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Völkers M, Preiss T, Hentze MW. RNA-binding proteins in cardiovascular biology and disease: the beat goes on. Nat Rev Cardiol 2024; 21:361-378. [PMID: 38163813 DOI: 10.1038/s41569-023-00958-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 11/06/2023] [Indexed: 01/03/2024]
Abstract
Cardiac development and function are becoming increasingly well understood from different angles, including signalling, transcriptional and epigenetic mechanisms. By contrast, the importance of the post-transcriptional landscape of cardiac biology largely remains to be uncovered, building on the foundation of a few existing paradigms. The discovery during the past decade of hundreds of additional RNA-binding proteins in mammalian cells and organs, including the heart, is expected to accelerate progress and has raised intriguing possibilities for better understanding the intricacies of cardiac development, metabolism and adaptive alterations. In this Review, we discuss the progress and new concepts on RNA-binding proteins and RNA biology and appraise them in the context of common cardiovascular clinical conditions, from cell and organ-wide perspectives. We also discuss how a better understanding of cardiac RNA-binding proteins can fill crucial knowledge gaps in cardiology and might pave the way to developing better treatments to reduce cardiovascular morbidity and mortality.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mirko Völkers
- Department of Cardiology, Angiology and Pneumology, University Hospital Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
- DZHK (German Centre for Cardiovascular Research), partner site Heidelberg/Mannheim, Heidelberg and Mannheim, Germany
| | - Thomas Preiss
- Shine-Dalgarno Centre for RNA Innovation, John Curtin School of Medical Research, Australian National University, Canberra, Australian Capital Territory, Australia
- Victor Chang Cardiac Research Institute, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Matthias W Hentze
- European Molecular Biology Laboratory, Heidelberg, Germany.
- Molecular Medicine Partnership Unit (MMPU), Heidelberg, Germany.
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2
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Zhong X, Wang K, Wang Y, Wang L, Wang S, Huang W, Jia Z, Dai SS, Huang Z. Angiotension II directly bind P2X7 receptor to induce myocardial ferroptosis and remodeling by activating human antigen R. Redox Biol 2024; 72:103154. [PMID: 38626575 PMCID: PMC11035111 DOI: 10.1016/j.redox.2024.103154] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/16/2024] [Revised: 03/24/2024] [Accepted: 04/07/2024] [Indexed: 04/18/2024] Open
Abstract
Continuous remodeling of the heart can result in adverse events such as reduced myocardial function and heart failure. Available evidence indicates that ferroptosis is a key process in the emergence of cardiac disease. P2 family purinergic receptor P2X7 receptor (P2X7R) activation plays a crucial role in numerous aspects of cardiovascular disease. The aim of this study was to elucidate any potential interactions between P2X7R and ferroptosis in cardiac remodeling stimulated by angiotensin II (Ang II), and P2X7R knockout mice were utilized to explore the role of P2X7R and elucidate its underlying mechanism through molecular biological methods. Ferroptosis is involved in cardiac remodeling, and P2X7R deficiency significantly alleviates cardiac dysfunction, remodeling, and ferroptosis induced by Ang II. Mechanistically, Ang II interacts with P2X7R directly, and LYS-66 and MET-212 in the in the ATP binding pocket form a binding complex with Ang II. P2X7R blockade influences HuR-targeted GPX4 and HO-1 mRNA stability by affecting the shuttling of HuR from the nucleus to the cytoplasm and its expression. These results suggest that focusing on P2X7R could be a possible therapeutic approach for the management of hypertensive heart failure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xin Zhong
- Department of Cardiology and the Key Laboratory of Cardiovascular Disease of Wenzhou, The First Affiliated Hospital of WenZhou Medical University, WenZhou, ZheJiang, China
| | - Kangwei Wang
- Department of Cardiology and the Key Laboratory of Cardiovascular Disease of Wenzhou, The First Affiliated Hospital of WenZhou Medical University, WenZhou, ZheJiang, China
| | - Yonghua Wang
- Department of Physical Education, WenZhou Medical University, WenZhou, ZheJiang, China
| | - Luya Wang
- Department of Cardiology and the Key Laboratory of Cardiovascular Disease of Wenzhou, The First Affiliated Hospital of WenZhou Medical University, WenZhou, ZheJiang, China
| | - Sudan Wang
- Department of Respiratory, Wenzhou People's Hospital of Zhejiang Province, WenZhou, ZheJiang, China
| | - Weijian Huang
- Department of Cardiology and the Key Laboratory of Cardiovascular Disease of Wenzhou, The First Affiliated Hospital of WenZhou Medical University, WenZhou, ZheJiang, China
| | - Zhuyin Jia
- Department of Cardiology, Wenzhou Central Hospital, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Shanghai University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, China.
| | - Shan-Shan Dai
- Department of Emergency, The First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, WenZhou, Zhejiang, China.
| | - Zhouqing Huang
- Department of Cardiology and the Key Laboratory of Cardiovascular Disease of Wenzhou, The First Affiliated Hospital of WenZhou Medical University, WenZhou, ZheJiang, China.
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3
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Acharya P, Parkins S, Tranter M. RNA binding proteins as mediators of pathological cardiac remodeling. Front Cell Dev Biol 2024; 12:1368097. [PMID: 38818408 PMCID: PMC11137256 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2024.1368097] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/09/2024] [Accepted: 05/01/2024] [Indexed: 06/01/2024] Open
Abstract
RNA binding proteins (RBPs) play a central in the post-transcriptional regulation of gene expression, which can account for up to 50% of all variations in protein expression within a cell. Following their binding to target RNAs, RBPs most typically confer changes in gene expression through modulation of alternative spicing, RNA stabilization/degradation, or ribosome loading/translation rate. All of these post-transcriptional regulatory processes have been shown to play a functional role in pathological cardiac remodeling, and a growing body of evidence is beginning to identify the mechanistic contribution of individual RBPs and their cardiac RNA targets. This review highlights the mechanisms of RBP-dependent post-transcriptional gene regulation in cardiomyocytes and fibroblasts and our current understanding of how RNA binding proteins functionally contribute to pathological cardiac remodeling.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pooja Acharya
- Department of Molecular Medicine and Therapeutics, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, Columbus, OH, United States
- Dorothy M. Davis Heart and Lung Research Institute, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, Columbus, OH, United States
| | - Sharon Parkins
- Department of Molecular Medicine and Therapeutics, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, Columbus, OH, United States
- Dorothy M. Davis Heart and Lung Research Institute, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, Columbus, OH, United States
- Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Cardiovascular Health and Disease, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH, United States
| | - Michael Tranter
- Department of Molecular Medicine and Therapeutics, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, Columbus, OH, United States
- Dorothy M. Davis Heart and Lung Research Institute, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, Columbus, OH, United States
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4
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Abdelsam SS, Ghanem SK, Zahid MA, Abunada HH, Bader L, Raïq H, Khan A, Parray A, Djouhri L, Agouni A. Human antigen R: Exploring its inflammatory response impact and significance in cardiometabolic disorders. J Cell Physiol 2024; 239:e31229. [PMID: 38426269 DOI: 10.1002/jcp.31229] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/13/2023] [Revised: 01/30/2024] [Accepted: 02/14/2024] [Indexed: 03/02/2024]
Abstract
RNA-binding proteins (RBPs) play a crucial role in the regulation of posttranscriptional RNA networks, which can undergo dysregulation in many pathological conditions. Human antigen R (HuR) is a highly researched RBP that plays a crucial role as a posttranscriptional regulator. HuR plays a crucial role in the amplification of inflammatory signals by stabilizing the messenger RNA of diverse inflammatory mediators and key molecular players. The noteworthy correlations between HuR and its target molecules, coupled with the remarkable impacts reported on the pathogenesis and advancement of multiple diseases, position HuR as a promising candidate for therapeutic intervention in diverse inflammatory conditions. This review article examines the significance of HuR as a member of the RBP family, its regulatory mechanisms, and its implications in the pathophysiology of inflammation and cardiometabolic illnesses. Our objective is to illuminate potential directions for future research and drug development by conducting a comprehensive analysis of the existing body of research on HuR.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shahenda Salah Abdelsam
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, QU Health, Qatar University, Doha, Qatar
| | - Sarah Khalaf Ghanem
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, QU Health, Qatar University, Doha, Qatar
| | - Muhammad Ammar Zahid
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, QU Health, Qatar University, Doha, Qatar
| | - Hanan H Abunada
- Office of Vice President for Research and Graduate Studies, Qatar University, Doha, Qatar
| | - Loulia Bader
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, QU Health, Qatar University, Doha, Qatar
| | - Hicham Raïq
- Department of Social Sciences, College of Arts and Sciences, Qatar University, Doha, Qatar
| | - Abbas Khan
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, QU Health, Qatar University, Doha, Qatar
| | - Aijaz Parray
- The Neuroscience Institute, Academic Health System, Hamad Medical Corporation, Doha, Qatar
| | - Laiche Djouhri
- Department of Basic Medical Science, College of Medicine, QU health, Qatar University, Doha, Qatar
| | - Abdelali Agouni
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, QU Health, Qatar University, Doha, Qatar
- Office of Vice President for Medical & Health Sciences, QU Health, Qatar University, Doha, Qatar
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5
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Wang J, Tomar D, Martin TG, Dubey S, Dubey PK, Song J, Landesberg G, McCormick MG, Myers VD, Merali S, Merali C, Lemster B, McTiernan CF, Khalili K, Madesh M, Cheung JY, Kirk JA, Feldman AM. Bag3 Regulates Mitochondrial Function and the Inflammasome Through Canonical and Noncanonical Pathways in the Heart. JACC Basic Transl Sci 2023; 8:820-839. [PMID: 37547075 PMCID: PMC10401293 DOI: 10.1016/j.jacbts.2022.12.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2022] [Revised: 12/14/2022] [Accepted: 12/29/2022] [Indexed: 08/08/2023]
Abstract
B-cell lymphoma 2-associated athanogene-3 (Bag3) is expressed in all animal species, with Bag3 levels being most prominent in the heart, the skeletal muscle, the central nervous system, and in many cancers. Preclinical studies of Bag3 biology have focused on animals that have developed compromised cardiac function; however, the present studies were performed to identify the pathways perturbed in the heart even before the occurrence of clinical signs of dilatation and failure of the heart. These studies show that hearts carrying variants that knockout one allele of BAG3 have significant alterations in multiple cellular pathways including apoptosis, autophagy, mitochondrial homeostasis, and the inflammasome.
