MicroRNA-488 and -920 regulate the production of proinflammatory cytokines in acute gouty arthritis

Traditional herbal medicine: Therapeutic potential in acute gouty arthritis

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Acute gouty arthritis (AGA) is characterized by a rapid inflammatory reaction caused by the build-up of monosodium urate (MSU) crystals in the tissues surrounding the joints. This condition often associated with hyperuricemia (HUA), is distinguished by its symptoms of intense pain, active inflammation, and swelling of the joints. Traditional approaches in AGA management often fall short of desired outcomes in clinical settings. However, recent ethnopharmacological investigations have been focusing on the potential of Traditional Herbal Medicine (THM) in various forms, exploring their therapeutic impact and targets in AGA treatment.

AIM OF THE REVIEW

This review briefly summarizes the current potential pharmacological mechanisms of THMs - including active ingredients, extracts, and prescriptions -in the treatment of AGA, and discusses the relevant potential mechanisms and molecular targets in depth. The objective of this study is to offer extensive information and a reference point for the exploration of targeted AGA treatment using THMs.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

This review obtained scientific publications focused on in vitro and in vivo studies of anti-AGA THMs conducted between 2013 and 2023. The literature was collected from various journals and electronic databases, including PubMed, Elsevier, ScienceDirect, Web of Science, and Google Scholar. The retrieval and analysis of relevant articles were guided by keywords such as "acute gouty arthritis and Chinese herbal medicine," "acute gouty arthritis herbal prescription," "acute gouty arthritis and immune cells," "acute gouty arthritis and inflammation," "acute gouty arthritis and NOD-like receptor thermoprotein domain associated protein 3 (NLRP3)," "acute gouty arthritis and miRNA," and "acute gouty arthritis and oxidative stress."

RESULTS

We found that AGA has a large number of therapeutic targets, highlighting the effectiveness the potential of THMs in AGA treatment through in vitro and in vivo studies. THMs and their active ingredients can mitigate AGA symptoms through a variety of therapeutic targets, such as influencing macrophage polarization, neutrophils, T cells, natural killer (NK) cells, and addressing factors like inflammation, NLRP3 inflammasome, signaling pathways, oxidative stress, and miRNA multi-target interactions. The anti-AGA properties of THMs, including their active components and prescriptions, were systematically summarized and categorized based on their respective therapeutic targets.

CONCLUSION

phenolic, flavonoid, terpenoid and alkaloid compounds in THMs are considered the key ingredients to improve AGA. THMs and their active ingredients achieve enhanced efficacy through interactions with multiple targets, of which NLRP3 is a main therapeutic target. Nonetheless, given the intricate composition of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), additional research is required to unravel the underlying mechanisms and molecular targets through which THMs alleviate AGA.

Role of MicroRNAs in Inflammatory Joint Diseases: A Review

Inflammatory arthritis commonly initiates in the soft tissues lining the joint. This lining swells, as do the cells in it and inside the joint fluid, producing chemicals that induce inflammation signs such as heat, redness, and swelling. MicroRNA (miRNA), a subset of non-coding small RNA molecules, post-transcriptionally controls gene expression by targeting their messenger RNA. MiRNAs modulate approximately 1/3 of the human genome with their multiple targets. Recently, they have been extensively studied as key modulators of the innate and adaptive immune systems in diseases such as allergic disorders, types of cancer, and cardiovascular diseases. However, research on the different inflammatory joint diseases, such as rheumatoid arthritis, gout, Lyme disease, ankylosing spondylitis, and psoriatic arthritis, remains in its infancy. This review presents a deeper understanding of miRNA biogenesis and the functions of miRNAs in modulating the immune and inflammatory responses in the above-mentioned inflammatory joint diseases. According to the literature, it has been demonstrated that the development of inflammatory joint disorders is closely related to different miRNAs and their specific regulatory mechanisms. Furthermore, they may present as possible prognostic and diagnostic biomarkers for all diseases and may help in developing a therapeutic response. However, further studies are needed to determine whether manipulating miRNAs can influence the development and progression of inflammatory joint disorders.

MicroRNAs in equine Endometritis: A review of pathophysiology and molecular insights for diagnostic and therapeutic strategies

Endometritis plays an important role in mare infertility. Certain infectious agents interfere with the innate immune system of endometrium, causing a systemic inflammatory response that lasts for a long time and circulates via the blood or cellular degeneration, leading to endometritis due to bacterial endotoxins. Different small, non-coding RNA molecules are involved in many biological functions. For instance, microRNAs (miRNAs) are involved in the post-transcriptional regulation of gene expression. These miRNAs are important regulators of gene expression, primarily via inhibiting transcription and translation processes. This manuscript reviews: (1) pathomorphological findings in equine endometritis, (2) the expression and effects of eca-miR-17, eca-miR-223, eca-miR-200a, eca-miR-155, and eca-miR-205 in endometritis and (3) the therapeutic role of miRNA in equine endometritis. The miRNAs have a vital regulatory role in a wide range of inflammatory diseases by regulating the molecular mechanism of cytokines that cause inflammation through signal pathways. This review emphasizes the demand for cutting-edge genetic technologies and the development of novel pharmaceutical preparations to improve our understanding of the genes encoding by these miRNAs. It also focuses on the efficacy of miRNAs for control, early diagnosis, and prevention of endometritis.

MicroRNA-488: A miRNA with diverse roles and clinical applications in cancer and other human diseases

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are a class of small non-coding RNAs that post-transcriptionally regulate the expression of approximately 50 % of all protein-coding genes. They have been demonstrated to act as key regulators in various pathophysiological processes and play significant roles in a wide range of human diseases, particularly cancer. Current research highlights the aberrant expression of microRNA-488 (miR-488) in multiple human diseases and its critical involvement in disease initiation and progression. Moreover, the expression level of miR-488 has been linked to clinicopathological features and patient prognosis across different diseases. However, a comprehensive systematic review of miR-488 is lacking. Therefore, our study aims to consolidate the current knowledge surrounding miR-488, with a primary focus on its emerging biological functions, regulatory mechanisms, and potential clinical applications in human diseases. Through this review, we aim to establish a comprehensive understanding of the diverse roles of miR-488 in the development of various diseases.

New drug targets for the treatment of gout arthritis: what's new?

