Several circulating miRNAs related to hyperlipidemia and atherosclerotic cardiovascular diseases

Sperm-borne miR-34c-5p and miR-191-3p as markers for sperm motility and embryo developmental competence

BACKGROUND

Sperm-borne microRNAs play a pivotal role in influencing essential cellular processes during fertilization, impacting the quality of embryo development. Dysregulated microRNA profiles have been associated with compromised embryonic development and increased incidences of pregnancy loss.

OBJECTIVE

This study aimed to investigate the potential associations between the abundance of miR-34c-5p and miR-191-3p in human spermatozoa with sperm quality, as well as with embryo quality and metabolic performance during in vitro development.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Thirteen couples who underwent a total of 13 cycles participated in this study. The sperm quality was assessed using conventional methods following World Health Organization guidelines. Quantitative polymerase chain reaction was employed to measure microRNA abundance in spermatozoa. Embryos were categorized as good, lagging, or bad based on morphokinetic evaluation. Evaluation of embryo metabolic performance involved tracking changes in specific metabolites within the cultured media using nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. Statistical analysis was conducted to explore the correlation between microRNA abundance in human spermatozoa and all other collected data.

RESULTS

Our findings revealed a negative correlation between the abundance of miR-34c-5p (but not miR-191-3p) and total sperm motility, potentially mediated by the modulation of key signaling pathways. Additionally, higher levels of miR-34c-5p in spermatozoa were strongly associated with the consumption or release of key metabolites by developing embryos, particularly those linked with lipid and glucose metabolism, suggesting enhanced metabolic performance, while miR-191-3p was mostly associated with glucose consumption. Concurrently, only miR-34c-5p content in spermatozoa correlated with higher embryo quality.

DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION

This study provides evidence suggesting that the abundance of miR-34c-5p in spermatozoa is correlated not only with total sperm motility but also with markers of embryo developmental competence, highlighting the potential significance of this sperm microRNA content as a biomarker in assisted reproduction.

Specific circulating miRNAs are associated with plasma lipids in a healthy American cohort

Low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-c) is both a therapeutic target and a risk factor for cardiovascular disease (CVD). MicroRNA (miRNA) has been shown to regulate cholesterol homeostasis, and miRNA in blood circulation has been linked to hypercholesterolemia. However, few studies to date have associated miRNA with phenotypes like LDL-c in a healthy population. To this end, we analyzed circulating miRNA in relation to LDL-c in a healthy cohort of 353 participants using two separate bioinformatic approaches. The first approach found that miR-15b-5p and miR-16-5p were upregulated in individuals with at-risk levels of LDL-c. The second approach identified two miRNA clusters, one that positively and a second that negatively correlated with LDL-c. Included in the cluster that positively correlated with LDL-c were miR-15b-5p and miR-16-5p, as well as other miRNA from the miR-15/107, miR-30, and let-7 families. Cross-species analyses suggested that several miRNAs that associated with LDL-c are conserved between mice and humans. Finally, we examined the influence of diet on circulating miRNA. Our results robustly linked circulating miRNA with LDL-c, suggesting that miRNA could be used as biomarkers for hypercholesterolemia or targets for developing cholesterol-lowering drugs.NEW & NOTEWORTHY This study explored the association between circulating microRNA (miRNA) and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-c) in a healthy population of 353 participants. Two miRNAs, miR-15b-5p and miR-16-5p, were upregulated in individuals with at-risk LDL-c levels. Several miRNA clusters were positively and negatively correlated with LDL-c and are known to target mRNA involved in lipid metabolism. The study also investigated the influence of diet on circulating miRNA, suggesting potential biomarkers for hypercholesterolemia.

Unveiling the regulatory role of miRNAs in stroke pathophysiology and diagnosis

Stroke, a major global cause of mortality, leads to a range of problems for those who survive. Besides its brutal events, stroke also tends to have a characteristic of recurrence, making it a complex disease involving intricate regulatory networks. One of the major cellular regulators is the non-coding RNAs (ncRNA), specifically microRNAs (miRNAs), thus the possible functions of miRNAs in the pathogenesis of stroke are discussed as well as the possibility of using miRNA-based therapeutic approaches. Firstly, the molecular mechanisms by which miRNAs regulate vital physiological processes, including synaptic plasticity, oxidative stress, apoptosis, and the integrity of the blood-brain barrier (BBB) are reviewed. The miRNA indirectly impacts stroke outcomes by regulating BBB function and angiogenesis through the targeting of transcription factors and angiogenic factors. In addition, the tendency for some miRNAs to be upregulated in response to hypoxia, which is a prevalent phenomenon in stroke and various neurological disorders, highlights the possibility that it controls hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF) signaling and angiogenesis, thereby influencing the integrity of the BBB as examples of the discussed mechanisms. Furthermore, this review explores the potential therapeutic targets that miRNAs may offer for stroke recovery and highlights their promising capacity to alleviate post-stroke complications. This review provides researchers and clinicians with valuable resources since it attempts to decipher the complex network of miRNA-mediated mechanisms in stroke. Additionally, the review addresses the interplay between miRNAs and stroke risk factors as well as clinical applications of miRNAs as diagnostic and prognostic markers.