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Affiliation(s)
- JuFang Wang
- Department of Medicine, Division of Cardiology, Lewis Katz School of Medicine at Temple University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
- Center for Neurovirology and Gene Editing, Lewis Katz School of Medicine at Temple University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Dhadendra Tomar
- Department of Internal Medicine, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, North Carolina, USA
| | - Thomas G. Martin
- Department of Cell and Molecular Physiology, Loyola University Strich School of Medicine, Maywood, Illinois, USA
| | - Shubham Dubey
- Department of Medicine, Division of Cardiology, Lewis Katz School of Medicine at Temple University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Praveen K. Dubey
- Department of Medicine, Division of Cardiology, Lewis Katz School of Medicine at Temple University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Jianliang Song
- Department of Medicine, Division of Cardiology, Lewis Katz School of Medicine at Temple University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
- Center for Neurovirology and Gene Editing, Lewis Katz School of Medicine at Temple University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Gavin Landesberg
- Department of Medicine, Division of Cardiology, Lewis Katz School of Medicine at Temple University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
- Center for Neurovirology and Gene Editing, Lewis Katz School of Medicine at Temple University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Michael G. McCormick
- Department of Medicine, Division of Cardiology, Lewis Katz School of Medicine at Temple University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | | | - Salim Merali
- Temple University School of Pharmacy, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Carmen Merali
- Temple University School of Pharmacy, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Bonnie Lemster
- Department of Medicine, Division of Cardiology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Charles F. McTiernan
- Department of Medicine, Division of Cardiology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Kamel Khalili
- Center for Neurovirology and Gene Editing, Lewis Katz School of Medicine at Temple University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Muniswamy Madesh
- Department of Medicine, Center for Precision Medicine, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, Texas, USA
| | - Joseph Y. Cheung
- Division of Renal Medicine, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Jonathan A. Kirk
- Department of Cell and Molecular Physiology, Loyola University Strich School of Medicine, Maywood, Illinois, USA
| | - Arthur M. Feldman
- Department of Medicine, Division of Cardiology, Lewis Katz School of Medicine at Temple University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
- Center for Neurovirology and Gene Editing, Lewis Katz School of Medicine at Temple University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
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Huang Z, Liu S, Tang A, Wu X, Aube J, Xu L, Huang Y. Targeting RNA-binding protein HuR to inhibit the progression of renal tubular fibrosis. J Transl Med 2023; 21:428. [PMID: 37391777 PMCID: PMC10311833 DOI: 10.1186/s12967-023-04298-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/18/2022] [Accepted: 06/23/2023] [Indexed: 07/02/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Upregulation of an RNA-binding protein HuR has been implicated in glomerular diseases. Herein, we evaluated whether it is involved in renal tubular fibrosis. METHODS HuR was firstly examined in human kidney biopsy tissue with tubular disease. Second, its expression and the effect of HuR inhibition with KH3 on tubular injury were further assessed in a mouse model induced by a unilateral renal ischemia/reperfusion (IR). KH3 (50 mg kg-1) was given daily via intraperitoneal injection from day 3 to 14 after IR. Last, one of HuR-targeted pathways was examined in cultured proximal tubular cells. RESULTS HuR significantly increases at the site of tubular injury both in progressive CKD in patients and in IR-injured kidneys in mice, accompanied by upregulation of HuR targets that are involved in inflammation, profibrotic cytokines, oxidative stress, proliferation, apoptosis, tubular EMT process, matrix remodeling and fibrosis in renal tubulointerstitial fibrosis. KH3 treatment reduces the IR-induced tubular injury and fibrosis, accompanied by the remarkable amelioration in those involved pathways. A panel of mRNA array further revealed that 519 molecules in mouse kidney following IR injury changed their expression and 71.3% of them that are involved in 50 profibrotic pathways, were ameliorated when treated with KH3. In vitro, TGFβ1 induced tubular HuR cytoplasmic translocation and subsequent tubular EMT, which were abrogated by KH3 administration in cultured HK-2 cells. CONCLUSIONS These results suggest that excessive upregulation of HuR contributes to renal tubulointerstitial fibrosis by dysregulating genes involved in multiple profibrotic pathways and activating the TGFß1/HuR feedback circuit in tubular cells. Inhibition of HuR may have therapeutic potential for renal tubular fibrosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhimin Huang
- Division of Nephrology & Hypertension, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Utah Health Science, Wintrobe Rm 403, 26 N Medical Dr., Salt Lake City, UT, 84132, USA
| | - Simeng Liu
- Division of Nephrology & Hypertension, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Utah Health Science, Wintrobe Rm 403, 26 N Medical Dr., Salt Lake City, UT, 84132, USA
| | - Anna Tang
- Division of Nephrology & Hypertension, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Utah Health Science, Wintrobe Rm 403, 26 N Medical Dr., Salt Lake City, UT, 84132, USA
| | - Xiaoqing Wu
- Department of Molecular Biosciences, University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS, USA
| | - Jeffrey Aube
- Department of Chemical Biology and Medical Chemistry, Eshelman School of Pharmacy, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Liang Xu
- Department of Molecular Biosciences, University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS, USA
| | - Yufeng Huang
- Division of Nephrology & Hypertension, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Utah Health Science, Wintrobe Rm 403, 26 N Medical Dr., Salt Lake City, UT, 84132, USA.
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7
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Sachse M, Tual-Chalot S, Ciliberti G, Amponsah-Offeh M, Stamatelopoulos K, Gatsiou A, Stellos K. RNA-binding proteins in vascular inflammation and atherosclerosis. Atherosclerosis 2023; 374:55-73. [PMID: 36759270 DOI: 10.1016/j.atherosclerosis.2023.01.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/16/2022] [Revised: 12/01/2022] [Accepted: 01/12/2023] [Indexed: 01/19/2023]
Abstract
Atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) remains the major cause of premature death and disability worldwide, even when patients with an established manifestation of atherosclerotic heart disease are optimally treated according to the clinical guidelines. Apart from the epigenetic control of transcription of the genetic information to messenger RNAs (mRNAs), gene expression is tightly controlled at the post-transcriptional level before the initiation of translation. Although mRNAs are traditionally perceived as the messenger molecules that bring genetic information from the nuclear DNA to the cytoplasmic ribosomes for protein synthesis, emerging evidence suggests that processes controlling RNA metabolism, driven by RNA-binding proteins (RBPs), affect cellular function in health and disease. Over the recent years, vascular endothelial cell, smooth muscle cell and immune cell RBPs have emerged as key co- or post-transcriptional regulators of several genes related to vascular inflammation and atherosclerosis. In this review, we provide an overview of cell-specific function of RNA-binding proteins involved in all stages of ASCVD and how this knowledge may be used for the development of novel precision medicine therapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marco Sachse
- Department of Cardiovascular Research, European Center for Angioscience (ECAS), Medical Faculty Mannheim, Heidelberg University, Mannheim, Germany; Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, University Heart Center, University Hospital Hamburg Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Simon Tual-Chalot
- Biosciences Institute, Vascular Biology and Medicine Theme, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Newcastle University, Newcastle Upon Tyne, UK.
| | - Giorgia Ciliberti
- Department of Cardiovascular Research, European Center for Angioscience (ECAS), Medical Faculty Mannheim, Heidelberg University, Mannheim, Germany; German Centre for Cardiovascular Research (Deutsches Zentrum für Herz-Kreislauf-Forschung, DZHK), Heidelberg/Mannheim Partner Site, Mannheim, Germany
| | - Michael Amponsah-Offeh
- Department of Cardiovascular Research, European Center for Angioscience (ECAS), Medical Faculty Mannheim, Heidelberg University, Mannheim, Germany; German Centre for Cardiovascular Research (Deutsches Zentrum für Herz-Kreislauf-Forschung, DZHK), Heidelberg/Mannheim Partner Site, Mannheim, Germany
| | - Kimon Stamatelopoulos
- Department of Clinical Therapeutics, Alexandra Hospital, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens School of Medicine, Athens, Greece
| | - Aikaterini Gatsiou
- Biosciences Institute, Vascular Biology and Medicine Theme, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Newcastle University, Newcastle Upon Tyne, UK
| | - Konstantinos Stellos
- Department of Cardiovascular Research, European Center for Angioscience (ECAS), Medical Faculty Mannheim, Heidelberg University, Mannheim, Germany; Biosciences Institute, Vascular Biology and Medicine Theme, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Newcastle University, Newcastle Upon Tyne, UK; German Centre for Cardiovascular Research (Deutsches Zentrum für Herz-Kreislauf-Forschung, DZHK), Heidelberg/Mannheim Partner Site, Mannheim, Germany; Department of Cardiology, University Hospital Mannheim, Heidelberg University, Manheim, Germany.
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8
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Ma Q, Lu Q, Lei X, Zhao J, Sun W, Huang D, Zhu Q, Xu Q. Relationship between HuR and tumor drug resistance. Clin Transl Oncol 2023:10.1007/s12094-023-03109-5. [PMID: 36947360 DOI: 10.1007/s12094-023-03109-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/21/2022] [Accepted: 01/31/2023] [Indexed: 03/23/2023]
Abstract
Human resistance protein R (HuR), also known as embryonic lethal abnormal visual-like protein (ELAVL1), is an RNA-binding protein widely expressed in vivo that affects the mRNA stability of targeted and is involved in post-transcriptional regulation. Recent studies have shown that HuR is aberrantly expressed in different human cancers and is an essential factor in poor clinical prognosis. The role of HuR in numerous tumors suggests that it could be a new target for tumor therapy and as a marker for efficacy and prognostic assessment. This review focuses on the relationship between HuR and drug resistance in different tumors and briefly describes the structure, function, and inhibitors of HuR. We summarize the mechanisms by which HuR causes tumor resistance and the molecular targets affected.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qiancheng Ma
- College of Biotechnology and Bioengineering, Zhejiang University of Technology, Hangzhou, 310014, China
| | - Qiliang Lu
- Qingdao Medical College, Qingdao University, Qingdao, 266000, China
| | | | - Jie Zhao
- College of Biotechnology and Bioengineering, Zhejiang University of Technology, Hangzhou, 310014, China
| | - Wen Sun
- Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, 310053, China
| | - Dongsheng Huang
- The Key Laboratory of Tumor Molecular Diagnosis, and Individualized Medicine of Zhejiang Province, Zhejiang Provincial People's Hospital, Affiliated People's Hospital, Hangzhou Medical College, Hangzhou, 310014, China.
| | - Qing Zhu
- College of Biotechnology and Bioengineering, Zhejiang University of Technology, Hangzhou, 310014, China
| | - Qiuran Xu
- The Key Laboratory of Tumor Molecular Diagnosis, and Individualized Medicine of Zhejiang Province, Zhejiang Provincial People's Hospital, Affiliated People's Hospital, Hangzhou Medical College, Hangzhou, 310014, China.