INTRODUCTION

Gout arthritis (GA) is an intermittent inflammatory disease affecting approximately 10% of the worldwide population. Symptomatic phases (acute flares) are timely spaced by asymptomatic periods. During an acute attack, redness, joint swelling, limited movement, and excruciating pain are common symptoms. However, the current available therapies are not fully effective in reducing symptoms and offer numerous side effects. Therefore, unveiling new drug targets and effector molecules are required in developing novel GA therapeutics.

AREAS COVERED

This review discusses the pathophysiological mechanisms of GA and explores potential pharmacological targets to ameliorate disease outcome. In addition, we listed promising pre-clinical studies demonstrating effector molecules with therapeutical potential. Among those, we emphasized the importance of natural products, including traditional Chinese medicine formulas and their multitarget mechanisms of action.

EXPERT OPINION

In our search, we observed that there is a massive gap between pre-clinical and clinical knowledge. Only a minority (4.4%) of clinical trials aimed to intervene by applying natural products or current hot targets described herein. In this sense, we envisage four possibilities for GA therapeutics, which include the repurposing of existing therapies, ALX/FPR2 agonism for improvement in disease outcome, the use of multitarget drugs (e.g. natural products), and targeting the neuroinflammatory component of GA.

Epigenetic regulation in metabolic diseases: mechanisms and advances in clinical study

Epigenetics regulates gene expression and has been confirmed to play a critical role in a variety of metabolic diseases, such as diabetes, obesity, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), osteoporosis, gout, hyperthyroidism, hypothyroidism and others. The term 'epigenetics' was firstly proposed in 1942 and with the development of technologies, the exploration of epigenetics has made great progresses. There are four main epigenetic mechanisms, including DNA methylation, histone modification, chromatin remodelling, and noncoding RNA (ncRNA), which exert different effects on metabolic diseases. Genetic and non-genetic factors, including ageing, diet, and exercise, interact with epigenetics and jointly affect the formation of a phenotype. Understanding epigenetics could be applied to diagnosing and treating metabolic diseases in the clinic, including epigenetic biomarkers, epigenetic drugs, and epigenetic editing. In this review, we introduce the brief history of epigenetics as well as the milestone events since the proposal of the term 'epigenetics'. Moreover, we summarise the research methods of epigenetics and introduce four main general mechanisms of epigenetic modulation. Furthermore, we summarise epigenetic mechanisms in metabolic diseases and introduce the interaction between epigenetics and genetic or non-genetic factors. Finally, we introduce the clinical trials and applications of epigenetics in metabolic diseases.

LncRNA PVT1 Promotes Neuronal Cell Apoptosis and Neuroinflammation by Regulating miR-488-3p/FOXD3/SCN2A Axis in Epilepsy

It is vital to understand the mechanism of epilepsy onset and development. Dysregulated lncRNAs are closely associated with epilepsy. Our work probed the role of lncRNA PVT1/miR-488-3p/FOXD3/SCN2A axis in epilepsy. The mRNA and protein expressions were assessed using qRT-PCR and western blot. MTT assay and TUNEL staining were conducted to assess cell viability and apoptosis, respectively. TNFα, IL-1β and IL-6 levels were analyzed using ELISA. LDH level was tested by Assay Kit. The binding relationship between PVT1, miR-488-3p and FOXD3 were verified using dual luciferase reporter gene assay. The epilepsy model of rats was established by lithium-pilocarpine injection. Nissl staining was performed to evaluate neuronal damage. PVT1 was markedly upregulated in epilepsy model cells. Knockdown of PVT1 increased the viability, while repressed the apoptosis and inflammatory cytokines secretion as well as LDH level in epilepsy cell model. MiR-488-3p alleviated neuronal injury and neuroinflammation in model cells. MiR-488-3p functioned as the direct target of PVT1, and its inhibition neutralized the effects of PVT1 silencing on neuronal cell injury and neuroinflammation in model cells. Furthermore, miR-488-3p inhibited neuronal cell injury and neuroinflammation in model cells by regulating FOXD3/SCN2A pathway. Finally, animal experiments proved that PVT1 promoted epilepsy-induced neuronal cell injury and neuroinflammation by regulating miR-488-3p-mediated FOXD3/SCN2A pathway. PVT1 promoted neuronal cell injury and inflammatory response in epilepsy via inhibiting miR-488-3p and further regulating FOXD3/SCN2A pathway.

Up-regulation of lncRNA NEAT1 in cerebral ischemic stroke promotes activation of astrocytes by modulation of miR-488-3p/RAC1

We aim to research the molecular mechanism of lncRNA NEAT1 in the activation of astrocytes in a cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury model. Mouse model of cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury was constructed, and shNEAT1 was transfected. The infarct area, brain water content, and neurological deficiency were detected. Immunofluorescence detection and fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) assay were processed to detect glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) expression. Astrocyte cells were cultured for oxygen-glucose deprivation/re-oxygenation (OGD)/re-oxygenation model construction. After treatment by shNEAT1, miR-488-3p mimic, miR-488-3p inhibitor, Q-PCR assay, western blot and ELISA were undertaken to detect the expressions of NEAT1, miR-488-3p, RAC1, inflammatory cytokines, RAC1 and GFAP. Dual luciferase reporter assay and RNA-binding protein immunoprecipitation (RIP) assay were used to verify the binding of NEAT1, miR-488-3p and RAC1. The expression of NEAT1 in brain tissue was significantly higher than that in Sham operation group. Knockdown of NEAT1 inhibited the brain damage caused by middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) treatment, reduced the inflammatory response, and suppressed the activation of astrocytes. By constructing an in vitro OGD/R cell model, it was found that NEAT1 knockdown also inhibited the activation of astrocytes caused by OGD/R. Knockdown of NEAT1 caused the up-regulation of miR-488-3p and the down-regulation of RAC1. Knockdown of miR-488-3p or over-expression of RAC1 reversed the inhibitory effect of shNEAT1 on OGD/R-induced astrocyte activation. Over-expression of NEAT1 in cerebral ischemic stroke promotes activation of astrocytes by modulation miR-488-3p/RAC1, which is proved in vitro. Our study may provide a new idea for the diagnosis and treatment of MCAO.

