Circ_0116061 regulated the proliferation, apoptosis, and inflammation of osteoarthritis chondrocytes through regulating the miR-200b-3p/SMURF2 axis

Research progress on the relationship between epilepsy and circRNA

OBJECTIVE

This review aims to provide a comprehensive summary of the latest research progress regarding the relationship between epilepsy and circular RNA (circRNA).

METHODS

Relevant literature from the PubMed database was meticulously searched and reviewed. The selected articles focused on investigating the association between epilepsy and circRNA, including studies on expression patterns, diagnostic markers, therapeutic targets, and functional mechanisms.

RESULTS

Epilepsy, characterized by recurrent seizures, is a neurological disorder. Numerous studies have demonstrated significant alterations in the expression profiles of circRNA in epileptic brain tissues, animal models, and peripheral blood samples. These differential expressions of circRNA are believed to be closely linked with the occurrence and development of epilepsy. Moreover, circRNA has shown promising potential as diagnostic markers for epilepsy, as well as prognostic indicators for predicting disease outcomes. Furthermore, circRNA has emerged as a potential therapeutic target for epilepsy treatment, offering prospects for gene therapy interventions.

CONCLUSION

The dysregulation of circRNA expression in epilepsy suggests its potential involvement in the pathogenesis and progression of this disorder. Identifying specific circRNA molecules associated with epilepsy may pave the way for novel diagnostic approaches and therapeutic strategies. However, further investigations are imperative to elucidate the precise functional mechanisms of circRNA in epilepsy and validate its clinical utility.

The dysregulated autophagy in osteoarthritis: Revisiting molecular profile

The risk factors of osteoarthritis (OA) are different and obesity, lifestyle, inflammation, cell death mechanisms and diabetes mellitus are among them. The changes in the biological mechanisms are considered as main regulators of OA pathogenesis. The dysregulation of autophagy is observed in different human diseases. During the pathogenesis of OA, the autophagy levels (induction or inhibition) change. The supportive and pro-survival function of autophagy can retard the progression of OA. The protective autophagy prevents the cartilage degeneration. Moreover, autophagy demonstrates interactions with cell death mechanisms and through inhibition of apoptosis and necroptosis, it improves OA. The non-coding RNA molecules can regulate autophagy and through direct and indirect control of autophagy, they dually delay/increase OA pathogenesis. The mitochondrial integrity can be regulated by autophagy to alleviate OA. Furthermore, therapeutic compounds, especially phytochemicals, stimulate protective autophagy in chondrocytes to prevent cell death. The protective autophagy has ability of reducing inflammation and oxidative damage, as two key players in the pathogenesis of OA.

Hsa_circ_0004662 Accelerates the Progression of Osteoarthritis via the microRNA-424-5p/VEGFA Axis

OBJECTIVE

Circular RNAs (circRNAs) have been extensively implicated in osteoarthritis (OA) progression. Therefore, this study explores the impact of hsa_circ_0004662 on OA progression and the related molecular mechanism.

METHODS

Human articular chondrocyte injury was induced by IL-1β to construct the OA model in vitro. Hsa_circ_0004662 and microRNA (miR)-424-5p expression in chondrocytes was evaluated with qRT-PCR. Vascular endothelial growth factors A (VEGFA) expression was examined with qRT-PCR and western blot after hsa_circ_0004662 knockdown or miR-424-5p overexpression in chondrocytes. Subsequent to loss- and gain-of-function assays in IL-1β-induced chondrocytes, the proliferation and apoptosis of chondrocytes were assessed with CCK-8 assay and flow cytometry, respectively. The expression of MMP13, Aggrecan, and apoptosis-related proteins Bax and Bcl-2 was measured with western blot. The binding of miR-424-5p to hsa_circ_0004662 and VEGFA was assessed with a dual-luciferase reporter gene assay.