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Wu X, Ramesh R, Wang J, Zheng Y, Armaly AM, Wei L, Xing M, Roy S, Lan L, Gao FP, Miao Y, Xu L, Aubé J. Small Molecules Targeting the RNA-Binding Protein HuR Inhibit Tumor Growth in Xenografts. J Med Chem 2023; 66:2032-2053. [PMID: 36690437 PMCID: PMC10101218 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.2c01723] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/25/2023]
Abstract
The RNA-binding protein Hu antigen R (HuR) is a post-transcriptional regulator critical in several types of diseases, including cancer, making it a promising therapeutic target. We have identified small-molecule inhibitors of HuR through a screening approach used in combination with fragment analysis. A total of 36 new compounds originating from fragment linking or structural optimization were studied to establish structure-activity relationships in the set. Two top inhibitors, 1c and 7c, were further validated by binding assays and cellular functional assays. Both block HuR function by directly binding to the RNA-binding pocket, inhibit cancer cell growth dependence of HuR, and suppress cancer cell invasion. Intraperitoneal administration of inhibitor 1c inhibits tumor growth as a single agent and shows a synergistic effect in combination with chemotherapy docetaxel in breast cancer xenograft models. Mechanistically, 1c interferes with the HuR-TGFB/THBS1 axis.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Remya Ramesh
- Division of Chemical Biology and Medicinal Chemistry, UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy, The University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27599, United States
| | | | - Youguang Zheng
- School of Pharmacy, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, Jiangsu 221004, China
| | - Ahlam M Armaly
- Division of Chemical Biology and Medicinal Chemistry, UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy, The University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27599, United States
| | | | | | - Sudeshna Roy
- Division of Chemical Biology and Medicinal Chemistry, UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy, The University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27599, United States
| | | | | | | | - Liang Xu
- Department of Radiation Oncology, The University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, Kansas 66160, United States
| | - Jeffrey Aubé
- Division of Chemical Biology and Medicinal Chemistry, UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy, The University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27599, United States
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10
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Slone S, Anthony SR, Green LC, Nieman ML, Alam P, Wu X, Roy S, Aube J, Xu L, Lorenz JN, Owens AP, Kanisicak O, Tranter M. HuR inhibition reduces post-ischemic cardiac remodeling by dampening acute inflammatory gene expression and the innate immune response. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.01.17.524420. [PMID: 36711986 PMCID: PMC9882229 DOI: 10.1101/2023.01.17.524420] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/20/2023]
Abstract
Myocardial ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury and the resulting cardiac remodeling is a common cause of heart failure. The RNA binding protein Human Antigen R (HuR) has been previously shown to reduce cardiac remodeling following both I/R and cardiac pressure overload, but the full extent of the HuR-dependent mechanisms within cells of the myocardium have yet to be elucidated. In this study, we applied a novel small molecule inhibitor of HuR to define the functional role of HuR in the acute response to I/R injury and gain a better understanding of the HuR-dependent mechanisms during post-ischemic myocardial remodeling. Our results show an early (two hours post-I/R) increase in HuR activity that is necessary for early inflammatory gene expression by cardiomyocytes in response to I/R. Surprisingly, despite the reductions in early inflammatory gene expression at two hours post-I/R, HuR inhibition has no effect on initial infarct size at 24-hours post-I/R. However, in agreement with previously published work, we do see a reduction in pathological remodeling and preserved cardiac function at two weeks post-I/R upon HuR inhibition. RNA-sequencing analysis of neonatal rat ventricular myocytes (NRVMs) at two hours post-LPS treatment to model damage associated molecular pattern (DAMP)-mediated activation of toll like receptors (TLRs) demonstrates a broad HuR-dependent regulation of pro-inflammatory chemokine and cytokine gene expression in cardiomyocytes. We show that conditioned media from NRVMs pre-treated with HuR inhibitor loses the ability to induce inflammatory gene expression in bone marrow derived macrophages (BMDMs) compared to NRVMs treated with LPS alone. Functionally, HuR inhibition in NRVMs also reduces their ability to induce endocrine migration of peripheral blood monocytes in vitro and reduces post-ischemic macrophage infiltration to the heart in vivo. In summary, these results suggest a HuR-dependent expression of pro-inflammatory gene expression by cardiomyocytes that leads to subsequent monocyte recruitment and macrophage activation in the post-ischemic myocardium.
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11
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Green LC, Slone S, Anthony SR, Guarnieri AR, Parkins S, Shearer SM, Nieman ML, Roy S, Aube J, Wu X, Xu L, Kanisicak O, Tranter M. HuR-dependent expression of Wisp1 is necessary for TGFβ-induced cardiac myofibroblast activity. J Mol Cell Cardiol 2023; 174:38-46. [PMID: 36372279 PMCID: PMC9868076 DOI: 10.1016/j.yjmcc.2022.10.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/13/2022] [Revised: 10/17/2022] [Accepted: 10/17/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022]
Abstract
Cardiac fibrosis is regulated by the activation and phenotypic switching of quiescent cardiac fibroblasts to active myofibroblasts, which have extracellular matrix (ECM) remodeling and contractile functions which play a central role in cardiac remodeling in response to injury. Here, we show that expression and activity of the RNA binding protein HuR is increased in cardiac fibroblasts upon transformation to an active myofibroblast. Pharmacological inhibition of HuR significantly blunts the TGFβ-dependent increase in ECM remodeling genes, total collagen secretion, in vitro scratch closure, and collagen gel contraction in isolated primary cardiac fibroblasts, suggesting a suppression of TGFβ-induced myofibroblast activation upon HuR inhibition. We identified twenty-four mRNA transcripts that were enriched for HuR binding following TGFβ treatment via photoactivatable ribonucleoside-enhanced crosslinking and immunoprecipitation (PAR-CLIP). Eleven of these HuR-bound mRNAs also showed significant co-expression correlation with HuR, αSMA, and periostin in primary fibroblasts isolated from the ischemic-zone of infarcted mouse hearts. Of these, WNT1-inducible signaling pathway protein-1 (Wisp1; Ccn4), was the most significantly associated with HuR expression in fibroblasts. Accordingly, we found Wisp1 expression to be increased in cardiac fibroblasts isolated from the ischemic-zone of mouse hearts following ischemia/reperfusion, and confirmed Wisp1 expression to be HuR-dependent in isolated fibroblasts. Finally, addition of exogenous recombinant Wisp1 partially rescued myofibroblast-induced collagen gel contraction following HuR inhibition, demonstrating that HuR-dependent Wisp1 expression plays a functional role in HuR-dependent MF activity downstream of TGFβ. In conclusion, HuR activity is necessary for the functional activation of primary cardiac fibroblasts in response to TGFβ, in part through post-transcriptional regulation of Wisp1.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lisa C Green
- Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Cardiovascular Health and Disease, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH, United States of America; Department of Pharmacology & Systems Physiology, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH, United States of America
| | - Samuel Slone
- Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Cardiovascular Health and Disease, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH, United States of America; Department of Pharmacology & Systems Physiology, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH, United States of America
| | - Sarah R Anthony
- Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Cardiovascular Health and Disease, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH, United States of America
| | - Adrienne R Guarnieri
- Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Cardiovascular Health and Disease, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH, United States of America
| | - Sharon Parkins
- Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Cardiovascular Health and Disease, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH, United States of America
| | - Shannon M Shearer
- Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Cardiovascular Health and Disease, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH, United States of America; Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH, United States of America
| | - Michelle L Nieman
- Department of Pharmacology & Systems Physiology, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH, United States of America
| | - Sudeshna Roy
- Division of Chemical Biology and Medicinal Chemistry, Eshelman School of Pharmacy, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, United States of America
| | - Jeffrey Aube
- Division of Chemical Biology and Medicinal Chemistry, Eshelman School of Pharmacy, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, United States of America
| | - Xiaoqing Wu
- Department of Molecular Biosciences, University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS, United States of America
| | - Liang Xu
- Department of Molecular Biosciences, University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS, United States of America
| | - Onur Kanisicak
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH, United States of America
| | - Michael Tranter
- Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Cardiovascular Health and Disease, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH, United States of America.
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12
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Rogalska ME, Vafiadaki E, Erpapazoglou Z, Haghighi K, Green L, Mantzoros CS, Hajjar RJ, Tranter M, Karakikes I, Kranias EG, Stillitano F, Kafasla P, Sanoudou D. Isoform changes of action potential regulators in the ventricles of arrhythmogenic phospholamban-R14del humanized mouse hearts. Metabolism 2023; 138:155344. [PMID: 36375644 DOI: 10.1016/j.metabol.2022.155344] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2022] [Revised: 10/30/2022] [Accepted: 11/01/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022]
Abstract
Arrhythmogenic cardiomyopathy (ACM) is characterized by life-threatening ventricular arrhythmias and sudden cardiac death and affects hundreds of thousands of patients worldwide. The deletion of Arginine 14 (p.R14del) in the phospholamban (PLN) gene has been implicated in the pathogenesis of ACM. PLN is a key regulator of sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) Ca2+ cycling and cardiac contractility. Despite global gene and protein expression studies, the molecular mechanisms of PLN-R14del ACM pathogenesis remain unclear. Using a humanized PLN-R14del mouse model and human induced pluripotent stem cell derived cardiomyocytes (iPSC-CMs), we investigated the transcriptome-wide mRNA splicing changes associated with the R14del mutation. We identified >200 significant alternative splicing (AS) events and distinct AS profiles were observed in the right (RV) and left (LV) ventricles in PLN-R14del compared to WT mouse hearts. Enrichment analysis of the AS events showed that the most affected biological process was associated with "cardiac cell action potential", specifically in the RV. We found that splicing of 2 key genes, Trpm4 and Camk2d, which encode proteins regulating calcium homeostasis in the heart, were altered in PLN-R14del mouse hearts and human iPSC-CMs. Bioinformatical analysis pointed to the tissue-specific splicing factors Srrm4 and Nova1 as likely upstream regulators of the observed splicing changes in the PLN-R14del cardiomyocytes. Our findings suggest that aberrant splicing may affect Ca2+-homeostasis in the heart, contributing to the increased risk of arrythmogenesis in PLN-R14del ACM.