Identification of a cuproptosis-related lncRNA signature to predict the prognosis and immune landscape of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma

Background

Cuproptosis is considered a novel copper-induced cell death model regulated by targeting lipoylated TCA cycle proteins. In this study, we established a novel signature based on cuproptosis-related lncRNAs (crlncRNAs) to predict the prognosis and immune landscape of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma.

Methods

RNA-seq matrix, somatic mutation files, and clinical data were obtained from The Cancer Genome Atlas database. After dividing patients into two sets, a crlncRNA signature was established based on survival related crlncRNAs, which were selected by the univariate Cox analysis and least absolute shrinkage and selection operator Cox regression. To evaluate the model, Kaplan-Meier survival analysis and time-dependent receiver operating characteristic (ROC) were utilized, and a nomogram was established for survival prediction. Immune landscape analysis, drug sensitivity, cluster analysis, tumor mutation burden (TMB) and ceRNA network analysis were conducted subsequently.

Results

A crlncRNA related prognosis signature was finally constructed with 12 crlncRNAs. The areas under the ROC curves (AUCs) were 0.719, 0.705 and 0.693 respectively for 1, 3, and 5-year's overall survival (OS). Patients in the low-risk group behaved a better prognosis, lower TMB, higher immune function activity and scores. In addition, patients from cluster 2 were more sensitive to chemotherapy and immunotherapy.

Conclusion

In this study, we constructed a novel crlncRNA risk model to predict the survival of HNSCC patients. This reliable and acceptable prognostic signature may guide and promote the progress of novel treatment strategies for HNSCC patients.

MicroRNA-486-5p suppresses inflammatory response by targeting FOXO1 in MSU-treated macrophages

Gouty arthritis (GA) is mainly caused by the precipitation of monosodium urate (MSU) crystals in the joint. Recently, different regulatory roles of microRNAs (miRNAs) in arthritis have been widely verified. Nevertheless, the specific function of microRNA-486-5p (miR-486-5p) in GA is still unclear. GA cell models in vitro were established by the treatment of 250 μg/mL MSU crystals into THP-1 cells or J774A.1 cells. Then, the accumulation of tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, interleukin (IL)-8, and IL-β was estimated by ELISA. The mRNA levels of TNF-α, IL-8, and IL-β were measured through RT-qPCR. The protein level of forkhead box protein O1 (FOXO1) was tested via western blot. Furthermore, the interplay of miR-486-5p and FOXO1 was evaluated via the luciferase reporter assay. In this study, MSU treatment successfully stimulated the inflammatory response in macrophage cells. MiR-486-5p downregulation was observed in THP-1 and J774A.1 cells treated with MSU, and its upregulation markedly decreased the concentration and mRNA levels of TNF-α, IL-8, and IL-β. Furthermore, FOXO1 was demonstrated to be negatively modulated by miR-486-5p. The rescue assay indicated that overexpressing FOXO1 reversed the effects of overexpressing miR-486-5p on inflammatory cytokines. Overall, this study proves that miR-486-5p inhibits GA inflammatory response via modulating FOXO1.

Research progress on microRNA in gout

Gout is a common form of arthritis caused by the deposition of sodium urate crystals in the joints and tissues around them. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are noncoding RNAs that have been shown to be involved in regulating the pathogenesis of gout through multiple cellular signaling pathways, which may be potential targets for the treatment of gout. In this review, we systematically discuss the regulatory roles of related miRNAs in gout, which will provide help for the treatment of gout and miRNAs is expected to become a potential biomarker for gout diagnosis.

The placenta epigenome-brain axis: placental epigenomic and transcriptomic responses that preprogram cognitive impairment

Aim: The placenta-brain axis reflects a developmental linkage where disrupted placental function is associated with impaired neurodevelopment later in life. Placental gene expression and the expression of epigenetic modifiers such as miRNAs may be tied to these impairments and are understudied. Materials & methods: The expression levels of mRNAs (n = 37,268) and their targeting miRNAs (n = 2083) were assessed within placentas collected from the ELGAN study cohort (n = 386). The ELGAN adolescents were assessed for neurocognitive function at age 10 and the association with placental mRNA/miRNAs was determined. Results: Placental mRNAs related to inflammatory and apoptotic processes are under miRNA control and associated with cognitive impairment at age 10. Conclusion: Findings highlight key placenta epigenome-brain relationships that support the developmental origins of health and disease hypothesis.

Exploring RNA modifications, editing, and splicing changes in hyperuricemia and gout

Hyperuricemia and gout are two of the most common metabolic disorders worldwide; their incidence is increasing with changes in lifestyle, and they are correlated with many diseases, including renal and cardiovascular diseases. The majority of studies on hyperuricemia and gout have focused on the discovery of the associated genes and their functions and on the roles of monocytes and neutrophils in the development of gout. Virtually no studies investigating the epigenomics of gout disease or exploring the clinical significance of such research have been conducted. In this study, we observed that the expression of enzymes involved in RNA modifications or RNA editing was affected in uric acid (UA)- or monosodium urate (MSU)-treated cell lines. RNA alternative splicing and splicing factors were also affected by UA or MSU treatment. We used transcriptome sequencing to analyze genome-wide RNA splicing and RNA editing and found significant changes in RNA splicing and RNA editing in MSU- or UA-treated THP-1 and HEK293 cells. We further found significant changes of RNA modifications, editing, and splicing in patients with gout. The data indicate that RNA modifications, editing, and splicing play roles in gout. The findings of this study may help to understand the mechanism of RNA splicing and modifications in gout, facilitating the development of new diagnostic and therapeutic strategies.