RESULTS

Hsa_circ_0004662 was up-regulated, but miR-424-5p was down-regulated in IL-1β-induced chondrocytes. Mechanistically, both hsa_circ_0004662 and VEGFA bound to miR-424-5p, and hsa_circ_0004662 enhanced VEGFA expression by downregulating miR-424-5p. Hsa_circ_0004662 knockdown elevated cell proliferation, decreased apoptosis and MMP13 and Bax expression, and increased Aggrecan and Bcl- 2 expression in IL-1β-induced chondrocytes, which was counteracted by further miR- 424-5p down-regulation or VEGFA overexpression.

CONCLUSION

Hsa_circ_0004662 facilitates OA progression via the miR-424-5p/ VEGFA axis.

Clinical significance of MATN1-AS1 as ceRNA of Mir-200b in tissues and serum of patients with cervical cancer

To analyze the clinical significance of MATN1-AS1 as ceRNA of Mir-200b in the tissues and serum of cervical cancer patients. A total of 50 patients with cervical cancer admitted to our hospital from March 2018 to March 2019 were selected as the research objects. All patients underwent surgical resection of cancer tissues in our hospital, and cervical cancer tissues and adjacent tissues more than 2 cm away from the edge of cancer tissues were retained. Patients with cervical cancer were selected as the research group, and 50 patients with benign uterine lesions were selected as the control group. The expressions of MATN1-AS1 and Mir-200b in cervical cancer tissues and serum were detected by real-time PCR, and the correlation between MATN1-AS1 and Mir-200b was analyzed. The relationship between MATN1-AS1, Mir-200b and clinical features was analyzed, and the 3-year survival rate of cervical cancer patients was analyzed. Compared with adjacent tissues, the relative expression levels of MATN1-AS1 and Mir-200b in cancer tissues were significantly increased (P < 0.05). Compared with the control group, the relative expression levels of MATN1-AS1 and mir-200b in the study group were increased (P < 0.05). The expression levels of matn1-as1 and mir-200b were higher in poorly differentiated, tumor ≥ 4 cm, FIGO stage iii-iv, and lymph node metastasis patients (P < 0.05). Correlation analysis showed that MATN1-AS1 was positively correlated with Mir-200b (r = 0.625, P = 0.001). Compared with blank control group, the relative expression levels of MATN1-AS1 and Mir-200b in MATN1-AS1 silencing group were decreased (P < 0.05). The 3-year survival rate of 48 patients with cervical cancer was 66.67% (32/48). The survival rate of patients with high expression of MATN1-AS1 was lower than that of patients with low expression of MATN1-AS1, and the survival rate of patients with high expression of Mir-200b was lower than that of patients with low expression of Mir-200b (x2 = 4.251, 5.244, P = 0.011, 0.008). There is a potential binding point between MATN1-AS1 and Mir-200b. The expressions of MATN1-AS1 and Mir-200b are increased in the tissues and serum of cervical cancer patients, and they are positively correlated. Silencing of MATN1-AS1 in cervical cancer cell lines can reduce the expression of Mir-200b. Matn1-as1 can regulate the expression of Mir-200b and participate in the occurrence and development of cervical cancer.

Elucidating the role of ubiquitination and deubiquitination in osteoarthritis progression

Osteoarthritis is non-inflammatory degenerative joint arthritis, which exacerbates disability in elder persons. The molecular mechanisms of osteoarthritis are elusive. Ubiquitination, one type of post-translational modifications, has been demonstrated to accelerate or ameliorate the development and progression of osteoarthritis via targeting specific proteins for ubiquitination and determining protein stability and localization. Ubiquitination process can be reversed by a class of deubiquitinases via deubiquitination. In this review, we summarize the current knowledge regarding the multifaceted role of E3 ubiquitin ligases in the pathogenesis of osteoarthritis. We also describe the molecular insight of deubiquitinases into osteoarthritis processes. Moreover, we highlight the multiple compounds that target E3 ubiquitin ligases or deubiquitinases to influence osteoarthritis progression. We discuss the challenge and future perspectives via modulation of E3 ubiquitin ligases and deubiquitinases expression for enhancement of the therapeutic efficacy in osteoarthritis patients. We conclude that modulating ubiquitination and deubiquitination could alleviate the osteoarthritis pathogenesis to achieve the better treatment outcomes in osteoarthritis patients.

