (BCS) indicated the need to screen effective biomarkers. The aim of this study was to explore the function of extracellular vesicles (EVs) in patients with BCS as well as associated mechanisms. First, differentially expressed long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) from EVs separated from serum between BCS and healthy controls were screened using microarray analysis. Second, the proliferation, migration and tube formation of human vascular endothelial cells (HUVECs) were detected after EVs treatment, along with vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) levels and inflammatory factors from the cell supernatant. Last, the overexpressed lncRNA was transfected into the cells to further explore the mechanisms involved. Extracellular vesicles of BCS patients have significantly higher levels of lncRNA MTUS2-5 than healthy controls. Apparently, treatment with EVs from BCS or the ones transfected with plasmids that overexpress lncRNA MTUS2-5 enhances proliferation, migration and angiogenesis capacity. The results were considerably better than those obtained from treatment with EVs from healthy controls or transfection with the normal control plasmid, which also elevated the level of VEGF and inflammatory factors. Furthermore, FOS and PTGS2 were potentially regulated by the lncRNA MTUS2-5 transmitted by EVs. The lncRNA MTUS2-5 in EVs plays an important role in angiogenesis in the Budd-Chiari syndrome.

Vascular mechanotransduction

This review aims to survey the current state of mechanotransduction in vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) and endothelial cells (ECs), including their sensing of mechanical stimuli and transduction of mechanical signals that result in the acute functional modulation and longer-term transcriptomic and epigenetic regulation of blood vessels. The mechanosensors discussed include ion channels, plasma membrane-associated structures and receptors, and junction proteins. The mechanosignaling pathways presented include the cytoskeleton, integrins, extracellular matrix, and intracellular signaling molecules. These are followed by discussions on mechanical regulation of transcriptome and epigenetics, relevance of mechanotransduction to health and disease, and interactions between VSMCs and ECs. Throughout this review, we offer suggestions for specific topics that require further understanding. In the closing section on conclusions and perspectives, we summarize what is known and point out the need to treat the vasculature as a system, including not only VSMCs and ECs but also the extracellular matrix and other types of cells such as resident macrophages and pericytes, so that we can fully understand the physiology and pathophysiology of the blood vessel as a whole, thus enhancing the comprehension, diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of vascular diseases.

Potential of ATP5MG to Treat Metabolic Syndrome-Associated Cardiovascular Diseases

Introduction

Metabolic syndrome-associated cardiovascular disease (MetS-CVD) is a cluster of metabolism-immunity highly integrated diseases. Emerging evidence hints that mitochondrial energy metabolism may be involved in MetS-CVD development. The physiopathological role of ATP5MG, a subunit of the F0 ATPase complex, has not been fully elucidated.

Methods

In this study, we selected ATP5MG to identify the immunity-mediated pathway and mine drugs targeting this pathway for treating MetS-CVD. Using big data from public databases, we dissected co-expressed RNA (coRNA), competing endogenous RNA (ceRNA), and interacting RNA (interRNA) genes for ATP5MG.

Results

It was identified that ATP5MG may form ceRNA with COX5A through hsa-miR-142-5p and interplay with NDUFB8, SOD1, and MDH2 through RNA–RNA interaction under the immune pathway. We dug out 251 chemicals that may target this network and identified some of them as clinical drugs. We proposed five medicines for treating MetS-CVD. Interestingly, six drugs are being tested to treat COVID-19, which unexpectedly offers a new potential host-targeting antiviral strategy.

Conclusion

Collectively, we revealed the potential significance of the ATP5MG-centered network for developing drugs to treat MetS-CVD, which offers insights into the epigenetic regulation for metabolism-immunity highly integrated diseases.

Stool microRNA profiles reflect different dietary and gut microbiome patterns in healthy individuals

OBJECTIVES

MicroRNA (miRNA) profiles have been evaluated in several biospecimens in relation to common diseases for which diet may have a considerable impact. We aimed at characterising how specific diets are associated with the miRNome in stool of vegans, vegetarians and omnivores and how this is reflected in the gut microbial composition, as this is still poorly explored.

DESIGN

We performed small RNA and shotgun metagenomic sequencing in faecal samples and dietary recording from 120 healthy volunteers, equally distributed for the different diets and matched for sex and age.