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Affiliation(s)
- Malgorzata E Rogalska
- Centre for Genomic Regulation (CRG), The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology, Barcelona 08003, Spain
| | - Elizabeth Vafiadaki
- Molecular Biology Division, Biomedical Research Foundation of the Academy of Athens, 11527 Athens, Greece
| | - Zoi Erpapazoglou
- Institute for Fundamental Biomedical Research, B.S.R.C. "Alexander Fleming", 16672 Athens, Greece
| | - Kobra Haghighi
- Department of Pharmacology and Systems Physiology, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH 45267, USA
| | - Lisa Green
- Department of Medicine, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH 45267, USA
| | - Christos S Mantzoros
- Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02215, USA; Section of Endocrinology, Boston VA Healthcare System, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02215, USA
| | | | - Michael Tranter
- Department of Medicine, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH 45267, USA
| | - Ioannis Karakikes
- Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery and Cardiovascular Institute, Stanford University School of Medicine, 240 Pasteur Dr, Stanford, CA 94304, USA
| | - Evangelia G Kranias
- Department of Pharmacology and Systems Physiology, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH 45267, USA
| | - Francesca Stillitano
- Division Heart and Lung, Department of Cardiology, University Medical Center Utrecht, 3584, CX, Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - Panagiota Kafasla
- Institute for Fundamental Biomedical Research, B.S.R.C. "Alexander Fleming", 16672 Athens, Greece
| | - Despina Sanoudou
- Molecular Biology Division, Biomedical Research Foundation of the Academy of Athens, 11527 Athens, Greece; Clinical Genomics and Pharmacogenomics Unit, 4(th) Department of Internal Medicine, Attikon Hospital, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 11527 Athens, Greece; Center for New Biotechnologies and Precision Medicine, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 11527 Athens, Greece.
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13
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Majumder M, Chakraborty P, Mohan S, Mehrotra S, Palanisamy V. HuR as a molecular target for cancer therapeutics and immune-related disorders. Adv Drug Deliv Rev 2022; 188:114442. [PMID: 35817212 DOI: 10.1016/j.addr.2022.114442] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2021] [Revised: 04/12/2022] [Accepted: 07/05/2022] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
The control of eukaryotic gene expression occurs at multiple levels, from transcription to messenger RNA processing, transport, localization, turnover, and translation. RNA-binding proteins control gene expression and are involved in different stages of mRNA processing, including splicing, maturation, turnover, and translation. A ubiquitously expressed RBP Human antigen R is engaged in the RNA processes mentioned above but, most importantly, controls mRNA stability and turnover. Dysregulation of HuR is linked to many diseases, including cancer and other immune-related disorders. HuR targets mRNAs containing AU-rich elements at their 3'untranslated region, which encodes proteins involved in cell growth, proliferation, tumor formation, angiogenesis, immune evasion, inflammation, invasion, and metastasis. HuR overexpression has been reported in many tumor types, which led to a poor prognosis for patients. Hence, HuR is considered an appealing drug target for cancer treatment. Therefore, multiple attempts have been made to identify small molecule inhibitors for blocking HuR functions. This article reviews the current prospects of drugs that target HuR in numerous cancer types, their mode of action, and off-target effects. Furthermore, we will summarize drugs that interfered with HuR-RNA interactions and established themselves as novel therapeutics. We will also highlight the significance of HuR overexpression in multiple cancers and discuss its role in immune functions. This review provides evidence of a new era of HuR-targeted small molecules that can be used for cancer therapeutics either as a monotherapy or in combination with other cancer treatment modalities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mrinmoyee Majumder
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Charleston, SC 29425, USA
| | - Paramita Chakraborty
- Department of Surgery, College of Medicine, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC 29425, USA
| | - Sarumathi Mohan
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Charleston, SC 29425, USA
| | - Shikhar Mehrotra
- Department of Surgery, College of Medicine, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC 29425, USA
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14
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Cornelius VA, Naderi-Meshkin H, Kelaini S, Margariti A. RNA-Binding Proteins: Emerging Therapeutics for Vascular Dysfunction. Cells 2022; 11:2494. [PMID: 36010571 PMCID: PMC9407011 DOI: 10.3390/cells11162494] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/22/2022] [Revised: 08/08/2022] [Accepted: 08/09/2022] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
Vascular diseases account for a significant number of deaths worldwide, with cardiovascular diseases remaining the leading cause of mortality. This ongoing, ever-increasing burden has made the need for an effective treatment strategy a global priority. Recent advances in regenerative medicine, largely the derivation and use of induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) technologies as disease models, have provided powerful tools to study the different cell types that comprise the vascular system, allowing for a greater understanding of the molecular mechanisms behind vascular health. iPSC disease models consequently offer an exciting strategy to deepen our understanding of disease as well as develop new therapeutic avenues with clinical translation. Both transcriptional and post-transcriptional mechanisms are widely accepted to have fundamental roles in orchestrating responses to vascular damage. Recently, iPSC technologies have increased our understanding of RNA-binding proteins (RBPs) in controlling gene expression and cellular functions, providing an insight into the onset and progression of vascular dysfunction. Revelations of such roles within vascular disease states have therefore allowed for a greater clarification of disease mechanisms, aiding the development of novel therapeutic interventions. Here, we discuss newly discovered roles of RBPs within the cardio-vasculature aided by iPSC technologies, as well as examine their therapeutic potential, with a particular focus on the Quaking family of isoforms.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Andriana Margariti
- Wellcome-Wolfson Institute for Experimental Medicine, School of Medicine, Dentistry and Biomedical Sciences, Queen’s University Belfast, 97 Lisburn Road, Belfast BT9 7BL, UK
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15
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Wu X, Xu L. The RNA-binding protein HuR in human cancer: A friend or foe? Adv Drug Deliv Rev 2022; 184:114179. [PMID: 35248670 PMCID: PMC9035123 DOI: 10.1016/j.addr.2022.114179] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 21.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2021] [Revised: 01/26/2022] [Accepted: 02/27/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
The RNA-binding proteins (RBPs) are critical trans factors that associate with specific cis elements present in mRNAs whose stability and translation are subject to regulation. The RBP Hu antigen R (HuR) is overexpressed in a wide variety of human cancers and serves as a prognostic factor of poor clinical outcome. HuR promotes tumorigenesis by interacting with a subset of oncogenic mRNAs implicated in different cancer hallmarks, and resistance to therapy. Reduction of HuR levels in cancer cells leads to tumor regression in mouse xenograft models. These findings prompt a working model whereby cancer cells use HuR, a master switch of multiple oncogenic mRNAs, to drive drug resistance and promote cell survival and metastasis, thus rendering the tumor cells with high cytoplasmic HuR more progressive and resistant to therapy. This review summarizes the roles of HuR in cancer and other diseases, therapeutic potential of HuR inhibition, and the current status of drug discovery on HuR.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoqing Wu
- Higuchi Biosciences Center, The University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS, USA; The University of Kansas Cancer Center, The University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, KS, USA.
| | - Liang Xu
- The University of Kansas Cancer Center, The University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, KS, USA; Department of Molecular Biosciences, The University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS, USA; Department of Radiation Oncology, The University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, KS, USA.
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16
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Santovito D, Weber C. Non-canonical features of microRNAs: paradigms emerging from cardiovascular disease. Nat Rev Cardiol 2022; 19:620-638. [PMID: 35304600 DOI: 10.1038/s41569-022-00680-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 02/14/2022] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
Research showing that microRNAs (miRNAs) are versatile regulators of gene expression has instigated tremendous interest in cardiovascular research. The overwhelming majority of studies are predicated on the dogmatic notion that miRNAs regulate the expression of specific target mRNAs by inhibiting mRNA translation or promoting mRNA decay in the RNA-induced silencing complex (RISC). These efforts mostly identified and dissected contributions of multiple regulatory networks of miRNA-target mRNAs to cardiovascular pathogenesis. However, evidence from studies in the past decade indicates that miRNAs also operate beyond this canonical paradigm, featuring non-conventional regulatory functions and cellular localizations that have a pathophysiological role in cardiovascular disease. In this Review, we highlight the functional relevance of atypical miRNA biogenesis and localization as well as RISC heterogeneity. Moreover, we delineate remarkable non-canonical examples of miRNA functionality, including direct interactions with proteins beyond the Argonaute family and their role in transcriptional regulation in the nucleus and in mitochondria. We scrutinize the relevance of non-conventional biogenesis and non-canonical functions of miRNAs in cardiovascular homeostasis and pathology, and contextualize how uncovering these non-conventional properties can expand the scope of translational research in the cardiovascular field and beyond.
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Affiliation(s)
- Donato Santovito
- Institute for Cardiovascular Prevention (IPEK), Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität (LMU), Munich, Germany. .,German Center for Cardiovascular Research (DZHK), partner site Munich Heart Alliance, Munich, Germany. .,Institute for Genetic and Biomedical Research (IRGB), Unit of Milan, National Research Council, Milan, Italy.
| | - Christian Weber
- Institute for Cardiovascular Prevention (IPEK), Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität (LMU), Munich, Germany. .,German Center for Cardiovascular Research (DZHK), partner site Munich Heart Alliance, Munich, Germany. .,Department of Biochemistry, Cardiovascular Research Institute Maastricht (CARIM), Maastricht University, Maastricht, Netherlands. .,Munich Cluster for Systems Neurology (SyNergy), Munich, Germany.
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17
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Assoni G, La Pietra V, Digilio R, Ciani C, Licata NV, Micaelli M, Facen E, Tomaszewska W, Cerofolini L, Pérez-Ràfols A, Varela Rey M, Fragai M, Woodhoo A, Marinelli L, Arosio D, Bonomo I, Provenzani A, Seneci P. HuR-targeted agents: An insight into medicinal chemistry, biophysical, computational studies and pharmacological effects on cancer models. Adv Drug Deliv Rev 2022; 181:114088. [PMID: 34942276 DOI: 10.1016/j.addr.2021.114088] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/06/2021] [Revised: 10/07/2021] [Accepted: 12/16/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
The Human antigen R (HuR) protein is an RNA-binding protein, ubiquitously expressed in human tissues, that orchestrates target RNA maturation and processing both in the nucleus and in the cytoplasm. A survey of known modulators of the RNA-HuR interactions is followed by a description of its structure and molecular mechanism of action - RRM domains, interactions with RNA, dimerization, binding modes with naturally occurring and synthetic HuR inhibitors. Then, the review focuses on HuR as a validated molecular target in oncology and briefly describes its role in inflammation. Namely, we show ample evidence for the involvement of HuR in the hallmarks and enabling characteristics of cancer, reporting findings from in vitro and in vivo studies; and we provide abundant experimental proofs of a beneficial role for the inhibition of HuR-mRNA interactions through silencing (CRISPR, siRNA) or pharmacological inhibition (small molecule HuR inhibitors).