Novel anti-hyperuricemic hexapeptides derived from Apostichopus japonicus hydrolysate and their modulation effects on the gut microbiota and host microRNA profile

Hyperuricemia (HUA) is the second most common metabolic disease nowadays, and is characterized by permanently increased concentrations of serum uric acid. In this study, two novel hexapeptides (GPAGPR and GPSGRP) were identified from Apostichopus japonicus hydrolysate and predicted to have xanthine oxidase (XOD) inhibitory activity by molecular docking. Their in vitro XOD inhibition rates reached 37.3% and 48.6%, respectively, at a concentration of 40 mg mL^-1. Subsequently, in vivo experiments were carried out in a HUA mouse model, and we found that both peptides reduced the serum uric acid by inhibiting uric acid biosynthesis and reabsorption, as well as alleviated renal inflammation via suppressing the activation of the NLRP3 inflammasome. 16S rDNA sequencing indicated that both peptide treatments reduced the richness and diversity of the gut microbiota, altered the composition in the phylum and genus levels, but different change trends were observed in the phylum Verrucomicrobia and genera Akkermansia, Dubosiella, Alloprevotella, Clostridium unclassified and Alistipes. In addition, changes in the renal microRNA (miRNA) profiles induced by GPSGRP treatment were analyzed; 21 differentially expressed (DE) miRNAs were identified among groups, and KEGG pathway analysis indicated that their potential target genes were involved in pluripotency of stem cell regulation, mTOR signaling pathway and proteoglycans. Moreover, ten miRNAs involved in the HUA onset and alleviation were identified, which showed a high correlation with genera related to the metabolism of short-chain fatty acids, bile acids and tryptophan. This study delineated two hexapeptides as potential microbiota modulators and miRNA regulators that can ameliorate HUA.

MicroRNA-142-3p facilitates inflammatory response by targeting ZEB2 and activating NF-κB signaling in gouty arthritis

Gouty arthritis (GA) is caused by monosodium urate (MSU) crystal accumulation in the joints. MSU-mediated inflammation is an important inducing factor in gouty arthritis (GA). Recent studies have demonstrated that microRNAs can influence GA progression. Herein, the role and mechanism of miRNA-142-3p in GA were explored. To establish the in vitro and in vivo GA models, MSU was used to induce inflammatory response in human monocyte cell line THP-1 and male C57BL/6 mice. Protein levels, gene expression and proinflammatory cytokine secretion were respectively tested by Western blotting, RT-qPCR, and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Pathological changes in sagittal sections of ankle tissues were exhibited by hematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining. Binding relationship between miRNA-142-3p and zinc finger E-box binding homeobox 2 (ZEB2) was predicted and confirmed by bioinformatics analysis and luciferase reporter assay. In this study, MSU induced inflammatory response and upregulated miRNA-142-3p in THP-1 cells. Functionally, miRNA-142-3p knockdown inhibited inflammatory response in MSU-stimulated THP-1 cells and alleviated pathological symptoms of GA mice. Mechanically, miRNA-142-3p targeted ZEB2 in THP-1 cells. ZEB2 expression was elevated in MSU-administrated THP-1 cells and GA mice. ZEB2 downregulation reserved the inhibitory effect of miRNA-142-3p deficiency on inflammatory response in MSU-treated THP-1 cells. In addition, miRNA-142-3p activated NF-κB signaling by binding with ZEB2 in THP-1 cells upon MSU stimulation. Overall, miRNA-142-3p facilitates inflammatory response by targeting ZEB2 and activating NF-κB signaling in GA.

miR-488-3p Protects Cardiomyocytes against Doxorubicin-Induced Cardiotoxicity by Inhibiting CyclinG1

Objective

To investigate the protective effects and regulatory mechanism of miR-488-3p on doxorubicin-induced cardiotoxicity.

Methods

The C57BL/6 mice and primary cardiomyocytes were used to construct doxorubicin-induced cardiomyocyte injury models in vivo and in vitro. The levels of miR-488-3p and its downstream target genes were analyzed by quantitative real-time PCR. Mouse cardiac function, cell survival, cellular injury-related proteins, and the apoptosis level of cardiomyocytes were analyzed by echocardiography, MTT analysis, Western blotting, and DNA laddering separately.

Results

Cardiomyocyte injury caused by a variety of stimuli can lead to the reduction of miR-488-3p level, especially when stimulated with doxorubicin. Doxorubicin led to significant decrease in cardiac function, cell autophagic flux blockage, and apoptosis in vivo and in vitro. The expression of miR-488-3p's target gene, CyclinG1, increased remarkably in the doxorubicin-treated neonatal mouse cardiomyocytes. Overexpression of miR-488-3p inhibited CyclinG1 expression, increased cardiomyocyte viability, and attenuated doxorubicin-induced cardiomyocyte autophagic flux blockage and apoptosis.

Conclusions

miR-488-3p is one of the important protective miRNAs in doxorubicin-induced cardiotoxicity by inhibiting the expression of CyclinG1, which provides insight into the possible clinical application of miR-488-3p/CyclinG1 as therapeutic targets in doxorubicin-induced cardiovascular diseases.

Role of microRNA alternation in the pathogenesis of gouty arthritis

Gouty arthritis is a common inflammatory disease. The condition is triggered by a disorder of uric acid metabolism, which causes urate deposition and gout flares. MicroRNAs are a class of conserved small non-coding RNAs that bind to the 3' untranslated region (UTR) of mRNA and regulate the expression of a variety of proteins at the post-transcriptional level. In recent years, attention has been focused on the role of miRNAs in various inflammatory diseases, including gouty arthritis. It is thought that miRNAs may regulate immune function and inflammatory responses, thereby influencing the onset and progression of the disease. This article mainly reviewed the roles of miRNAs in the pathogenesis of gouty arthritis and prospected their potential as diagnostic and prognostic relevant biomarkers and as possible therapeutic targets.

CircPrkcsh, a circular RNA, contributes to the polarization of microglia towards the M1 phenotype induced by spinal cord injury and acts via the JNK/p38 MAPK pathway

Spinal cord injury (SCI) is a complex pathological change that includes primary SCI and gradually evolves into secondary SCI. Accumulating evidence demonstrates that circular RNAs (circRNAs) are involved in the pathology of a variety of neurological diseases and injuries. However, the characteristics and function of circRNAs in SCI have yet to be elucidated. Although previous research demonstrated that circPrkcsh induces astrocytes to produce inflammatory factors and chemokines, the precise function and mechanism of circPrkcsh in microglia after SCI remains unknown. In this study, we constructed a mouse model of SCI by applying a SCI impactor. Quantitative Real-time PCR and Fluorescence in situ hybridization analysis revealed that circPrkcsh was upregulated in the microglia of SCI mice when compared to sham-operated mice. Gain- or loss-of-function experiments and in vivo assays further indicated that circPrkcsh promotes microglia M1 polarization both in vivo and in vitro. Furthermore, bioinformatics analysis, dual-luciferase assays, and RNA immunoprecipitation assays, confirmed that circPrkcsh serves as a competing endogenous RNA (ceRNA) to promote the expression of MEKK1 mRNA by sponging miR-488. Double knockout rescue experiments further showed that circPrkcsh regulates the MEKK1/JNK/p38 MAPK pathway via miR-488. Our research provides a better understanding of the mechanism of circPrkcsh in SCI and demonstrates that the circPrkcsh/miR-488/Mekk1 axis is a promising regulatory method for the treatment of SCI.