MiR-200b-5p inhibits tumor progression in salivary adenoid cystic carcinoma via targeting BTBD1

Salivary adenoid cystic carcinoma (SACC) is a rare malignant tumor of the salivary gland. Studies have suggested that miRNA may play a crucial role in the invasion and metastasis of SACC. This study aimed to investigate the role of miR-200b-5p in SACC progression. Reverse transcription-quantitative PCR and western blot assay were used to detect the expression levels of miR-200b-5p and BTBD1. The biological functions of miR-200b-5p were evaluated via wound-healing assays, transwell assays, and xenograft nude mice model. The interaction between miR-200b-5p and BTBD1 was assessed using luciferase assay. Results showed that miR-200b-5p was downregulated in the SACC tissues while BTBD1 was upregulated. miR-200b-5p overexpression suppressed SACC cell proliferation, migration, invasion, and epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT). Bioinformatics prediction and luciferase reporter assay revealed that miR-200b-5p could directly bind to BTBD1. Besides, miR-200b-5p overexpression could rescue the tumor-promoting effect of BTBD1. miR-200b-5p inhibited tumor progression by modulating EMT-related proteins, targeting BTBD1 and inhibiting PI3K/AKT signaling pathway. Overall, our findings indicate that miR-200b-5p can suppress SACC proliferation, migration, invasion, and EMT by regulating BTBD1 and PI3K/AKT axis, providing a promising therapeutic target for SACC treatment.

CircRNAs in osteoarthritis: research status and prospect

Osteoarthritis (OA) is the most common joint disease globally, and its progression is irreversible. The mechanism of osteoarthritis is not fully understood. Research on the molecular biological mechanism of OA is deepening, among which epigenetics, especially noncoding RNA, is an emerging hotspot. CircRNA is a unique circular noncoding RNA not degraded by RNase R, so it is a possible clinical target and biomarker. Many studies have found that circRNAs play an essential role in the progression of OA, including extracellular matrix metabolism, autophagy, apoptosis, the proliferation of chondrocytes, inflammation, oxidative stress, cartilage development, and chondrogenic differentiation. Differential expression of circRNAs was also observed in the synovium and subchondral bone in the OA joint. In terms of mechanism, existing studies have mainly found that circRNA adsorbs miRNA through the ceRNA mechanism, and a few studies have found that circRNA can serve as a scaffold for protein reactions. In terms of clinical transformation, circRNAs are considered promising biomarkers, but no large cohort has tested their diagnostic value. Meanwhile, some studies have used circRNAs loaded in extracellular vesicles for OA precision medicine. However, there are still many problems to be solved in the research, such as the role of circRNA in different OA stages or OA subtypes, the construction of animal models of circRNA knockout, and more research on the mechanism of circRNA. In general, circRNAs have a regulatory role in OA and have particular clinical potential, but further studies are needed in the future.

Circ_0002715 promotes the development of osteoarthritis through regulating LXN by sponging miR-127-5p

BACKGROUND

Our study aims to investigate the role and mechanism of circular RNA_0002715 (circ_0002715) in osteoarthritis (OA) progression.

METHODS

IL-1β-induced CHON-001 cells were used to mimic OA cell model. Circ_0002715, microRNA (miR)-127-5p and Latexin (LXN) expression was detected by quantitative real-time PCR. Cell functions were determined by MTT assay, flow cytometry and ELISA assay. Protein expression was examined by western blot.