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Affiliation(s)
- Giulia Assoni
- Chemistry Department, University of Milan, Via Golgi 19, I-20133 Milan, Italy; Department of Cellular, Computational and Integrative Biology (CIBIO), University of Trento, via Sommarive 9, 38123 Trento, Italy
| | - Valeria La Pietra
- Department of Pharmacy, University of Napoli Federico II, Via D. Montesano 49, 80131 Napoli, Italy
| | - Rosangela Digilio
- Department of Cellular, Computational and Integrative Biology (CIBIO), University of Trento, via Sommarive 9, 38123 Trento, Italy
| | - Caterina Ciani
- Department of Cellular, Computational and Integrative Biology (CIBIO), University of Trento, via Sommarive 9, 38123 Trento, Italy
| | - Nausicaa Valentina Licata
- Department of Cellular, Computational and Integrative Biology (CIBIO), University of Trento, via Sommarive 9, 38123 Trento, Italy
| | - Mariachiara Micaelli
- Department of Cellular, Computational and Integrative Biology (CIBIO), University of Trento, via Sommarive 9, 38123 Trento, Italy
| | - Elisa Facen
- Department of Cellular, Computational and Integrative Biology (CIBIO), University of Trento, via Sommarive 9, 38123 Trento, Italy
| | - Weronika Tomaszewska
- Department of Cellular, Computational and Integrative Biology (CIBIO), University of Trento, via Sommarive 9, 38123 Trento, Italy
| | - Linda Cerofolini
- Magnetic Resonance Center (CERM), University of Florence and Interuniversity Consortium for Magnetic Resonance of Metalloproteins (CIRMMP), Via L. Sacconi 6, 50019 Sesto Fiorentino (FI), Italy
| | - Anna Pérez-Ràfols
- Giotto Biotech S.R.L., Via Madonna del Piano 6, 50019 Sesto Fiorentino (FI), Italy
| | - Marta Varela Rey
- Gene Regulatory Control in Disease Group, Center for Research in Molecular Medicine and Chronic Diseases (CIMUS), Health Research Institute of Santiago de Compostela (IDIS), University of Santiago de Compostela, 15706 Santiago de Compostela, Spain
| | - Marco Fragai
- Magnetic Resonance Center (CERM), University of Florence and Interuniversity Consortium for Magnetic Resonance of Metalloproteins (CIRMMP), Via L. Sacconi 6, 50019 Sesto Fiorentino (FI), Italy
| | - Ashwin Woodhoo
- Gene Regulatory Control in Disease Group, Center for Research in Molecular Medicine and Chronic Diseases (CIMUS), Health Research Institute of Santiago de Compostela (IDIS), University of Santiago de Compostela, 15706 Santiago de Compostela, Spain; Department of Functional Biology, University of Santiago de Compostela, 15782 Santiago de Compostela, Spain; Galician Agency of Innovation (GAIN), Xunta de Galicia, Santiago de Compostela, Spain; Center for Cooperative Research in Biosciences (CIC bioGUNE, Basque Research and Technology Alliance (BRTA), Bizkaia Technology Park, Building 801A, 48160 Derio, Spain; IKERBASQUE, Basque Foundation for Science, Bilbao 48013, Spain
| | - Luciana Marinelli
- Department of Pharmacy, University of Napoli Federico II, Via D. Montesano 49, 80131 Napoli, Italy
| | - Daniela Arosio
- Istituto di Scienze e Tecnologie Chimiche "G. Natta" (SCITEC), National Research Council (CNR), Via C. Golgi 19, I-20133 Milan, Italy
| | - Isabelle Bonomo
- Department of Cellular, Computational and Integrative Biology (CIBIO), University of Trento, via Sommarive 9, 38123 Trento, Italy
| | - Alessandro Provenzani
- Department of Cellular, Computational and Integrative Biology (CIBIO), University of Trento, via Sommarive 9, 38123 Trento, Italy.
| | - Pierfausto Seneci
- Chemistry Department, University of Milan, Via Golgi 19, I-20133 Milan, Italy.
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18
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Dubey S, Dubey PK, Umeshappa CS, Ghebre YT, Krishnamurthy P. Inhibition of RUNX1 blocks the differentiation of lung fibroblasts to myofibroblasts. J Cell Physiol 2022; 237:2169-2182. [PMID: 35048404 PMCID: PMC9050824 DOI: 10.1002/jcp.30684] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/21/2021] [Revised: 12/30/2021] [Accepted: 01/03/2022] [Indexed: 02/03/2023]
Abstract
Pathological fibrosis contributes to progression of various diseases, for which the therapeutic options are limited. Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is one such progressive and fatal interstitial fibrotic disease that is often characterized by excessive accumulation of extracellular matrix (ECM) proteins leading to stiff lung tissue and impaired gas exchange. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying IPF progression remain largely unknown. In this study, we determined the role of Runt-related transcription factor 1 (RUNX1), an evolutionarily conserved transcription factor, in the differentiation of human lung fibroblasts (HLFs) in vitro and in an animal model of bleomycin (BLM)-induced lung fibrosis. We observed that the expression of RUNX1 was significantly increased in the lungs of BLM-injected mice as compared to saline-treated mice. Furthermore, HLFs stimulated with transforming growth factor β (TGF-β) showed significantly higher RUNX1 expression at both mRNA and protein levels, and compartmentalization in the nucleus. Inhibition of RUNX1 in HLFs (using siRNA) showed a significant reduction in the differentiation of fibroblasts into myofibroblasts as evidenced by reduced expression of alpha-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA), TGF-β and ECM proteins such as fibronectin 1 (FN1), and collagen 1A1 (COL1A1). Mechanistic studies revealed that the increased expression of RUNX1 in TGF-β-stimulated lung fibroblasts is due to enhanced mRNA stability of RUNX1 through selective interaction with the RNA-binding profibrotic protein, human antigen R (HuR). Collectively, our data demonstrate that increased expression of RUNX1 augments processes involved in lung fibrosis including the differentiation of fibroblasts into collagen-synthesizing myofibroblasts. Our study suggests that targeting RUNX1 could limit the progression of organ fibrosis in diseases characterized by abnormal collagen deposition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shubham Dubey
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Schools of Medicine and Engineering University of Alabama at Birmingham Alabama USA
| | - Praveen K. Dubey
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Schools of Medicine and Engineering University of Alabama at Birmingham Alabama USA
| | | | - Yohannes T. Ghebre
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Baylor College of Medicine One Baylor Plaza Houston Texas USA
- Department of Medicine, Section on Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine One Baylor Plaza Houston Texas USA
| | - Prasanna Krishnamurthy
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Schools of Medicine and Engineering University of Alabama at Birmingham Alabama USA
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19
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Fattahi F, Ellis JS, Sylvester M, Bahleda K, Hietanen S, Correa L, Lugogo NL, Atasoy U. HuR-Targeted Inhibition Impairs Th2 Proinflammatory Responses in Asthmatic CD4 + T Cells. JOURNAL OF IMMUNOLOGY (BALTIMORE, MD. : 1950) 2022; 208:38-48. [PMID: 34862257 DOI: 10.4049/jimmunol.2100635] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2021] [Accepted: 11/01/2021] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
RNA-binding protein HuR (ELAVL1) is a master regulator of gene expression in human pathophysiology. Its dysregulation plays an important role in many diseases. We hypothesized that HuR plays an important role in Th2 inflammation in asthma in both mouse and human. To address this, we used a model of airway inflammation in a T cell-specific knockout mouse model, distal lck-Cre HuRfl/fl, as well as small molecule inhibitors in human peripheral blood-derived CD4+ T cells. Peripheral CD4+ T cells were isolated from 26 healthy control subjects and 45 asthmatics (36 type 2 high and 9 non-type 2 high, determined by blood eosinophil levels and fraction of exhaled NO). Our mouse data showed conditional ablation of HuR in T cell-abrogated Th2 differentiation, cytokine production, and lung inflammation. Studies using human T cells showed that HuR protein levels in CD4+ T cells were significantly higher in asthmatics compared with healthy control subjects. The expression and secretion of Th2 cytokines were significantly higher in asthmatics compared with control subjects. AMP-activated protein kinase activator treatment reduced the expression of several cytokines in both type 2 high and non-type 2 high asthma groups. However, the effects of CMLD-2 (a HuR-specific inhibitor) were more specific to endotype-defining cytokines in type 2 high asthmatics. Taken together, these data suggest that HuR plays a permissive role in both allergen and non-allergen-driven airway inflammation by regulating key genes, and that interfering with its function may be a novel method of asthma treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fatemeh Fattahi
- Division of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI
| | - Jason S Ellis
- Division of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI
| | - Michael Sylvester
- Division of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI.,Department of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI
| | - Kristin Bahleda
- Division of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI
| | - Samuel Hietanen
- Division of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI
| | - Luis Correa
- Division of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI
| | - Njira L Lugogo
- Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI; and
| | - Ulus Atasoy
- Division of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI; .,Division of Allergy-Immunology, Ann Arbor VA Health System, Ann Arbor, MI
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20
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Chellappan R, Guha A, Si Y, Kwan T, Nabors LB, Filippova N, Yang X, Myneni AS, Meesala S, Harms AS, King PH. SRI-42127, a novel small molecule inhibitor of the RNA regulator HuR, potently attenuates glial activation in a model of lipopolysaccharide-induced neuroinflammation. Glia 2022; 70:155-172. [PMID: 34533864 PMCID: PMC8595840 DOI: 10.1002/glia.24094] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/04/2021] [Revised: 09/03/2021] [Accepted: 09/06/2021] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
Abstract