MiR-192-5p suppresses M1 macrophage polarization via epiregulin (EREG) downregulation in gouty arthritis

Gouty arthritis (GA) is a chronic inflammatory disease characterized by the deposition of monosodium urate (MSU) crystals within joints. MiR-192-5p is shown to be low-expressed in GA patients. However, the potential mechanism involving miR-192-5p in GA remains unclear. In the current study, a significant reduction in miR-192-5p and an increase in epiregulin (EREG) were observed in serum of GA patients, suggesting that miR-192-5p and EREG were involved in the pathogenic process of GA. A mouse GA model was established via 0.5 mg/20 μL MSU crystal administration. To investigate the effect of miR-192-5p on GA, mice were injected with miR-192-5p agomir or NC agomir before modeling. We found that miR-192-5p overexpression induced by miR-192-5p agomir reduced EREG expression, attenuated ankle joint swelling and synovial inflammatory cell infiltration and improved bone erosion in MSU-induced GA mice. MiR-192-5p decreased CD16/32⁺ (M1 marker) macrophages, but increased CD206 (M2 marker) expression in synovium of GA models. In vitro, RAW264.7 macrophages were stimulated with miR-192-5p mimic or NC mimic under IFNγ plus LPS-stimulated M1 polarization condition. MiR-192-5p reduced the release of inflammatory cytokines TNF-α and IL-1β, decreased iNOS expression, and inhibited CD16/32 expression, indicating the blockade of M1 macrophage activation. Luciferase reporter system revealed the target interaction between miR-192-5p and EREG. Further rescue experiments demonstrated that EREG overexpression partly reversed the inhibitory role of miR-192-5p on M1 macrophage polarization manifested by elevated iNOS and CD16/32 levels. Collectively, miR-192-5p ameliorates inflammatory response in GA by inhibiting M1 macrophage activation via inhibiting EREG protein.

miR-488-5p promotes esophageal squamous cell carcinoma progression by suppressing the P53 pathway

Background

miR-488-3p has been reported to play an important role in cancer progression and metastasis. The protein 53 (P53) gene serves as a mediator and biomarker of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC). However, the molecular mechanism underlying miR-488-5p in the pathology of ESCC through the P53 pathway has not been examined.

Methods

The expression levels of miR-488-5p were determined by quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). Cytological experiments were performed to evaluate the biological functions of miR-488-5p. A bioinformatics analysis was performed to determine the pathways and key miR-488-5p targets associated with ESCC. Correlations between miR-488-5p and P53 signaling pathways were validated by western blotting and the dual luciferase reporter gene system. Finally, the expression level of miR-488-5p was regulated and tumor formation experiments were performed in nude mice.

Results

The qRT-PCR analysis showed that MiR-488-5p expression was more upregulated in the KYSE-150 group than the HEEC group. In the KYSE-150 cells, the colony formation assay and flow cytometry analysis indicated that the miR-488-5p inhibitor inhibited cell viability and increased cell apoptosis; however, these effects were recovered by P53 knockdown (KD). In addition, cell invasion and cell migration were inhibited by the miR-488-5p inhibitor, but were also improved by P53 KD. Similarly, the miR-488-5p inhibitor induced the expression of P53 and P21 than normal control (NC) group in which miR-488-5p expression was normal, while P53 KD prevented the effects of the miR-488-5p inhibitor in KYSE-150 cells. Additionally, we found that tumor size was obviously smaller in miR-488-5p overexpression (OE)+ P53 OE mice than miR-488-5p OE mice. Hematoxylin and eosin and immunohistochemistry staining also revealed similar results.

Conclusions

Our results suggest that miR-488-5p promotes ESCC progression by suppressing the P53 pathway. These findings should provide novel ideas for ESCC therapies.

The epigenome: key to understanding and predicting gout flares

Gout is a form of arthritis, resulting from an inflammatory reaction to the deposition of monosodium urate (MSU) crystals in the synovial fluid of the joint space. It is characterised by periods of acute inflammation in the affected joint, or joints (known as gout flares), separated by asymptomatic periods. There seems to be substantial overlap between environmental triggers of gout flares and common environmental modifiers (diet, pharmaceuticals, and stress) of epigenetic markers (DNA methylation, histone modifications, and ncRNA). Very few studies have looked at whether environment is influencing gout through epigenetic mechanisms. The pathogenesis of gouty inflammation is well understood but understanding the variation of response to hyperuricaemia in terms of gout flare initiation is less well known. In this review, we will examine the potential of epigenomics in understanding how gout flares may occur, both in terms of development of hyperuricaemia and the inflammatory response. Looking at the epigenome and its intersection with lifestyle could help identify new targets and strategies for effective management of gout flares.

miR-3146 induces neutrophil extracellular traps to aggravate gout flare

Background

Gout is an inflammatory arthritis and is characterized by the accumulation of deposited monosodium urate (MSU) crystals in the joints. miRNAs may act as key regulators of gout pathogenesis. The aim of our study was to explore the underlying role and molecular mechanism of miR‐3146 in the formation of neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) during the pathogenesis of gout.

Methods

The expression of miR‐3146 and sirtuin 1 (SIRT1) was determined by real‐time reverse transcription‐polymerase chain reaction and Western blot, respectively. The luciferase reporter assay was performed to identify the targeting relationship between miR‐3146 and SIRT1. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) production was detected by fluorescent staining. NETs formation was demonstrated via immunofluorescence staining and ELISA method. Gout model was induced in rats to verify the effects of miR‐3146 inhibition on histopathological changes and NETs.

Results

Here, we found miR‐3146 expression was dramatically increased in neutrophils of patients with gout, which was accompanied with the higher levels of NETs. MSU crystals significantly increased miR‐3146 expression and ROS production in neutrophils. The NETs process was also triggered by MSU crystals. Furthermore, we verified the interaction between miR‐3146 and SIRT1. Additionally, antagomir‐3146‐based therapy effectively inhibited the formation of NETs in rats with gout.