RESULTS

We found 49 miRNAs differentially expressed among vegans, vegetarians and omnivores (adj. p <0.05) and confirmed trends of expression levels of such miRNAs in vegans and vegetarians compared with an independent cohort of 45 omnivores. Two miRNAs related to lipid metabolism, miR-636 and miR-4739, were inversely correlated to the non-omnivorous diet duration, independently of subject age. Seventeen miRNAs correlated (|rho|>0.22, adj. p <0.05) with the estimated intake of nutrients, particularly animal proteins, phosphorus and, interestingly, lipids. In omnivores, higher Prevotella and Roseburia and lower Bacteroides abundances than in vegans and vegetarians were observed. Lipid metabolism-related miR-425-3p and miR-638 expression levels were associated with increased abundances of microbial species, such as Roseburia sp. CAG 182 and Akkermansia muciniphila, specific of different diets. An integrated analysis identified 25 miRNAs, 25 taxa and 7 dietary nutrients that clearly discriminated (area under the receiver operating characteristic curve=0.89) the three diets.

CONCLUSION

Stool miRNA profiles are associated with specific diets and support the role of lipids as a driver of epigenetic changes and host-microbial molecular interactions in the gut.

Tensile strain promotes osteogenic differentiation of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells through upregulating lncRNA-MEG3

BACKGROUND

With the aging of the population, osteoporosis is becoming more and more common. This progressive bone disease increases the risk of fractures and pain and causes serious harm to people's health and quality of life. Several studies, including our previous studies, confirmed that tensile strain can promote bone marrow mesenchymal stem cell (BMSC) osteogenic differentiation in vitro. In this study, we further explored the mechanism by which tensile strain regulates BMSC differentiation.

METHODS

A device designed by our group was used to apply tensile strain to BMSCs to study the effects of tensile strain on their differentiation. LncRNA-MEG3 overexpression and silencing models of BMSCs were constructed by lentivirus transfection to study the involvement of lncRNA-MEG3. We assessed osteogenic differentiation of BMSCs by alkaline phosphatase (ALP) staining and the expression of Runx2 mRNA and BMP2 mRNA, while adipogenic differentiation was evaluated by oil red staining and the expression of PPARγ mRNA and C/EBPα mRNA.

RESULTS

We demonstrated that proper tensile strain can promote osteogenic differentiation of BMSCs while inhibiting differentiation into adipocytes, and simultaneously promote the expression of lncRNA-MEG3. The overexpression of lncRNA-MEG3 further promotes osteogenic differentiation of stressed BMSCs and inhibits expression of miR-140-5p; the knockdown of lncRNA-MEG3 induces the opposite effects.

CONCLUSION

Appropriate mechanical stimulation can inhibit the expression of miR-140-5p by promoting lncRNA-MEG3 expression, thereby promoting the osteogenic differentiation of BMSCs. Our results provide a theoretical basis for physical exercise to improve the prevention and treatment of osteoporosis.

High stretch induces endothelial dysfunction accompanied by oxidative stress and actin remodeling in human saphenous vein endothelial cells

The rate of the remodeling of the arterialized saphenous vein conduit limits the outcomes of coronary artery bypass graft surgery (CABG), which may be influenced by endothelial dysfunction. We tested the hypothesis that high stretch (HS) induces human saphenous vein endothelial cell (hSVEC) dysfunction and examined candidate underlying mechanisms. Our results showed that in vitro HS reduces NO bioavailability, increases inflammatory adhesion molecule expression (E-selectin and VCAM1) and THP-1 cell adhesion. HS decreases F-actin in hSVECs, but not in human arterial endothelial cells, and is accompanied by G-actin and cofilin’s nuclear shuttling and increased reactive oxidative species (ROS). Pre-treatment with the broad-acting antioxidant N-acetylcysteine (NAC) supported this observation and diminished stretch-induced actin remodeling and inflammatory adhesive molecule expression. Altogether, we provide evidence that increased oxidative stress and actin cytoskeleton remodeling play a role in HS-induced saphenous vein endothelial cell dysfunction, which may contribute to predisposing saphenous vein graft to failure.

Hemodynamics mediated epigenetic regulators in the pathogenesis of vascular diseases

Endothelium of blood vessels is continuously exposed to various hemodynamic forces. Flow-mediated epigenetic plasticity regulates vascular endothelial function. Recent studies have highlighted the significant role of mechanosensing-related epigenetics in localized endothelial dysfunction and the regional susceptibility for lesions in vascular diseases. In this article, we review the epigenetic mechanisms such as DNA de/methylation, histone modifications, as well as non-coding RNAs in promoting endothelial dysfunction in major arterial and venous diseases, consequent to hemodynamic alterations. We also discuss the current challenges and future prospects for the use of mechanoepigenetic mediators as biomarkers of early stages of vascular diseases and dysregulated mechanosensing-related epigenetic regulators as therapeutic targets in various vascular diseases.