CircGUCY2C regulates cofilin 1 by sponging miR-425-3p to promote the proliferation of porcine skeletal muscle satellite cells

Circular ribonucleic acids (or circRNAs) are an emerging class of endogenous noncoding RNAs that are involved in physiological and pathological processes. Increasing evidence suggests that circRNAs play an important regulatory role in skeletal muscle development and meat quality regulation. In this study, it was found that circGUCY2C exhibits a high expression level in the longissimus dorsi muscle. It shows resistance to RNase R and additionally promotes the mRNA expression of cyclin-dependent kinase 2 (CDK2) and proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA). Specifically, it was observed that the overexpression of circGUCY2C could promote the transition of porcine skeletal muscle satellite cells into the S and G2 phases of the cell cycle and that it regulates the proliferation of porcine skeletal muscle satellite cells. In contrast, miR-425-3p plays the opposite role and has an inhibitory effect on the proliferation of porcine skeletal muscle satellite cells. MiR-425-3p has been described as a target of circGUCY2C; consequently, the depletion of miR-425-3p promoted the proliferation of porcine skeletal muscle satellite cells. CFL1 (cofilin 1) is a target of miR-425-3p, and circGUCY2C upregulated CFL1 expression by inhibiting miR-425-3p. Collectively, our research outcomes demonstrate that circGUCY2C significantly influences the proliferation of porcine skeletal muscle satellite cells by selectively targeting the miR-425-3p-CFL1 axis, and our work partially clarified the role of circGUCY2C in porcine skeletal muscle satellite cells. Thus, the study provides new insight into the function of circGUCY2C and adds to the knowledge of the post-transcriptional regulation of pork quality.

Blood-based circulating microRNAs as diagnostic biomarkers for subclinical carotid atherosclerosis: A systematic review and meta-analysis with bioinformatics analysis

BACKGROUND

Atherosclerosis in carotid arteries can remain clinically undetected in its early development until an acute cerebrovascular event such as stroke emerges. Recently, microRNAs (miRNAs) circulating in blood have emerged as potential diagnostic biomarkers, but their performance in detecting subclinical carotid atherosclerosis has yet to be systematically researched.

AIM

To investigate the diagnostic performance of circulating miRNAs in detecting subclinical carotid atherosclerosis.

METHODS

We systematically searched five electronic databases from inception to July 23, 2022. Subclinical carotid atherosclerosis was defined using carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT). Diagnostic accuracy parameters and correlation coefficients were pooled. A gene network visualisation and enrichment bioinformatics analysis were additionally conducted to search for potential target genes and pathway regulations of the miRNAs.

RESULTS

Fifteen studies (15 unique miRNAs) comprising 2542 subjects were identified. Circulating miRNAs had a pooled sensitivity of 85% (95% CI 80%-89%), specificity of 84% (95% CI 78%-88%), positive likelihood ratio of 5.19 (95% CI 3.97-6.80), negative likelihood ratio of 0.18 (95% CI 0.13-0.23), diagnostic odds ratio of 29.48 (95% CI 21.15-41.11), and area under the summary receiver operating characteristic curve of 0.91 (95% CI 0.88-0.93), with a strong correlation to CIMT (pooled coefficient 0.701; 95% CI 0.664-0.731). Bioinformatics analysis revealed a major role of the miRNAs, as shown by their relation with CCND1, KCTD15, SPARC, WWTR1, VEGFA genes, and multiple pathways involved in the pathogenesis of carotid atherosclerosis.

CONCLUSION

Circulating miRNAs had excellent accuracy in detecting subclinical carotid atherosclerosis, suggesting their utilisation as novel diagnostic tools.

MicroRNAs Regulate Function in Atherosclerosis and Clinical Implications

Background

Atherosclerosis is considered the most common cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. Athermanous plaque formation is pathognomonic of atherosclerosis. The main feature of atherosclerosis is the formation of plaque, which is inseparable from endothelial cells, vascular smooth muscle cells, and macrophages. MicroRNAs, a small highly conserved noncoding ribonucleic acid (RNA) molecule, have multiple biological functions, such as regulating gene transcription, silencing target gene expression, and affecting protein translation. MicroRNAs also have various pharmacological activities, such as regulating cell proliferation, apoptosis, and metabolic processes. It is noteworthy that many studies in recent years have also proved that microRNAs play a role in atherosclerosis.

