Expression alteration of serum exosomal circular RNAs in obstructive sleep apnea patients with acute myocardial infarction

ERG mediates the inhibition of NK cell cytotoxicity through the HLX/STAT4/Perforin signaling pathway, thereby promoting the progression of myocardial infarction

This study aimed to investigate the role of ERG in the HLX/STAT4/Perforin signaling axis, impacting natural killer (NK) cell cytotoxicity and myocardial infarction (MI) progression. NK cell cytotoxicity was assessed via co-culture and 51Cr release assays. Datasets GSE34198 and GSE97320 identified common differentially expressed genes in MI. NK cell gene expression was analyzed in MI patients and healthy individuals using qRT-PCR and Western blotting. ERG's regulation of HLX and STAT4's regulation of perforin were studied through computational tools (MEM) and ChIP experiments. HLX's influence on STAT4 was explored with the MG132 proteasome inhibitor. Findings were validated in a mouse MI model.ERG, a commonly upregulated gene, was identified in NK cells from MI patients and mice. ERG upregulated HLX, leading to STAT4 proteasomal degradation and reduced Perforin expression. Consequently, NK cell cytotoxicity decreased, promoting MI progression. ERG mediates the HLX/STAT4/Perforin axis to inhibit NK cell cytotoxicity, fostering MI progression. These results provide vital insights into MI's molecular mechanisms.

Hsa_circ_0081065 exacerbates IH-induced EndMT via regulating miR-665/HIF-1α signal axis and HIF-1α nuclear translocation

CircRNAs play an important role in various physiological and pathological biological processes. Despite their widespread involvement, the function of circRNAs in intermittent hypoxia (IH) remain incompletely understood. This study aims to clarify the molecular mechanism of it in IH. Differentially expressed circRNAs were identified by transcriptome sequencing analysis in intermittent hypoxia (IH) model. GO and KEGG enrichment analys were performed on the identified differentially expressed circRNAs. The circular characteristics of hsa_circ_0081065 in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) were detected by RT-qPCR. The sublocalization of hsa_circ_0081065 was examined by FISH. The effect of hsa_circ_0081065 on endothelial to mesenchymal transition (EndMT) was estimated by detecting the expression of EndMT related markers. Various techniques, including RNA-pull down, RIP, EMSA, dual-luciferase reporter assay and immunofluorescence staining were used to investigate the relationship among hsa_circ_0081065, miR-665 and HIF-1α. A total of 13,304 circRNAs were identified in HUVECs treatment with IH, among which 73 were differentially expressed, including 24 upregulated circRNAs and 49 downregulated circRNAs. Notably, hsa_circ_0081065 demonstrated a significantly upregulation. Hsa_circ_0081065 exhibited the circular characteristics of circRNA and was predominantly localized in the cytoplasm. Knockdown of hsa_circ_0081065 inhibited EndMT. Mechanically, we demonstrated that hsa_circ_0081065 acts as a sponge for miR-665 to up-regulate HIF-1α and exacerbate HIF-1α nuclear translocation in HUVECs. We have demonstrated that hsa_circ_0081065 is significantly upregulated in HUVECs treated with IH. Our findings indicate that hsa_circ_0081065 exacerbates IH-induced EndMT through the regulation of the miR-665/HIF-1α signal axis and facilitating HIF-1α nuclear translocation. These results provide a theoretical basis for considering of EndMT as a potential therapeutic target for OSAHS intervention.