Glial activation with the production of pro-inflammatory mediators is a major driver of disease progression in neurological processes ranging from acute traumatic injury to chronic neurodegenerative diseases such as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and Alzheimer's disease. Posttranscriptional regulation is a major gateway for glial activation as many mRNAs encoding pro-inflammatory mediators contain adenine- and uridine-rich elements (ARE) in the 3' untranslated region which govern their expression. We have previously shown that HuR, an RNA regulator that binds to AREs, plays a major positive role in regulating inflammatory cytokine production in glia. HuR is predominantly nuclear in localization but translocates to the cytoplasm to exert a positive regulatory effect on RNA stability and translational efficiency. Homodimerization of HuR is necessary for translocation and we have developed a small molecule inhibitor, SRI-42127, that blocks this process. Here we show that SRI-42127 suppressed HuR translocation in LPS-activated glia in vitro and in vivo and significantly attenuated the production of pro-inflammatory mediators including IL1β, IL-6, TNF-α, iNOS, CXCL1, and CCL2. Cytokines typically associated with anti-inflammatory effects including TGF-β1, IL-10, YM1, and Arg1 were either unaffected or minimally affected. SRI-42127 suppressed microglial activation in vivo and attenuated the recruitment/chemotaxis of neutrophils and monocytes. RNA kinetic studies and luciferase studies indicated that SRI-42127 has inhibitory effects both on mRNA stability and gene promoter activation. In summary, our findings underscore HuR's critical role in promoting glial activation and the potential for SRI-42127 and other HuR inhibitors for treating neurological diseases driven by this activation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rajeshwari Chellappan
- Department of Neurology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35294,,Birmingham Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Birmingham, AL 35294
| | - Abhishek Guha
- Department of Neurology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35294
| | - Ying Si
- Department of Neurology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35294,,Birmingham Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Birmingham, AL 35294
| | - Thaddaeus Kwan
- Department of Neurology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35294
| | - L. Burt Nabors
- Department of Neurology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35294
| | - Natalia Filippova
- Department of Neurology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35294
| | - Xiuhua Yang
- Department of Neurology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35294
| | - Anish S. Myneni
- Department of Neurology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35294
| | - Shriya Meesala
- Department of Neurology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35294
| | - Ashley S Harms
- Department of Neurology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35294
| | - Peter H. King
- Department of Neurology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35294,,Department of Cell, Developmental, and Integrative Biology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35294,,Birmingham Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Birmingham, AL 35294,Correspondence to: Dr. P.H. King; UAB Dept. of Neurology, Civitan 545C, 1530 3 Avenue South, Birmingham, AL 35294-0017, USA. Tel. (205) 975-8116; Fax (205) 996-7255;
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21
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Si R, Cabrera JTO, Tsuji-Hosokawa A, Guo R, Watanabe M, Gao L, Lee YS, Moon JS, Scott BT, Wang J, Ashton AW, Rao JN, Wang JY, Yuan JXJ, Makino A. HuR/Cx40 downregulation causes coronary microvascular dysfunction in type 2 diabetes. JCI Insight 2021; 6:147982. [PMID: 34747371 PMCID: PMC8663561 DOI: 10.1172/jci.insight.147982] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/22/2021] [Accepted: 09/29/2021] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Patients with diabetes with coronary microvascular disease (CMD) exhibit higher cardiac mortality than patients without CMD. However, the molecular mechanism by which diabetes promotes CMD is poorly understood. RNA-binding protein human antigen R (HuR) is a key regulator of mRNA stability and translation; therefore, we investigated the role of HuR in the development of CMD in mice with type 2 diabetes. Diabetic mice exhibited decreases in coronary flow velocity reserve (CFVR; a determinant of coronary microvascular function) and capillary density in the left ventricle. HuR levels in cardiac endothelial cells (CECs) were significantly lower in diabetic mice and patients with diabetes than the controls. Endothelial-specific HuR-KO mice also displayed significant reductions in CFVR and capillary density. By examining mRNA levels of 92 genes associated with endothelial function, we found that HuR, Cx40, and Nox4 levels were decreased in CECs from diabetic and HuR-KO mice compared with control mice. Cx40 expression and HuR binding to Cx40 mRNA were downregulated in CECs from diabetic mice. Cx40-KO mice exhibited decreased CFVR and capillary density, whereas endothelium-specific Cx40 overexpression increased capillary density and improved CFVR in diabetic mice. These data suggest that decreased HuR contributes to the development of CMD in diabetes through downregulation of gap junction protein Cx40 in CECs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rui Si
- Department of Physiology, The University of Arizona (UA), Tucson, Arizona, USA.,Department of Cardiology, Xijing Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University, Shaanxi, China
| | | | | | - Rui Guo
- Department of Physiology, The University of Arizona (UA), Tucson, Arizona, USA
| | - Makiko Watanabe
- Department of Physiology, The University of Arizona (UA), Tucson, Arizona, USA
| | - Lei Gao
- Department of Medicine, UCSD, La Jolla, California, USA
| | - Yun Sok Lee
- Department of Medicine, UCSD, La Jolla, California, USA
| | - Jae-Su Moon
- Department of Medicine, UCSD, La Jolla, California, USA
| | - Brian T Scott
- Department of Medicine, UCSD, La Jolla, California, USA
| | - Jian Wang
- Department of Physiology, The University of Arizona (UA), Tucson, Arizona, USA.,State Key Laboratory of Respiratory Disease, Guangzhou Institute of Respiratory Disease, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Anthony W Ashton
- Division of Perinatal Research, Kolling Institute of Medical Research, University of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Jaladanki N Rao
- Department of Surgery, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Jian-Ying Wang
- Department of Surgery, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | | | - Ayako Makino
- Department of Physiology, The University of Arizona (UA), Tucson, Arizona, USA.,Department of Medicine, UCSD, La Jolla, California, USA
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22
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Borgonetti V, Coppi E, Galeotti N. Targeting the RNA-Binding Protein HuR as Potential Thera-Peutic Approach for Neurological Disorders: Focus on Amyo-Trophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), Spinal Muscle Atrophy (SMA) and Multiple Sclerosis. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms221910394. [PMID: 34638733 PMCID: PMC8508990 DOI: 10.3390/ijms221910394] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2021] [Revised: 09/22/2021] [Accepted: 09/24/2021] [Indexed: 01/03/2023] Open
Abstract
The importance of precise co- and post-transcriptional processing of RNA in the regulation of gene expression has become increasingly clear. RNA-binding proteins (RBPs) are a class of proteins that bind single- or double-chain RNA, with different affinities and selectivity, thus regulating the various functions of RNA and the fate of the cells themselves. ELAV (embryonic lethal/abnormal visual system)/Hu proteins represent an important family of RBPs and play a key role in the fate of newly transcribed mRNA. ELAV proteins bind AU-rich element (ARE)-containing transcripts, which are usually present on the mRNA of proteins such as cytokines, growth factors, and other proteins involved in neuronal differentiation and maintenance. In this review, we focused on a member of ELAV/Hu proteins, HuR, and its role in the development of neurodegenerative disorders, with a particular focus on demyelinating diseases.
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23
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Impaired Right Ventricular Calcium Cycling Is an Early Risk Factor in R14del-Phospholamban Arrhythmias. J Pers Med 2021; 11:jpm11060502. [PMID: 34204946 PMCID: PMC8226909 DOI: 10.3390/jpm11060502] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/07/2021] [Revised: 05/27/2021] [Accepted: 05/30/2021] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
The inherited mutation (R14del) in the calcium regulatory protein phospholamban (PLN) is linked to malignant ventricular arrhythmia with poor prognosis starting at adolescence. However, the underlying early mechanisms that may serve as prognostic factors remain elusive. This study generated humanized mice in which the endogenous gene was replaced with either human wild type or R14del-PLN and addressed the early molecular and cellular pathogenic mechanisms. R14del-PLN mice exhibited stress-induced impairment of atrioventricular conduction, and prolongation of both ventricular activation and repolarization times in association with ventricular tachyarrhythmia, originating from the right ventricle (RV). Most of these distinct electrocardiographic features were remarkably similar to those in R14del-PLN patients. Studies in isolated cardiomyocytes revealed RV-specific calcium defects, including prolonged action potential duration, depressed calcium kinetics and contractile parameters, and elevated diastolic Ca-levels. Ca-sparks were also higher although SR Ca-load was reduced. Accordingly, stress conditions induced after contractions, and inclusion of the CaMKII inhibitor KN93 reversed this proarrhythmic parameter. Compensatory responses included altered expression of key genes associated with Ca-cycling. These data suggest that R14del-PLN cardiomyopathy originates with RV-specific impairment of Ca-cycling and point to the urgent need to improve risk stratification in asymptomatic carriers to prevent fatal arrhythmias and delay cardiomyopathy onset.