Conclusion

Our findings indicated that miR‐3146‐mediated NETs formation may play a potential role in the pathogenesis of gout. These results suggested that miR‐3146 could be used as a potential therapeutic target for the treatment of gout.

Circulating Exosomal MicroRNA Profiles Associated with Acute Soft Tissue Injury

Objective

This study aimed to characterize the circulating exosomal microRNA (miRNA) profiles associated with acute soft tissue injury.

Materials and Methods

In this experimental study, a total of 12 rats were randomly divided into control group and model group (n=6 for each group). The rats in the model group were used to establish an acute soft tissue injury following the mechanical injury of the leg. The exosomes from the peripheral blood of all the rats were isolated and then characterized by Nanosight NS300 particle size analyser (NTA), transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and western blot. Next, the exosomal miRNAs in the control and model groups were sequenced, and the differentially expressed miRNAs (DE-miRNAs) were identified using the DESeq algorithm. Functional analyses were performed using Gene Ontology (GO) terms and the Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway databases. Finally, quantitative reverse-transcription polymersa chain reaction (qRT-PCR) was used to verify the expression of the DE-miRNAs.

Results

TEM, NTA and western blot results showed that the exosomes were approximately 100 nm in size and exhibited cup-shaped morphology. A total of 628 miRNAs were obtained by sequencing. After that, 28 DE miRNAs (DEmiRNAs) were identified, including seven down-regulated miRNAs and 21 up-regulated miRNAs. These DE-miRNAs were linked to 7539 target genes with GO. Also, KEGG analyses demonstrated that these genes were enriched for phosphorylation, VEGF signaling pathway, and MAPK signaling pathway. Additionally, the consistency rate between the qRT-PCR and sequencing results was 83.33%, which showed a high relative reliability of the sequencing results.

Conclusion

These findings suggest that these 28 exosomal miRNAs may be involved in the regulation of acute soft tissue injury, by one of critical biological processes (BP), phosphorylation. The findings provide valuable clues by utilizing exosomes as therapeutic targets for the effective treatment of acute soft tissue injury.

MicroRNAs Involved in the Therapeutic Functions of Noni (Morinda citrifolia L.) Fruit Juice in the Treatment of Acute Gouty Arthritis in Mice Induced with Monosodium Urate

We investigated the functions of microRNAs in the therapeutic effects of noni (Morinda citrifolia L.) fruit juice on mouse models of acute gouty arthritis induced with monosodium urate (MSU). Compared with the model group (treated with MSU), mice in both the positive control group (treated with both MSU and colchicine) and noni fruit juice group (treated with MSU and noni fruit juice) showed a significantly decreased degree of paw swelling in 5 days, as well as the contents of two types of proinflammatory cytokines (i.e., NALP3 and TNF-α). Based on the next-generation sequencing technology, a total of 3896 microRNAs (234 known and 3662 novel) were identified in mice treated with noni fruit juice. A large amount of differentially expressed miRNAs were identified in the noni fruit juice group, suggesting the significant effects of noni fruit juice on the mice with acute gouty arthritis, while the different patterns of change in the numbers of both upregulated and downregulated miRNAs in both noni fruit juice and positive control groups indicated that the mice of acute gouty arthritis may be regulated by differential mechanisms between the treatments of noni fruit juice and colchicine. The target genes of microRNAs involved in the pathogenesis and pathology of acute gouty arthritis in mice were identified and further annotated by both Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) enrichment analyses. Our results revealed the therapeutic effects of noni fruit juice on acute gouty arthritis in mice with a group of microRNAs involved in the pharmacological mechanisms of noni fruit juice, providing scientific evidence to support both the agricultural cultivation and pharmacological significance of noni plants.

Circulating microRNA alternations in primary hyperuricemia and gout

OBJECTIVES

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are short single-stranded RNAs that play a role in the post-transcriptional regulation of gene expression. Their deregulation can be associated with various diseases, such as cancer, neurodegenerative, and immune-related diseases. The aim of our study was to compare miRNA levels in plasma that could potentially influence the progression of hyperuricemia to gout, since the mechanism of progression is still unclear.

METHODS

Total RNA, including miRNA, was isolated from the plasma of 45 patients with asymptomatic hyperuricemia, 131 patients with primary gout (including 16 patients having a gout attack), and 130 normouricemic controls. The expression of 18 selected miRNAs (cel-miR-39 and cel-miR-54 as spike-in controls, hsa-miR-16-5p and hsa-miR-25-3p as endogenous controls, hsa-miR-17-5p, hsa-miR-18a-5p, hsa-miR-30a-3p, hsa-miR-30c-5p, hsa-miR-126-3p, hsa-miR-133a-3p, hsa-miR-142-3p, hsa-miR-143-3p, hsa-miR-146a-5p, hsa-miR-155-5p, hsa-miR-222-3p, hsa-miR-223-3p, hsa-miR-488-3p and hsa-miR-920) was measured using qPCR.

RESULTS

We found that hsa-miR-17-5p, hsa-miR-18a-5p, hsa-miR-30c-5p, hsa-miR-142-3p, and hsa-miR-223-3p were significantly upregulated (p < 0.001) in the plasma of hyperuricemia and gout patients compared to normouricemic individuals. As part of the follow-up of our previous study, we found a negative correlation between hsa-miR-17-5p, hsa-miR-30c-5p, hsa-miR-126-3p, hsa-miR-142-3p, and hsa-miR-223-3p with plasma levels of chemokine MCP-1. Additionally, we found a positive correlation between CRP and plasma levels of hsa-miR-17-5p, hsa-miR-18a-5p, hsa-miR-30c-5p, hsa-miR-126-3p, hsa-miR-142-3p, hsa-miR-146a-5p, hsa-miR-155-5p, hsa-miR-222-3p, and hsa-miR-223-3p. Five of those miRNAs (hsa-miR-126-3p, hsa-miR-142-3p, hsa-miR-146a-5p, hsa-miR-155-5p, and hsa-miR-222-3p) also had a positive correlation with serum creatinine and therefore a negative correlation with eGFR.