Methods

To summarize the functions of microRNAs in atherosclerosis, we reviewed all relevant articles published in the PubMed database before June 2022, with keywords "atherosclerosis," "microRNA," "endothelial cells," "vascular smooth muscle cells," "macrophages," and "cholesterol homeostasis," briefly summarized a series of research progress on the function of microRNAs in endothelial cells, vascular smooth muscle cells, and macrophages and atherosclerosis. Results and Conclusion. In general, the expression levels of some microRNAs changed significantly in different stages of atherosclerosis pathogenesis; therefore, MicroRNAs may become new diagnostic biomarkers for atherosclerosis. In addition, microRNAs are also involved in the regulation of core processes such as endothelial dysfunction, plaque formation and stabilization, and cholesterol metabolism, which also suggests the great potential of microRNAs as a therapeutic target.

Interleukin-35 Mitigates ox-LDL-Induced Proatherogenic Effects via Modulating miRNAs Associated with Coronary Artery Disease (CAD)

PURPOSE

Recent emergence of miRNAs as important regulators of processes involving lesion formation and regression has highlighted miRNAs as potent therapeutic targets for the treatment of atherosclerosis. Few studies have reported the atheroprotective role of IL-35, a novel immunosuppressive and anti-inflammatory cytokine; however, miRNA-dependent regulation underlying the anti-atherosclerotic potential of IL-35 remains elusive.

METHODS

THP-1 macrophages were incubated with human recombinant IL-35 (rIL-35) either in the presence or absence of ox-LDL. qRT-PCR was conducted to validate the expression levels of previously identified miRNAs including miR-197-5p, miR-4442, miR-324-3p, miR-6879-5p, and miR-6069 that were differentially expressed in peripheral blood mononuclear cells of coronary artery disease (CAD) patients vs. controls. Additionally, bioinformatic analysis was performed to predict miRNA-associated targets and their corresponding functional significance in CAD.

RESULTS

Exogenous IL-35 significantly decreased the average area of ox-LDL-stimulated macrophages, indicating the inhibitory effect of IL-35 on lipid-laden foam cell formation. Furthermore, rIL-35 treatment alleviated the ox-LDL-mediated atherogenic effects by modulating the expression levels of aforementioned CAD-associated miRNAs in the cultured macrophages. Moreover, functional enrichment analysis of these miRNA-related targets revealed their role in the molecular processes affecting different stages of atheroslerotic plaque development, such as macrophage polarization, T cell suppression, lipoprotein metabolism, foam cell formation, and iNOS-mediated inflammation.

CONCLUSION

Our observations uncover the novel role of IL-35 as an epigenetic modifier as it influences the expression level of miRNAs implicated in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis. Thus, IL-35 cytokine therapy-mediated miRNA targeting could be an effective therapeutic strategy against the development of early atheromas in asymptomatic high-risk CAD patients.

Expression pattern of miR-193a, miR122, miR155, miR-15a, and miR146a in peripheral blood mononuclear cells of children with obesity and their relation to some metabolic and inflammatory biomarkers

BACKGROUND

The widespread presence of childhood obesity has increased considerably over three decades. The present study was designed to investigate expression patterns of miR-146a, miR-155, miR-15a, miR-193a, and miR-122 in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) in children who are obese along with their association with metabolic and inflammatory biomarkers.

METHODS

Ninety test subjects were admitted. The profile of blood pressure, resting energy expenditure (REE), anthropometric measures, body composition, dietary intakes, physical activity levels, insulin, and lipid profile, fasting blood glucose (FBG), high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), and pubertal stage have been measured. Total RNA (including small RNAs) was extracted from PBMCs. The expression levels of miRNAs were measured by stem-loop RT-qPCR.

RESULTS

The miR-155a expression level was significantly lower in obese children, children with high hs-CRP, and children with high-fat mass. Obese girls had significantly higher PBMC levels of miR-122. MiR-155a had a significant negative association with fasting insulin, HOMA-IR, and hs-CRP. There were significant positive associations between miR-193a and miR-122 expression levels and fasting insulin, HOMA-IR, and TG. MiR-15a was positively correlated with fasting insulin and HOMA-IR. Children with metabolic syndrome, insulin resistance, and high-fat mass had higher PBMC levels of miR-122 and miR-193a. Higher miR-193a and miR-122 levels were also detected in PBMCs of children with fast REE, compared to those with slow REE, and the subjects with high hs-CRP, respectively.

CONCLUSION

lower level of miR-155 expression in obese subjects and significant associations unfolds the need for more studies to detect the possible underlying mechanisms.