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24
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Guarnieri AR, Anthony SR, Gozdiff A, Green LC, Fleifil SM, Slone S, Nieman ML, Alam P, Benoit JB, Owens AP, Kanisicak O, Tranter M. Adipocyte-specific deletion of HuR induces spontaneous cardiac hypertrophy and fibrosis. Am J Physiol Heart Circ Physiol 2021; 321:H228-H241. [PMID: 34018851 DOI: 10.1152/ajpheart.00957.2020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Adipose tissue homeostasis plays a central role in cardiovascular physiology, and the presence of thermogenically active brown adipose tissue (BAT) has recently been associated with cardiometabolic health. We have previously shown that adipose tissue-specific deletion of HuR (Adipo-HuR-/-) reduces BAT-mediated adaptive thermogenesis, and the goal of this work was to identify the cardiovascular impacts of Adipo-HuR-/-. We found that Adipo-HuR-/- mice exhibit a hypercontractile phenotype that is accompanied by increased left ventricle wall thickness and hypertrophic gene expression. Furthermore, hearts from Adipo-HuR-/- mice display increased fibrosis via picrosirius red staining and periostin expression. To identify underlying mechanisms, we applied both RNA-seq and weighted gene coexpression network analysis (WGCNA) across both cardiac and adipose tissue to define HuR-dependent changes in gene expression as well as significant relationships between adipose tissue gene expression and cardiac fibrosis. RNA-seq results demonstrated a significant increase in proinflammatory gene expression in both cardiac and subcutaneous white adipose tissue (scWAT) from Adipo-HuR-/- mice that is accompanied by an increase in serum levels of both TNF-α and IL-6. In addition to inflammation-related genes, WGCNA identified a significant enrichment in extracellular vesicle-mediated transport and exosome-associated genes in scWAT, whose expression most significantly associated with the degree of cardiac fibrosis observed in Adipo-HuR-/- mice, implicating these processes as a likely adipose-to-cardiac paracrine mechanism. These results are significant in that they demonstrate the spontaneous onset of cardiovascular pathology in an adipose tissue-specific gene deletion model and contribute to our understanding of how disruptions in adipose tissue homeostasis may mediate cardiovascular disease.NEW & NOTEWORTHY The presence of functional brown adipose tissue in humans is known to be associated with cardiovascular health. Here, we show that adipocyte-specific deletion of the RNA binding protein HuR, which we have previously shown to reduce BAT-mediated thermogenesis, is sufficient to mediate a spontaneous development of cardiac hypertrophy and fibrosis. These results may have implications on the mechanisms by which BAT function and adipose tissue homeostasis directly mediate cardiovascular disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adrienne R Guarnieri
- Division of Cardiovascular Health and Disease, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, Ohio
| | - Sarah R Anthony
- Division of Cardiovascular Health and Disease, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, Ohio
| | - Anamarie Gozdiff
- Division of Cardiovascular Health and Disease, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, Ohio
| | - Lisa C Green
- Division of Cardiovascular Health and Disease, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, Ohio
| | - Salma M Fleifil
- Division of Cardiovascular Health and Disease, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, Ohio
| | - Sam Slone
- Division of Cardiovascular Health and Disease, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, Ohio
| | - Michelle L Nieman
- Department of Pharmacology & Systems Physiology, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, Ohio
| | - Perwez Alam
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, Ohio
| | - Joshua B Benoit
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, Ohio
| | - A Phillip Owens
- Division of Cardiovascular Health and Disease, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, Ohio
| | - Onur Kanisicak
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, Ohio
| | - Michael Tranter
- Division of Cardiovascular Health and Disease, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, Ohio
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25
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Xu Y, Tian Y, Wang Y, Yang J, Li F, Wan X, Ouyang M. Human antigen R (HuR) and Cold inducible RNA-binding protein (CIRP) influence intestinal mucosal barrier function in ulcerative colitis by competitive regulation on Claudin1. Biofactors 2021; 47:427-443. [PMID: 33638934 DOI: 10.1002/biof.1719] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2020] [Accepted: 01/28/2021] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
To investigate the effects of RNA-binding proteins cold-inducible RNA binding protein (CIRP) and human antigen R (HuR) on expression of Claudin1 and mucosal barrier function in ulcerative colitis (UC). The clinical specimens of UC patients and healthy volunteers were collected. In the clinical experiments, the expressions of CIRP, Claudin1, and HuR, along with their correlations in tissues of UC patients were analyzed by qRT-PCR, Western blot and Pearson correlation coefficient, respectively. The chi-square test was utilized to assess the relevance between CIRP/HuR/Claudin1 level and clinicopathological characteristics of UC patients. The in vitro and in vivo models of UC were established by lipopolysaccharide treatment or dextran sulfate sodium injection. For cell experiments, after loss- and gain-of-function, the roles of CIRP or HuR in the apoptosis and proliferation of enterocytes were examined by flow cytometry and CCK-8 assay. The intestinal epithelial barrier function was inspected after determination on transepithelial electrical resistance value, horseradish peroxidase permeability and expressions of tight junction proteins (Occludin, ZO-1, and JAM-1). The relationship between HuR, CIRP, and Claudin1 was performed by RNA immunoprecipitation and dual-luciferase reporter gene assay. For in vivo experiments, the disease activity index score, weight loss and colon length of mice were assessed to observe the effect of CIRP or HuR on the UC mouse models. Histological analysis of colon tissues was conducted by H&E staining. FITC-dextran tracking was applied to inspect the intestinal mucosal barrier function of UC mouse models. In this study, high expression of CIRP and low expressions of HuR and Claudin1 were observed in patients, cells and mouse models of UC. The expressions of CIRP, HuR, and Claudin1 were correlated with the severity of patients with UC. There was a negative correlation between CIRP and Claudin1, and as a positive correlation between HuR and Claudin1. Claudin1 can be suppressed by CIRP, while enhanced by HuR. HuR and CIRP can competitively bind to Claudin1. HuR upregulation or CIRP downregulation promoted proliferation, suppressed apoptosis and ameliorated the damage of the barrier function in enterocytes. The in vivo experiments verified that the ameliorated damage of the intestinal mucosal barrier function in UC mice occurred with HuR overexpression or CIRP knockdown. CIRP and HuR confer pivotal effect on the intestinal mucosal barrier function of UC through competitively binding to Claudin1 mRNA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yan Xu
- Department of Health Management Center, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Yuxi Tian
- Department of Oncology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Ying Wang
- Department of Gastroenterology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Junwen Yang
- Department of Gastroenterology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Fujun Li
- Department of Gastroenterology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Xiaoping Wan
- Department of General Surgery, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Miao Ouyang
- Department of Gastroenterology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China
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26
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Anthony SR, Guarnieri A, Lanzillotta L, Gozdiff A, Green LC, O’Grady K, Helsley RN, Owens AP, Tranter M. HuR expression in adipose tissue mediates energy expenditure and acute thermogenesis independent of UCP1 expression. Adipocyte 2020; 9:335-345. [PMID: 32713230 PMCID: PMC7469577 DOI: 10.1080/21623945.2020.1782021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/07/2020] [Revised: 04/30/2020] [Accepted: 05/07/2020] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
The goal of this study was to define the functional role of adipocyte-specific expression of the RNA binding protein Human antigen R (HuR). Mice with an adipocyte-specific deletion of HuR (Adipo-HuR-/- ) were generated by crossing HuR floxed (HuRfl/fl ) mice with mice expressing adiponectin-driven cre-recombinase (Adipoq-cre). Our results show that Adipo-HuR-/- mice display a lean phenotype compared to wild-type littermate controls. HuR deletion results in a diet-independent reduction in percent body fat composition along with an increase in energy expenditure. Functionally, Adipo-HuR-/- mice show a significant impairment in acute adaptive thermogenesis (six hours at 4°C), but uncoupling protein 1 (UCP1) protein expression in brown adipose tissue (BAT) is unchanged compared to control. Pharmacological inhibition of HuR also results in a marked decline in core body temperature following acute cold challenge independent of UCP1 protein expression. Among the 588 HuR-dependent genes in BAT identified by RNA-seq analysis, gene ontology analysis shows a significant enrichment in mediators of calcium transport and signalling, almost all of which are decreased in Adipo-HuR-/- mice compared to control. In conclusion, adipocyte expression of HuR plays a central role in metabolic homoeostasis and mediates UCP1-independent thermogenesis in BAT, potentially through post-transcriptional control of intracellular calcium transport.Abbreviations: Adipo-HuR-/-: Adipocyte-specific HuR deletion mice; BAT: Brown adipose tissue; HuR: Human antigen R; UCP1: Uncoupling protein 1.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah R. Anthony
- Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Cardiovascular Health and Disease, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH, USA
| | - Adrienne Guarnieri
- Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Cardiovascular Health and Disease, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH, USA
| | - Lindsey Lanzillotta
- Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Cardiovascular Health and Disease, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH, USA
| | - Anamarie Gozdiff
- Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Cardiovascular Health and Disease, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH, USA
| | - Lisa C. Green
- Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Cardiovascular Health and Disease, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH, USA
| | - Katherine O’Grady
- Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Cardiovascular Health and Disease, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH, USA
| | - Robert N. Helsley
- Division of Pediatrics, Department of Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Nutrition, University of Kentucky College of Medicine and Kentucky Children’s Hospital, Lexington, KY, USA
| | - A. Phillip Owens
- Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Cardiovascular Health and Disease, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH, USA
| | - Michael Tranter
- Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Cardiovascular Health and Disease, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH, USA
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27
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Inhibition of RNA-binding protein HuR reduces glomerulosclerosis in experimental nephritis. Clin Sci (Lond) 2020; 134:1433-1448. [PMID: 32478392 PMCID: PMC8086301 DOI: 10.1042/cs20200193] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/25/2020] [Revised: 05/27/2020] [Accepted: 06/01/2020] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Recent identification of an RNA-binding protein (HuR) that regulates mRNA turnover and translation of numerous transcripts via binding to an ARE in their 3′-UTR involved in inflammation and is abnormally elevated in varied kidney diseases offers a novel target for the treatment of renal inflammation and subsequent fibrosis. Thus, we hypothesized that treatment with a selective inhibition of HuR function with a small molecule, KH-3, would down-regulate HuR-targeted proinflammatory transcripts thereby improving glomerulosclerosis in experimental nephritis, where glomerular cellular HuR is elevated. Three experimental groups included normal and diseased rats treated with or without KH-3. Disease was induced by the monoclonal anti-Thy 1.1 antibody. KH-3 was given via daily intraperitoneal injection from day 1 after disease induction to day 5 at the dose of 50 mg/kg BW/day. At day 6, diseased animals treated with KH-3 showed significant reduction in glomerular HuR levels, proteinuria, podocyte injury determined by ameliorated podocyte loss and podocin expression, glomerular staining for periodic acid-Schiff positive extracellular matrix proteins, fibronectin and collagen IV and mRNA and protein levels of profibrotic markers, compared with untreated disease rats. KH-3 treatment also reduced disease-induced increases in renal TGFβ1 and PAI-1 transcripts. Additionally, a marked increase in renal NF-κB-p65, Nox4, and glomerular macrophage cell infiltration observed in disease control group was largely reversed by KH-3 treatment. These results strongly support our hypothesis that down-regulation of HuR function with KH-3 has therapeutic potential for reversing glomerulosclerosis by reducing abundance of pro-inflammatory transcripts and related inflammation.
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28
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Yousefi F, Shabaninejad Z, Vakili S, Derakhshan M, Movahedpour A, Dabiri H, Ghasemi Y, Mahjoubin-Tehran M, Nikoozadeh A, Savardashtaki A, Mirzaei H, Hamblin MR. TGF-β and WNT signaling pathways in cardiac fibrosis: non-coding RNAs come into focus. Cell Commun Signal 2020; 18:87. [PMID: 32517807 PMCID: PMC7281690 DOI: 10.1186/s12964-020-00555-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 91] [Impact Index Per Article: 22.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/02/2020] [Accepted: 03/17/2020] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Cardiac fibrosis describes the inappropriate proliferation of cardiac fibroblasts (CFs), leading to accumulation of extracellular matrix (ECM) proteins in the cardiac muscle, which is found in many pathophysiological heart conditions. A range of molecular components and cellular pathways, have been implicated in its pathogenesis. In this review, we focus on the TGF-β and WNT signaling pathways, and their mutual interaction, which have emerged as important factors involved in cardiac pathophysiology. The molecular and cellular processes involved in the initiation and progression of cardiac fibrosis are summarized. We focus on TGF-β and WNT signaling in cardiac fibrosis, ECM production, and myofibroblast transformation. Non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) are one of the main players in the regulation of multiple pathways and cellular processes. MicroRNAs, long non-coding RNAs, and circular long non-coding RNAs can all interact with the TGF-β/WNT signaling axis to affect cardiac fibrosis. A better understanding of these processes may lead to new approaches for diagnosis and treatment of many cardiac conditions. Video Abstract.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fatemeh Yousefi
- Department of Genetics, Faculty of Biological Sciences, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran
| | - Zahra Shabaninejad
- Department of Nanotechnology, Faculty of Biological Sciences, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran.,Pharmaceutical Sciences Research Center, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
| | - Sina Vakili
- Biochemistry Department, Medical School, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
| | - Maryam Derakhshan
- Department of Pathology, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran
| | - Ahmad Movahedpour
- Department of Medical Biotechnology, School of Advanced Medical Sciences and Technologies, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran.,Student research committee, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
| | - Hamed Dabiri
- Department of Genetics, Faculty of Biological Sciences, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran.,Department of Stem Cell and Development Biology, Cell Science Research Center, Royan Institute for Stem Cell Biology and Technology, ACECR, Tehran, Iran
| | - Younes Ghasemi
- Pharmaceutical Sciences Research Center, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran.,Department of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences Research Center, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
| | - Maryam Mahjoubin-Tehran
- Student Research Committee, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran.,Department of Medical Biotechnology, Faculty of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
| | - Azin Nikoozadeh
- Pathology Department, School of Medicine,Mashhad Univesity of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
| | - Amir Savardashtaki
- Pharmaceutical Sciences Research Center, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran. .,Department of Medical Biotechnology, School of Advanced Medical Sciences and Technologies, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran.
| | - Hamed Mirzaei
- Research Center for Biochemistry and Nutrition in Metabolic Diseases, Institute for Basic Sciences, Kashan University of Medical Sciences, Kashan, IR, Iran.
| | - Michael R Hamblin
- Wellman Center for Photomedicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, 40 Blossom Street, Boston, MA, 02114, USA. .,Laser Research Centre, Faculty of Health Science, University of Johannesburg, Doornfontein, 2028, South Africa.