CONCLUSION

Five miRNAs were significantly upregulated in the plasma of patients with hyperuricemia and gout (and those during a gout attack) compared to normouricemic controls. We also found a correlation between the plasma levels of several miRNA and plasma levels of MCP-1, CRP, serum creatinine, and eGFR.

MiR-32-3p Regulates Myocardial Injury Induced by Microembolism and Microvascular Obstruction by Targeting RNF13 to Regulate the Stability of Atherosclerotic Plaques

This study aimed to explore the molecular mechanism of myocardial protection. The effects of miR-32-3p and ring finger protein 13 (RNF13) on endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress-induced apoptosis of A-10 cells and human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC) were detected using flow cytometry. The effects of miR-32-3p and phenylbutyric acid (PBA) on plaque instability and myocardial tissue injury in rats were investigated after establishment of arterial plaque model and embolization model and treatment with miR-32-3p-antagomir and PBA. RNF13, which was differentially expressed in myocardial infarction, was the direct target gene of miR-32-3p. MiR-32-3p inhibited RNF13 expression and targeted RNF13 to inhibit ER stress-induced cell apoptosis. Furthermore, inhibiting miR-32-3p expression induced arterial plaque instability by reducing survival, increasing pathological lesions in arterial tissue, up-regulating ER stress-related proteins, and regulating the expressions of apoptosis-related proteins in the model rats. However, PBA reversed the effects of miR-32-3p-antagomir on the model rats. MiR-32-3p regulates myocardial injury induced by micro-embolism and micro-vascular obstruction by targeting RNF13 to regulate the stability of atherosclerotic plaques.

Regulation of crystal induced inflammation: current understandings and clinical implications

Introduction: Accumulation of abnormal crystals in the body, derived from endogenous or exogenous materials can drive a wide spectrum of inflammatory disease states. It is well established that intra-articular deposition of monosodium urate (MSU) and calcium pyrophoshate (CPP) crystals contributes to joint destruction through pro-inflammatory processes.Areas covered: This review will focus on current understanding and recent novelty about the mechanisms and the clinical implications of the inflammation induced by MSU and CPP crystals.Expert opinion: Advances in molecular biology reveal that at the base of the inflammatory cascade, stimulated by MSU or CPP crystals, there are many complex cellular mechanisms mainly involving the NLRP3 inflammasome, the hallmark of autoinflammatory syndromes. The extensive studies carried out through in vitro and in vivo models along with a better clinical definition of the disease has led to an optimized use of existing drugs and the introduction of novel therapeutic strategies. In particular, the identification of IL-1 as the most important target in gout and pseudogout has made it possible to expand the pharmacological indications of anti-IL-1 biological drugs, opening new therapeutic perspectives for patients.

lncRNA myocardial infarction-associated transcript (MIAT) knockdown alleviates LPS-induced chondrocytes inflammatory injury via regulating miR-488-3p/sex determining region Y-related HMG-box 11 (SOX11) axis

Long noncoding RNA (lncRNA) has been shown to be involved in the development of osteoarthritis (OA), an age-related bone and joint disease. However, the function and possible molecular mechanism of lncRNA myocardial infarction-associated transcript (MIAT) in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced chondrocytes injury model remain unexplored. Cell viability and apoptosis were detected by methyl thiazolyl tetrazolium (MTT) and flow cytometry, respectively. Western blot was used to detect protein expression. The concentrations of inflammatory factors were estimated by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Abundances of MIAT, microRNA-488-3p (miR-488-3p), and sex determining region Y-related HMG-box 11 (SOX11) were examined by quantitative reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). Dual-luciferase reporter and RNA immunoprecipitation (RIP) assays were performed to analyze the interaction between miR-488-3p and MIAT or SOX11. LPS caused chondrocytes injury by reducing cell activity and increasing apoptosis rate and inflammatory factor secretions. Higher levels of MIAT and SOX11 and lower miR-488-3p were observed in LPS-treated C28/I2 cells. Importantly, knockdown of MIAT attenuated the LPS-induced cell injury by targeting miR-488-3p, and miR-488-3p overexpression weakened the LPS-induced cell injury by targeting SOX11. Additionally, repression of MIAT inactivated the LPS-induced NF-κB signaling pathway by decreasing SOX11 and increasing miR-488-3p. Knockdown of MIAT alleviated the LPS-induced chondrocytes injury by inhibiting the NF-κB signaling pathway mediated by the miR-488-3p/SOX11 axis.

Autoinflammatory Features in Gouty Arthritis

In the panorama of inflammatory arthritis, gout is the most common and studied disease. It is known that hyperuricemia and monosodium urate (MSU) crystal-induced inflammation provoke crystal deposits in joints. However, since hyperuricemia alone is not sufficient to develop gout, molecular-genetic contributions are necessary to better clinically frame the disease. Herein, we review the autoinflammatory features of gout, from clinical challenges and differential diagnosis, to the autoinflammatory mechanisms, providing also emerging therapeutic options available for targeting the main inflammatory pathways involved in gout pathogenesis. This has important implication as treating the autoinflammatory aspects and not only the dysmetabolic side of gout may provide an effective and safer alternative for patients even in the prevention of possible gouty attacks.

MicroRNA-223 Suppresses IL-1β and TNF-α Production in Gouty Inflammation by Targeting the NLRP3 Inflammasome

Introduction: MicroRNA-223 (MiR-223) serves as an important regulator of inflammatory and immune responses and is implicated in several auto-inflammatory disorders. Here, we measured miR-223 expression in acute and intercritical gout patients, after which we used RAW264.7 macrophages transfected with a miR-223 mimic/inhibitor to determine the function of miR-223 in monosodium urate (MSU)-induced gouty inflammation.