MiR-99a-5p Inhibits the Proliferation and Migration of Human Retinal Microvascular Endothelial Cells by Targeting NOX4

Diabetic retinopathy is one of the common microvascular complications of diabetes, and it is the main cause of vision loss among working-age people. This study interpreted the roles of miR-99a-5p in DR patients and human retinal microvascular endothelial cell (hRMECs) injury induced by high glucose. The expression of miR-99a-5p was detected in patients with NDR, NPDR, and PDR. The indictive impacts of miR-99a-5p were tested by the ROC curve, and the link between miR-99a-5p and clinical information was verified by the Pearson test. HG was used to instruct cell models. The CCK-8 and transwell methods were performed to detect the proliferative and migrated cells. The targeted relationship was explained by luciferase activity. The content of miR-99a-5p was gradually lessened in NPDR and PDR patients. MiR-99a-5p might differentiate DR patients from NDR patients and PDR patients from NPDR patients. The interconnection between miR-99a-5p and clinical factors was endorsed in all DR patients. Overexpression of miR-99a-5p assuaged the abnormality of cell migration and proliferation of hRMECs triggered by HG. NOX4 was a downstream signaling component of miR-99a-5p. In conclusion, MiR-99a-5p protected hRMECs against HG damage, and the miR-99a-5p might be a novel target for diagnosis of DR.

Potential Mechanisms of Gut-Derived Extracellular Vesicle Participation in Glucose and Lipid Homeostasis

The intestine participates in the regulation of glucose and lipid metabolism in multiple facets. It is the major site of nutrient digestion and absorption, provides the interface as well as docking locus for gut microbiota, and harbors hormone-producing cells scattered throughout the gut epithelium. Intestinal extracellular vesicles are known to influence the local immune response, whereas their roles in glucose and lipid homeostasis have barely been explored. Hence, this current review summarizes the latest knowledge of cargo substances detected in intestinal extracellular vesicles, and connects these molecules with the fine-tuning regulation of glucose and lipid metabolism in liver, muscle, pancreas, and adipose tissue.

Rotator Cuff Health, Pathology, and Repair in the Perspective of Hyperlipidemia

Rotator Cuff Injuries (RCI) are prevalent cause of shoulder pain affecting over 20% of the population in the USA. Surgical repair of the torn rotator cuff helps in relieving the pressure on the rotator cuff tendon and from symptoms, however tendon-to-bone healing after rotator cuff surgery still has a high failure rate. Hyperlipidemia has been strongly associated with RCI although the cellular and molecular mechanisms are largely unknown. The focus of this critical review is to further explore the role of hyperlipidemia in RCI and rotator cuff tissue repair to determine its implication as a risk factor for tears, repair, and retears. A literature review was conducted to elucidate the role of hyperlipidemia as an inflammatory mediator and catalyst for structural instability within the shoulder. The results from various studies were critically reviewed to summarize the relationship between hyperlipidemia and rotator cuff pathology. Hyperlipidemia induces LDL-particle entrapment within the dense regular collagen of rotator cuff tendons resulting in foam cell aggregation and macrophage recruitment. Subsequent inflammatory pathways including the JAK2/STAT3 pathway and NLRP3 inflammasome pathway led to persistent inflammation and Extracellular Matrix (ECM) degradation within the rotator cuff. While arthroscopic repair remains the most common treatment modality, nonsurgical treatment including statins, vitamin D, and targeting miRNA are also of therapeutic benefit. Hyperlipidemia interferes with arthroscopic repairs by inducing inflammation and stiffness within tendons and increases the risk of retears. Most notably, targeting underlying mechanisms influencing inflammation has large therapeutic value as a novel treatment strategy for the management of rotator cuff pathology.

Plasma Cell-Free DNA as a Novel Biomarker for the Diagnosis and Monitoring of Atherosclerosis

Atherosclerosis (AS) is the leading cause of cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) with a high rate of mortality worldwide. Plasma cell-free DNA (cfDNA), mainly originating from apoptosis, necrosis, and active secretion, has been recognized as a promising biomarker for the diagnosis and prognosis of multiple cancers, whereas there are no reports about cfDNA in CVDs. Here, we found an increased quantity and decreased integrity of cfDNA (cfDI) in the serum from AS patients compared with normal controls. Moreover, the reduced cfDI is inversely correlated with serum LDL levels, carotid plaque size, and carotid plaque thickness in the progression of AS. Consistently, in vivo experiments confirmed that the release and cleavage of cfDNA were increased concomitantly with the development and progression of AS in ApoE⁻/⁻ mice. Our study sheds light on the potential of cfDNA and cfDI as molecular biomarkers for detecting and monitoring AS.