RESULTS

Circ_0002715 was highly expressed in OA cartilage tissues. Circ_0002715 silencing inhibited inflammation, apoptosis, and ECM degradation in IL-1β-interfered CHON-001 cells. Circ_0002715 could sponge miR-127-5p, and miR-127-5p could target LXN. The effect of circ_0002715 down-regulation on chondrocyte injury was partially restored by miR-127-5p inhibitor. MiR-127-5p could suppress chondrocyte injury by inhibiting LXN expression.

CONCLUSION

Circ_0002715 might be a new therapeutic target for OA, which regulated miR-127-5p/LXN axis to promote IL-1β-induced chondrocyte injury.

LncRNA TM1-3P Regulates Proliferation, Apoptosis and Inflammation of Fibroblasts in Osteoarthritis through miR-144-3p/ONECUT2 Axis

OBJECTIVE

This study explores LncRNA TM1-3P effects on the proliferation, apoptosis, and inflammatory response of fibroblasts in osteoarthritis (OA) and its underlying mechanism.

METHODS

Bioinformatics was performed to analyze OA disease-related genes, miRNA profiles, and function. The targeted regulation of LncRNA TM1-3P and miR-144-3p, ONECUT2 and miR-144-3p were analyzed by dual luciferase reporter gene assay, RNA Binding Protein Immunoprecipitation (RIP), and RNA pull down. Histopathological morphology of the knee joint was observed by hematoxylin-eosin (HE) and Annona Red O/Fast Green. The expressions of mRNAs and proteins were detected by RT-qPCR, Western blot, and immunohistochemistry. Unpaired T test was used between groups, and the one-way analysis of variance of repeated measurement data was applied for multi-group comparison, following Tukey's post-test.

RESULTS

ONECUT2 and Smurf2 genes were significantly elevated in the osteoarthritis group compared with the normal group (P < 0.001, P < 0.001). Expressions of ONECUT2 and LncRNA TM1-3P were increased, and expression of miR-144-3p was decreased in interleukin (IL)-1β-induced human fibroblast synovial cells (hFSCs) (mRNA: 1.06 ± 0.24 vs. 3.29 ± 0.73, proteins: 0.22 ± 0.03 vs. 0.46 ± 0.22, 1.23 ± 0.22 vs. 3.76 ± 0.73, 1.06 ± 0.25 vs. 0.37 ± 0.13, P < 0.01, P < 0.001, P < 0.01, P < 0.05). Overexpression of miR-144-3p down-regulated the ONECUT2 expression, reduced cell proliferation, promoted apoptosis in hFSCs induced by IL-1β (mRNA: 0.89 ± 0.14 vs. 0.15 ± 0.01, P < 0.05; proteins: 0.46 ± 0.01 vs. 0.23 ± 0.01, P < 0.001; CCK8: 1.88 ± 0.07 vs. 1.65 ± 0.07; P < 0.05; EDU: 55.82 ± 1.44 vs 40.57 ± 2.24, P < 0.05; apoptosis: 10.57 ± 0.79 vs 16.36 ± 0.35, P < 0.0001). Overexpression of LncRNA TM1-3P up-regulated the expression of ONECUT2, promoted cell proliferation, and inhibited apoptosis (mRNA: 0.9 ± 0.09 vs 1.94 ± 0.12, P < 0.05; proteins: 0.61 ± 0.05 vs 0.76 ± 0.03, P > 0.05; CCK8: 2.07 ± 0.05 vs 2.47 ± 0.06; P < 0.01; EDU: 52.67 ± 1.17 vs 60.06 ± 3.24, P < 0.05; apoptosis: 10.57 ± 0.79 vs 16.36 ± 0.35, P < 0.001), which were reversed by the overexpression of miR-144-3p treatment (mRNA: 1.82 ± 0.07 vs 0.31 ± 0.07, P < 0.0001; proteins: 0.74 ± 0.02 vs 0.35 ± 0.01, P < 0.01; CCK8: 2.41 ± 0.01 vs 1.67 ± 0.02; P < 0.0001; EDU: 66.85 ± 2.86 vs 44.68 ± 1.97, P < 0.0001; apoptosis: 7.19 ± 0.19 vs 13.36 ± 0.53, P < 0.0001). Silencing LncRNA TM1-3P attenuated the injury of knee joint tissue, down-regulated the expression of ONECUT2, Smurf2, IL-1β, IL-6, TNF-α, and improved the expression of Rap1 in rats (0.71 ± 0.04 vs 0.48 ± 0.02, 0.68 ± 0.06 vs 0.36 ± 0.02, 0.74 ± 0.03 vs 0.49 ± 0.04, 0.78 ± 0.01 vs 0.54 ± 0.03, 0.68 ± 0.02 vs 0.4 ± 0.04, 0.24 ± 0.01 vs 0.4 ± 0.03, P < 0.05, P < 0.05, P < 0.05, P < 0.01, P < 0.01, P < 0.05).