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29
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Mechanisms linking adipose tissue inflammation to cardiac hypertrophy and fibrosis. Clin Sci (Lond) 2020; 133:2329-2344. [PMID: 31777927 DOI: 10.1042/cs20190578] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/25/2019] [Revised: 11/08/2019] [Accepted: 11/13/2019] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Adipose tissue is classically recognized as the primary site of lipid storage, but in recent years has garnered appreciation for its broad role as an endocrine organ comprising multiple cell types whose collective secretome, termed as adipokines, is highly interdependent on metabolic homeostasis and inflammatory state. Anatomical location (e.g. visceral, subcutaneous, epicardial etc) and cellular composition of adipose tissue (e.g. white, beige, and brown adipocytes, macrophages etc.) also plays a critical role in determining its response to metabolic state, the resulting secretome, and its potential impact on remote tissues. Compared with other tissues, the heart has an extremely high and constant demand for energy generation, of which most is derived from oxidation of fatty acids. Availability of this fatty acid fuel source is dependent on adipose tissue, but evidence is mounting that adipose tissue plays a much broader role in cardiovascular physiology. In this review, we discuss the impact of the brown, subcutaneous, and visceral white, perivascular (PVAT), and epicardial adipose tissue (EAT) secretome on the development and progression of cardiovascular disease (CVD), with a particular focus on cardiac hypertrophy and fibrosis.
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30
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Translating Translation to Mechanisms of Cardiac Hypertrophy. J Cardiovasc Dev Dis 2020; 7:jcdd7010009. [PMID: 32164190 PMCID: PMC7151157 DOI: 10.3390/jcdd7010009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/26/2020] [Revised: 03/02/2020] [Accepted: 03/05/2020] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Cardiac hypertrophy in response to chronic pathological stress is a common feature occurring with many forms of heart disease. This pathological hypertrophic growth increases the risk for arrhythmias and subsequent heart failure. While several factors promoting cardiac hypertrophy are known, the molecular mechanisms governing the progression to heart failure are incompletely understood. Recent studies on altered translational regulation during pathological cardiac hypertrophy are contributing to our understanding of disease progression. In this brief review, we describe how the translational machinery is modulated for enhanced global and transcript selective protein synthesis, and how alternative modes of translation contribute to the disease state. Attempts at controlling translational output through targeting of mTOR and its regulatory components are detailed, as well as recently emerging targets for pre-clinical investigation.
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Liu B, Yang G, Wang X, Liu J, Lu Z, Wang Q, Xu B, Liu Z, Li J. CircBACH1 (hsa_circ_0061395) promotes hepatocellular carcinoma growth by regulating p27 repression via HuR. J Cell Physiol 2020; 235:6929-6941. [PMID: 32003018 DOI: 10.1002/jcp.29589] [Citation(s) in RCA: 55] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/06/2019] [Accepted: 01/13/2020] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
In recent years, an increasing number of circular RNAs (circRNAs) have been discovered in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). However, the functions of most circRNAs require further investigation. Here, we found that circBACH1 was significantly upregulated in HCC tissues and that high circBACH1 levels were closely associated with poor prognosis. In addition, circBACH1 could promote HCC growth by accelerating cell cycle progression in vitro and in vivo. We next investigated the cellular and molecular mechanisms and discovered that circBACH1 inhibited p27 translation, which influenced cell cycle progression. Moreover, we revealed that circBACH1 could combine directly with HuR using RNA immunoprecipitation assays, pull-down assays, and electrophoretic mobility shift assays. The combination of these molecules facilitated HuR translocation from the nucleus to the cytoplasm according to the fluorescence in situ hybridization and immunofluorescence results. Finally, silencing HuR abrogated circBACH1's inhibition of p27 translation and abolished the circBACH1-induced effect on HCC proliferation. In sum, circBACH1 plays a significant role as an oncogene through the circBACH1/HuR/p27 axis in HCC development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bingqi Liu
- Department of General Surgery, Shandong Provincial Qianfoshan Hospital, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong, China
| | - Guangsheng Yang
- Department of General Surgery, Shandong Provincial Qianfoshan Hospital, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong, China
| | - Xin Wang
- Department of General Surgery, Shandong Provincial Qianfoshan Hospital, The First Hospital Affiliated with Shandong First Medical University, Jinan, Shandong, China
| | - Jingfang Liu
- Department of General Surgery, Shandong Provincial Qianfoshan Hospital, The First Hospital Affiliated with Shandong First Medical University, Jinan, Shandong, China
| | - Zhihua Lu
- Department of General Surgery, Shandong Provincial Qilu Hospital (Qingdao), Shandong University, Qingdao, Shandong, China
| | - Qi Wang
- Department of General Surgery, Shandong Provincial Qianfoshan Hospital, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong, China
| | - Bing Xu
- Medical Research Center, Shandong Provincial Qianfoshan Hospital, The First Hospital Affiliated with Shandong First Medical University, Jinan, Shandong, China
| | - Zhiqian Liu
- Department of General Surgery, Shandong Provincial Qianfoshan Hospital, The First Hospital Affiliated with Shandong First Medical University, Jinan, Shandong, China
| | - Jie Li
- Department of General Surgery, Shandong Provincial Qianfoshan Hospital, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong, China.,Department of General Surgery, Shandong Provincial Qianfoshan Hospital, The First Hospital Affiliated with Shandong First Medical University, Jinan, Shandong, China
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Schultz CW, Preet R, Dhir T, Dixon DA, Brody JR. Understanding and targeting the disease-related RNA binding protein human antigen R (HuR). WILEY INTERDISCIPLINARY REVIEWS-RNA 2020; 11:e1581. [PMID: 31970930 DOI: 10.1002/wrna.1581] [Citation(s) in RCA: 118] [Impact Index Per Article: 29.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/16/2019] [Revised: 12/02/2019] [Accepted: 12/07/2019] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Altered gene expression is a characteristic feature of many disease states such as tumorigenesis, and in most cancers, it facilitates cancer cell survival and adaptation. Alterations in global gene expression are strongly impacted by post-transcriptional gene regulation. The RNA binding protein (RBP) HuR (ELAVL1) is an established regulator of post-transcriptional gene regulation and is overexpressed in most human cancers. In many cancerous settings, HuR is not only overexpressed, but it is "overactive" as denoted by increased subcellular localization within the cytoplasm. This dysregulation of HuR expression and cytoplasmic localization allows HuR to stabilize and increase the translation of various prosurvival messenger RNA (mRNAs) involved in the pathogenesis of numerous cancers and various diseases. Based on almost 20 years of work, HuR is now recognized as a therapeutic target. Herein, we will review the role HuR plays in the pathophysiology of different diseases and ongoing therapeutic strategies to target HuR. We will focus on three ongoing-targeted strategies: (1) inhibiting HuR's translocation from the nucleus to the cytoplasm; (2) inhibiting the ability of HuR to bind target RNA; and (3) silencing HuR expression levels. In an oncologic setting, HuR has been demonstrated to be critical for a cancer cell's ability to survive a variety of cancer relevant stressors (including drugs and elements of the tumor microenvironment) and targeting this protein has been shown to sensitize cancer cells further to insult. We strongly believe that targeting HuR could be a powerful therapeutic target to treat different diseases, particularly cancer, in the near future. This article is categorized under: RNA in Disease and Development > RNA in Disease NRA Turnover and Surveillance > Regulation of RNA Stability Translation > Translation Regulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christopher W Schultz
- Department of Surgery, Jefferson Pancreas, Biliary and Related Cancer Center, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - Ranjan Preet
- Department of Molecular Biosciences, University of Kansas, Lawrence, Kansas
| | - Teena Dhir
- Department of Surgery, Jefferson Pancreas, Biliary and Related Cancer Center, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - Dan A Dixon
- Department of Molecular Biosciences, University of Kansas, Lawrence, Kansas
| | - Jonathan R Brody
- Department of Surgery, Jefferson Pancreas, Biliary and Related Cancer Center, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
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Cardiovascular inflammation: RNA takes the lead. J Mol Cell Cardiol 2019; 129:247-256. [PMID: 30880251 DOI: 10.1016/j.yjmcc.2019.03.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/12/2019] [Revised: 03/12/2019] [Accepted: 03/13/2019] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Inflammation has recently gained tremendous attention as a key contributor in several chronic diseases. While physiological inflammation is essential to counter a wide variety of damaging stimuli and to improve wound healing, dysregulated inflammation such as in the myocardium and vasculature can promote cardiovascular diseases. Given the high severity, prevalence, and economic burden of these diseases, understanding the factors involved in the regulation of physiological inflammation is essential. Like other complex biological phenomena, RNA-based processes are emerging as major regulators of inflammatory responses. Among such processes are cis-regulatory elements in the mRNA of inflammatory genes, noncoding RNAs directing the production or localization of inflammatory cytokines/chemokines, or pathogenic RNA driving inflammatory responses. In this review, we describe several specific RNA-based molecular mechanisms by which physiological inflammation pertaining to cardiovascular diseases is regulated. These include the role of AU-rich element-containing mRNAs, long non-coding RNAs, microRNAs, and viral RNAs.
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