Bioinformatics Analysis of the Prognostic Significance of CAND1 in ERα-Positive Breast Cancer

The identification of novel prognostic biomarkers for breast cancer is an unmet clinical need. Cullin-associated and neddylation-dissociated 1 (CAND1) has been implicated in mediating carcinogenesis in prostate and lung cancers. In addition, CAND1 is an established prognostic biomarker for worse prognosis in liver cancer. However, the prognostic significance of CAND1 in breast cancer has not yet been explored. In this study, Breast Cancer Gene-Expression Miner (Bc-GenExMiner) and TIMER2.0 were utilized to explore the mRNA expression of CAND1 in ERα-positive breast cancer patients. The Kaplan–Meier plotter was used to explore the relationship between CAND1 expression and several prognostic indicators. The Gene Set Cancer Analysis (GSCA) web server was then used to explore the pathways of the genes that correlate with CAND1 in ERα-positive breast cancer. Immune infiltration was investigated using Bc-GenExMiner. Our bioinformatics analysis illustrates that breast cancer patients have higher CAND1 compared to normal breast tissue and that ERα-positive breast cancer patients with a high expression of CAND1 have poor overall survival (OS), distant metastasis-free survival (DMFS), and relapse-free survival (RFS) outcomes. Higher CAND1 expression was observed in histologic grade 3 compared to grades 2 and 1. Our results revealed that CAND1 positively correlates with lymph nodes and negatively correlates with the infiltration of immune cells, which is in agreement with published reports. Our findings suggest that CAND1 might mediate invasion and metastasis in ERα-positive breast cancer, possibly through the activation of estrogen and androgen signaling pathways; however, experiments should be carried out to further explore the role of CAND1 in activating the androgen and estrogen signaling pathways. In conclusion, the results suggest that CAND1 could be used as a potential novel biomarker for worse prognosis in ERα-positive breast cancer.

microRNAs in newborns with low birth weight: relation to birth size and body composition

BACKGROUND

Children with low birth weight (LBW) have a higher risk of developing endocrine-metabolic disorders later in life. Deregulation of specific microRNAs (miRNAs) could underscore the programming of adult pathologies. We analyzed the miRNA expression pattern in both umbilical cord serum samples from LBW and appropriate-for-gestational-age (AGA) newborns and maternal serum samples in the 3rd trimester of gestation, and delineated the relationships with fetal growth, body composition, and markers of metabolic risk.

METHODS

Serum samples of 12 selected mother-newborn pairs, including 6 LBW and 6 AGA newborns, were used for assessing miRNA profile by RNA-sequencing. The miRNAs with differential expression were validated in a larger cohort [49 maternal samples and 49 umbilical cord samples (24 LBW, 25 AGA)] by RT-qPCR. Anthropometric, endocrine-metabolic markers and body composition (by DXA) in infants were determined longitudinally over 12 months.

RESULTS

LBW newborns presented reduced circulating concentrations of miR-191-3p (P = 0.015). miR-191-3p levels reliably differentiated LBW from AGA individuals (ROC AUC = 0.76) and were positively associated with anthropometric and body composition measures at birth and weight Z-score at 12 months (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

miR-191-3p was reliably different in LBW individuals, and could be a new player in the epigenetic mechanisms linking LBW and future endocrine-metabolic adverse outcomes.

IMPACT

Children with low birth weight (LBW) have a higher risk of developing endocrine-metabolic disorders. Deregulation of specific microRNAs (miRNAs) could underscore the programming of those pathologies. miR-191-3p is downregulated in serum of LBW newborns, and its concentrations associate positively with neonatal anthropometric measures, with lean mass and bone accretion at age 15 days and with weight Z-score at age 12 months. miR-191-3p was reliably different in individuals with LBW, and could be a new player in the epigenetic mechanisms connecting LBW and future endocrine-metabolic adverse outcomes.

The Role of MicroRNAs in Hyperlipidemia: From Pathogenesis to Therapeutical Application

Hyperlipidemia is a common metabolic disorder with high morbidity and mortality, which brings heavy burden on social. Understanding its pathogenesis and finding its potential therapeutic targets are the focus of current research in this field. In recent years, an increasing number of studies have proved that miRNAs play vital roles in regulating lipid metabolism and were considered as promising therapeutic targets for hyperlipidemia and related diseases. It is demonstrated that miR-191, miR-222, miR-224, miR-27a, miR-378a-3p, miR-140-5p, miR-483, and miR-520d-5p were closely associated with the pathogenesis of hyperlipidemia. In this review, we provide brief overviews about advances in miRNAs in hyperlipidemia and its potential clinical application value.

Effect of miR-34a on the Osteogenic Differentiation of Bone Marrow Mesenchymal Stem Cells (BMSCs) in Hyperlipidemia Rats

This study intends to explore miR-34a’s effect on BMSCs osteogenic differentiation of hyperlipidemia. 20 SD rats were equally assigned into control group (normal diet) and high-fat group (research diet). Cells were transfected with miR-34a mimic or negative control followed by meausring miR-34a, Dvl2, PPAR-γ, ALP, Runx2, and sp7, and ALP activity. The number of mineralized nodules, adipocytes, miR-34a and PPAR-γ expression in high-fat group were significantly increased and Dvl2, ALP, Runx2, and sp7 mRNA showed opposite profiles. Meanwhile, Runx2, ALP protein, cytoplasm and nuclear blue-black particles, Dvl2 protein and mRNA in miR-34a mimic group were significantly downregulated (P < 0.05). Additionally, the luciferase activity of wild-type plasmid+miR-34a mimic group was significantly lower than mutant group, indicating that miR-34a targets Dvl2. In conclusion, miR-34a inhibits the osteogenic differentiation of hyperlipidemia BMSCs by inhibiting the expression of Dvl2, Runx2 and ALP activity, indicating that it might be target in the hyperlipidemia treatment.