CONCLUSION

LncRNA TM1-3P improved inflammation and damage of knee joints in OA rats through miR-144-3p/ONECUT2 axis, providing a new theoretical basis for gene therapy of OA.

Crosstalk Among circRNA/lncRNA, miRNA, and mRNA in Osteoarthritis

Osteoarthritis (OA) is a joint disease that is pervasive in life, and the incidence and mortality of OA are increasing, causing many adverse effects on people's life. Therefore, it is very vital to identify new biomarkers and therapeutic targets in the clinical diagnosis and treatment of OA. ncRNA is a nonprotein-coding RNA that does not translate into proteins but participates in protein translation. At the RNA level, it can perform biological functions. Many studies have found that miRNA, lncRNA, and circRNA are closely related to the course of OA and play important regulatory roles in transcription, post-transcription, and post-translation, which can be used as biological targets for the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of OA. In this review, we summarized and described the various roles of different types of miRNA, lncRNA, and circRNA in OA, the roles of different lncRNA/circRNA-miRNA-mRNA axis in OA, and the possible prospects of these ncRNAs in clinical application.

MicroRNA-200b-3p as a biomarker for diagnosis and survival prognosis of multiple organ dysfunction syndrome caused by acute paraquat poisoning

BACKGROUND

Acute paraquat poisoning-induced multiple organ dysfunction syndrome (MODS) leads to the high mortality. This study aimed to investigate the clinical significance of microRNA-200b-3p (miR-200b-3p), an upstream inhibitor of high-mobility group box 1 (HMGB1), in acute paraquat poisoning patients for the prediction of MODS and survival.

METHODS

This study enrolled 80 patients with MODS induced by paraquat and 94 healthy volunteers. The interaction between miR-200b-3p and HMGB1 was identified by luciferase reporter assay. miR-200b-3p levels were measured by quantitative real-time (QRT) PCR. High-mobility group box 1 levels were measured by enzyme-linked immune sorbent assay (ELISA). Receiver operating characteristic analysis was used to evaluate the diagnostic value of miR-200b-3p in screening MODS patients. The relationship between miR-200b-3p and the 28-day survival of MODS patients was evaluated by Kaplan-Meier curves and log-rank test. Cox regression analysis was used to assess the prognostic value of miR-200b-3p. Correlation between miR-200b-3p and HMGB1 was confirmed by Pearson's correlation analysis.

RESULTS

miR-200b-3p directly target HMGB1. miR-200b-3p, decreased in MODS patients, had high diagnostic value to screen MODS patients from healthy controls. Additionally, serum miR-200b-3p was decreased in non-survivors, and patients with low miR-200b-3p level had poor 28-day survival. Serum miR-200b-3p could independently predict the survival prognosis. Moreover, serum HMGB1 level was increased in MODS patients, and was negatively correlated with miR-200b-3p level.

CONCLUSION

Decreased miR-200b-3p may function as a biomarker for the diagnosis and survival prognosis of MODS patients, and miR-200b-3p may be involved in the progression of acute paraquat-induced MODS via regulating inflammatory responses by targeting HMGB1.