Investigation of the effective components inhibited macrophage foam cell formation in Ophiopogonis Radix

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Ophiopogonis Radix, the commonly used traditional Chinese medicine in clinic for treating cardiovascular diseases, is returned to the stomach, lung and heart meridian. It is reported to nourish yin, moisten lung and is used to treat heart yin deficiency syndromes and asthenia of heart and lung, which indicated that Ophiopogonis Radix may have a protective effect on heart disorders. Atherosclerosisis is an important process in the development of cardiovascular diseases and abnormal lipid deposition induced macrophage foam cells is its crucial foundation. Our previous study showed the extract of Ophiopogonis Radix (EOR) ameliorates atherosclerosis in vitro. However, it may protect against cardiovascular diseases through inhibiting macrophage foam cell formation and its potential effective components and mechanisms are still unclear.

AIM OF THE STUDY

Our study aimed to investigate the effect of Ophiopogonis Radix on macrophage foam cell formation and its potential active constituents and mechanisms.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Ox-LDL induced macrophage cells were employed to evaluate the effect of Ophiopogonis Radix on macrophage foam cell formation. Then the potential active constituents inhibited formation of macrophage foam cells were screened by biospecific cell extraction and its underlying mechanisms were also explored by Western blot.

RESULTS

The extract of Ophiopogonis Radix was found to significantly inhibit macrophage foam cell formation, evidenced by the decrease of TG and TC and Oil Red O staining analysis in macrophage cells, which indicated that EOR reduced the formation of macrophage foam cells. At the same time, EOR was showed to increase antioxidant capacity in macrophage cells. After treatment with EOR, two potential active components interacted with macrophage foam cells specifically were identified to inhibit macrophage foam cell formation including methylophiopogonanone A and methylophiopogonanone B. Methylophiopogonanone A was then proved to decrease the expression of CD36, Lox-1 and SREBP2, increase the expression of ABCA1 obviously, while the expression of ABCG1 and SREBP1 had no changes.

CONCLUSIONS

In our study, Ophiopogonis Radix was found to protect against atherosclerosis through suppressing ox-LDL induced macrophage foam cell formation and two potential compounds were identified by biospecific cell extraction including methylophiopogonanone A and methylophiopogonanone B. Moreover, methylophiopogonanone A was proved to inhibit foam cells through reducing uptake, synthesis and increasing efflux, which may provide guidance and reference for application of Ophiopogonis Radix and investigation of the effective components of TCMs.

Therapeutic perspectives of extracellular vesicles and extracellular microRNAs in atherosclerosis

Extracellular signaling molecules, such as growth factors, cytokines, and hormones, regulate cell behaviors and fate through endocrine, paracrine, and autocrine actions and play essential roles in maintaining tissue homeostasis. MicroRNAs, an important class of posttranscriptional modulators, could stably present in extracellular space and body fluids and participate in intercellular communication in health and diseases. Indeed, recent studies demonstrated that microRNAs could be secreted through vesicular and non-vesicular routes, transported in body fluids, and then transmitted to recipient cells to regulate target gene expression and signaling events. Over the past decade, a great deal of effort has been made to investigate the functional roles of extracellular vesicles and extracellular microRNAs in pathological conditions. Emerging evidence suggests that altered levels of extracellular vesicles and extracellular microRNAs in body fluids, as part of the cellular responses to atherogenic factors, are associated with the development of atherosclerosis. This review article provides a brief overview of extracellular vesicles and perspectives of their applications as therapeutic tools for cardiovascular pathologies. In addition, we highlight the role of extracellular microRNAs in atherogenesis and offer a summary of circulating microRNAs in liquid biopsies associated with atherosclerosis.

Diagnostic and Prognostic Significance of miR-675-3p in Patients With Atherosclerosis

In recent years, a rising number of studies have confirmed that microRNA (miRNA) plays a prominent role in the early diagnosis and prognostic value assessment of cardiovascular diseases. The current study was conducted to examine the expression of miR-675-3p in atherosclerosis (AS) patients and to evaluate its clinical diagnosis and prognostic value. 110 AS patients and 70 healthy controls were included in the study. Serum miR-675-3p levels were detected by quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR). The clinical diagnostic significance of serum miR-675-3p in AS patients were investigated by the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve. The correlation between miRNA and carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT) was analyzed by the Spearman correlation coefficient. The prognostic significance of serum miR-675-3p was evaluated by the Kaplan-Meier method and Cox regression analysis. The patient’s serum miR-675-3p was significantly increased than the healthy individuals (P < 0.05). An increase of carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT) was positively correlated with the promotion of serum miR-675-3p levels. The area under the ROC curve (AUC) was 0.918, with high sensitivity and specificity. miR-675-3p is a key independent predictor of cardiovascular adverse events in AS patients (HR = 5.375, 95%CI = 1.590-18.170, P = 0.007), and patients with elevated miR-675-3p were more likely to have cardiovascular adverse events (log-rank P = 0.030). Increased miR-675-3p can be used as a potential marker for the diagnosis of AS, and was associated with the poor prognosis of AS.

The role of miR-320 in glucose and lipid metabolism disorder-associated diseases

Glucose and lipids are important nutrients that provide the majority of energy for each organ to maintain homeostasis of the body. With the continuous improvement in living standards, the incidence of metabolic disorder-associated diseases, such as diabetes, hyperlipidemia, and atherosclerosis, is increasing worldwide. Among them, diabetes, which could be induced by both glucose and lipid metabolic disorders, is one of the five diseases with the highest incidence and mortality worldwide. However, the detailed molecular mechanisms underlying glucose and lipid metabolism disorders and target-organ damage are still not fully defined. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small, non-coding, single-stranded RNAs, which usually affect their target mRNAs in the cytoplasm by post-transcriptional regulation. Previously, we have found that miR-320 contributed to glucose and lipid metabolism via different signaling pathways. Most importantly, we identified that nuclear miR-320 mediated diabetes-induced cardiac dysfunction by activating the transcription of fatty acid metabolic genes to cause lipotoxicity in the heart. Here, we reviewed the roles of miR-320 in glucose and lipid metabolism and target-organ damage.

Plasma exosome-derived microRNAs expression profiling and bioinformatics analysis under cross-talk between increased low-density lipoprotein cholesterol level and ATP-sensitive potassium channels variant rs1799858

Background

Exosome-derived microRNAs (exo-miRs) as messengers play important roles, in the cross-talk between genetic [ATP-sensitive potassium channels (KATP) genetic variant rs1799858] and environmental [elevated serum low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) level] factors, but the plasma exo-miRs expression profile and its role in biological processes from genotype to phenotype remain unclear.

Methods

A total of 14 subjects with increased LDL-C serum levels (≥ 1.8 mmol/L) were enrolled in the study. The KATP rs1799858 was genotyped by the Sequenom MassARRAY system. The plasma exo-miRs expression profile was identified by next-generation sequencing.

Results

64 exo-miRs were significantly differentially expressed (DE), among which 44 exo-miRs were up-regulated and 20 exo-miRs were down-regulated in those subjects carrying T-allele (TT + CT) of rs1799858 compared to those carrying CC genotype. The top 20 up-regulated DE-exo-miRs were miR-378 family, miR-320 family, miR-208 family, miR-483-5p, miR-22-3p, miR-490-3p, miR-6515-5p, miR-31-5p, miR-210-3p, miR-17-3p, miR-6807-5p, miR-497-5p, miR-33a-5p, miR-3611 and miR-126-5p. The top 20 down-regulated DE-exo-miRs were let-7 family, miR-221/222 family, miR-619-5p, miR-6780a-5p, miR-641, miR-200a-5p, miR-581, miR-605-3p, miR-548ar-3p, miR-135a-3p, miR-451b, miR-509-3-5p, miR-4664-3p and miR-224-5p. Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) analyses were subsequently implemented to identify the top 10 DE-exo-miRs related specific target genes and signaling pathways. Only 5 DE-exo-miRs were validated by qRT-PCR as follows: miR-31-5p, miR-378d, miR-619-5p, miR-320a-3p and let-7a-5p (all P < 0.05).

Conclusion

These results firstly indicated the plasma exo-miRs expression profile bridging the link between genotype (KATP rs1799858) and phenotype (higher LDL-C serum level), these 5 DE-exo-miRs may be potential target intermediates for molecular intervention points.

Aberration of the modulatory functions of intronic microRNA hsa-miR-933 on its host gene ATF2 results in type II diabetes mellitus and neurodegenerative disease development

BACKGROUND

MicroRNAs are ~ 22-nucleotide-long biological modifiers that act as the post-transcriptional modulator of gene expression. Some of them are identified to be embedded within the introns of protein-coding genes, these miRNAs are called the intronic miRNAs. Previous findings state that these intronic miRNAs are co-expressed with their host genes. This co-expression is necessary to maintain the robustness of the biological system. Till to date, only a few experiments are performed discretely to elucidate the functional relationship between few co-expressed intronic miRNAs and their associated host genes.

RESULTS

In this study, we have interpreted the underlying modulatory mechanisms of intronic miRNA hsa-miR-933 on its target host gene ATF2 and found that aberration can lead to several disease conditions. A protein-protein interaction network-based approach was adopted, and functional enrichment analysis was performed to elucidate the significantly over-represented biological functions and pathways of the common targets. Our approach delineated that hsa-miR-933 might control the hyperglycemic condition and hyperinsulinism by regulating ATF2 target genes MAP4K4, PRKCE, PEA15, BDNF, PRKACB, and GNAS which can otherwise lead to the development of type II diabetes mellitus. Moreover, we showed that hsa-miR-933 can regulate a target of ATF2, brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), to modulate the optimal expression of ATF2 in neuron cells to render neuroprotection for the inhibition of neurodegenerative diseases.

CONCLUSIONS

Our in silico model provides interesting resources for experimentations in a model organism or cell line for further validation. These findings may extend the common perception of gene expression analysis with new regulatory functionality.

MicroRNA Expression Profiling of Bone Marrow-Derived Proangiogenic Cells (PACs) in a Mouse Model of Hindlimb Ischemia: Modulation by Classical Cardiovascular Risk Factors

Background

Classical cardiovascular risk factors (CRFs) are associated with impaired angiogenic activities of bone marrow–derived proangiogenic cells (PACs) related to peripheral artery diseases (PADs) and ischemia-induced neovascularization. MicroRNAs (miRs) are key regulators of gene expression, and they are involved in the modulation of PAC function and PAC paracrine activity. However, the effects of CRFs on the modulation of miR expression in PACs are unknown.

Aims and Methods

We used a model of hindlimb ischemia and next-generation sequencing to perform a complete profiling of miRs in PACs isolated from the bone marrow of mice subjected to three models of CRFs: aging, smoking (SMK) and hypercholesterolemia (HC).

Results

Approximately 570 miRs were detected in PACs in the different CRF models. When excluding miRs with a very low expression level (<100 RPM), 40 to 61 miRs were found to be significantly modulated by aging, SMK, or HC. In each CRF condition, we identified downregulated proangiogenic miRs and upregulated antiangiogenic miRs that could contribute to explain PAC dysfunction. Interestingly, several miRs were similarly downregulated (e.g., miR-542-3p, miR-29) or upregulated (e.g., miR-501, miR-92a) in all CRF conditions. In silico approaches including Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes and cluster dendogram analyses identified predictive effects of these miRs on pathways having key roles in the modulation of angiogenesis and PAC function, including vascular endothelial growth factor signaling, extracellular matrix remodeling, PI3K/AKT/MAPK signaling, transforming growth factor beta (TGFb) pathway, p53, and cell cycle progression.

Conclusion

This study describes for the first time the effects of CRFs on the modulation of miR profile in PACs related to PAD and ischemia-induced neovascularization. We found that several angiogenesis-modulating miRs are similarly altered in different CRF conditions. Our findings constitute a solid framework for the identification of miRs that could be targeted in PACs in order to improve their angiogenic function and for the future development of novel therapies to improve neovascularization and reduce tissue damage in patients with severe PAD.

Association between MicroRNA-4669 Polymorphism and Ischemic Stroke in a Korean Population

Recent studies have explored the association between single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in microRNAs (miRNAs) and ischemic stroke (IS). In particular, the associations of rs2910164 (miRNA-146A), rs11614913 (miRNA-196A2), and rs3746444 (miRNA-499A) were intensively studied in IS. In this study, we investigated the associations between SNPs in miRNAs and IS including rs2910164, rs11614913, and rs3746444 in a Korean population. For a pilot study, we selected 19 SNPs in pre-miRNA region (including mature miRNA region) and genotyped in 140 IS patients and 240 control subjects using the Fluidigm Dynamic Array. Our pilot study showed a weak association of rs79402775 in miRNA-933 (p = 0.044) and a relatively strong association of rs35196866 in miRNA-4669 (p = 0.016) with IS. From the pilot study, we selected rs79402775, rs35196866, and rs7202008 (miRNA-2117; p = 0.055) as candidate miRNA SNPs on IS and further genotyped these SNPs in 264 IS patients and 455 control subjects using direct sequencing. In addition, we further analyzed the associations of rs2910164, rs11614913, and rs3746444 that have been intensively studied in previous studies. In the further analysis, we found the significant association between rs35196866 and IS (p = 0.0014 in additive model and p = 0.00015 in dominant model; p = 0.00037 in allele frequency analysis). However, the association between rs2910164, rs11614913, rs3746444, rs79402775, and rs7202008 and IS was not shown. These results suggest that miRNA-4669 may be involved in the susceptibility of IS.