Methods and Results: MiR-223 was detected among 122 acute gout patients (AG), 118 intercritical gout patients (IG), and 125 healthy subjects (HC). RAW264.7 macrophages were cultured and treated with MSU. Over-expression or under-expression of miR-223 was inducted in RAW264.7 macrophages to investigate the function of miR-223. Real-time quantitative PCR, ELISA and western blotting were used to determine the expression levels of miR-223, cytokines and the NLRP3 inflammasome (NLRP3, ASC, and caspase-1). MiR-223 expression was significantly decreased in the AG group in comparison with the IG and HC groups (p < 0.001, respectively). Up-regulated expression of miR-223 was observed after acute gout remission in comparison with that observed during gout flares in 30 paired cases (p < 0.001). The abundance of the NLRP3 inflammasome and cytokines was significantly increased after RAW264.7 macrophages were treated with MSU (p < 0.01, respectively), while that of miR-223 was significantly reduced (p < 0.01). Up-regulation of miR-223 decreased the concentrations of IL-1β and TNF-α, as well as the NLRP3 inflammasome expression (p < 0.01, respectively), while IL-37 and TGF-β1 levels were unchanged (p > 0.05, respectively). Under-expression of miR-223 increased the concentrations of IL-1β and TNF-α, as well as NLRP3 inflammasome expression (p < 0.01, respectively), while IL-37 and TGF-β1 levels were not influenced (p > 0.05, respectively).

Conclusion: These findings suggest that miR-223 provides negative feedback regulation of the development of gouty inflammation by suppressing production of IL-1β and TNF-α, but not by regulating IL-37 and TGF-β1. Moreover, miR-223 regulates cytokine production by targeting the NLRP3 inflammasome.

Long non-coding RNA HOTAIR knockdown alleviates gouty arthritis through miR-20b upregulation and NLRP3 downregulation

This study aimed to determine the mechanism underlying the regulation of gout by the HOX transcript antisense RNA (HOTAIR) long non-coding RNA (lncRNA). The expression levels of HOTAIR, miR-20b, and Nlrp3 were estimated by qRT-PCR and western blotting. The methylation level of HOTAIR was detected by methylation-specific PCR. The recruitment of DNA methyltransferase 1 (DNMT1) to the lncRNA HOTAIR promoter was confirmed by a ChIP assay. RNA immunoprecipitation and RNA pull-down assays were used to confirm the interaction between HOTAIR and miR-20b. LncRNA HOTAIR and Nlrp3 expression was upregulated, and that of miR-20b was downregulated in synovial fluid mononuclear cells (SFMCs) collected from patients with gouty arthritis and monosodium urate (MSU)-stimulated THP-1 cells. Interleukin (IL)-1β level increased substantially upon stimulation by MSU crystals. The methylation percentage of HOTAIR was reduced in SFMCs from patients with gouty arthritis and MSU-stimulated THP-1 cells. DNMT1 expression was downregulated in MSU-stimulated THP-1 cells, and DNMT1 knockdown increased lncRNA HOTAIR expression. In addition, the interaction of HOTAIR with miR-20b was confirmed. HOTAIR knockdown suppressed Nlrp3 expression and the secretion of inflammatory cytokines via miR-20b regulation. Finally, in vivo experiments showed that HOTAIR knockdown alleviated ankle swelling in a mouse model of gouty arthritis. These findings suggest that lncRNA HOTAIR knockdown suppresses inflammatory cytokine secretion by upregulating miR-20b and downregulating NLRP3, thereby alleviating ankle swelling in gouty arthritis.

MicroRNAome: Potential and Veritable Immunomolecular Therapeutic and Diagnostic Baseline for Lingering Bovine Endometritis

The bovine endometrium is a natural pathogen invasion barrier of the uterine tissues' endometrial epithelial cells that can resist foreign pathogen invasion by controlling the inflammatory immune response. Some pathogens suppress the innate immune system of the endometrium, leading to prolonged systemic inflammatory response through the blood circulation or cellular degradation resulting in bovine endometritis by bacterial endotoxins. The microRNA (miRNA) typically involves gene expression in multicellular organisms in post-transcription regulation by affecting both the stability and the translation of messenger RNA. Accumulated evidence suggests that miRNAs are important regulators of genes in several cellular processes. They are a class of endogenous non-coding RNAs, which play pivotal roles in the inflammatory response of reproductive diseases. Studies confirmed that miRNAs play a key regulatory role in various inflammatory diseases by mediating the molecular mechanism of inflammatory cytokines via signal pathways. It implicates some miRNAs in the occurrence of bovine endometritis, resorting to regulating the activities of some inflammatory cytokines, chemokine, differentially expressed genes, and protein through modulating of specific cellular signal pathways functions. This review dwells on improving the knowledge of the role of miRNAs involvement in inflammatory response as to early diagnosis, control, and prevention of bovine endometritis and consequently enlighten on the molecular improvement of the genes coded by various differentially expressed miRNA through the need to adopt recent genetic technologies and the development of new pharmaceutical preparations.

MiR-221-5p is involved in the regulation of inflammatory responses in acute gouty arthritis by targeting IL-1β

AIM

Gout is caused by the accumulation of deposited monosodium urate (MSU) crystals in the joints. Recent studies have shown that interleukin-1β (IL-1β) is a key inflammatory mediator of acute gouty arthritis (AGA), and its level is regulated by microRNAs (miRNAs). The purpose of this study was to study the role of miR-221-5p in the pathogenesis of AGA.

METHODS

One hundred patients with AGA and 94 healthy individuals were recruited. The expression of serum miR-221-5p was determined by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction. The receiver operating curve (ROC) was applied for diagnostic value analysis. A luciferase reporter assay was performed to confirm the interaction of miRNA and the 3'-untranslated region (UTR) of IL-1β. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was used to detect serum and proinflammatory factors.

RESULTS

miR-221-5p had lower expression in the serum of AGA patients. The area under the curve was 0.884, the sensitivity was 82.0%, and the specificity was 80.9%. Serum miR-221-5p was negatively correlated with the expression levels of visual analog scale and IL-1β. Cell experiments showed that overexpression of miR-221-5p significantly inhibited the expression of inflammatory factors tumor necrosis factor-α, IL-8, and IL-1β, while down-regulation of miR-221-5p was the opposite. Luciferase analysis showed that IL-1β was the target gene of miR-221-5p.

CONCLUSIONS

This study confirmed that miR-221-5p regulates the production of inflammatory cytokines during the pathogenesis of AGA. These results suggested that miR-221-5p could be used as a potential therapeutic target for the treatment of AGA.

The Role of Noncoding RNAs in Gout

Over the past decade, noncoding ribonucleic acids (ncRNAs) have been shown to have crucial functional importance in health and disease. ncRNAs have been well studied and may be involved in the development of inflammatory arthritis, including gouty arthritis. Gout is also associated with metabolic pathway disorders, such as hyperuricemia, due to disturbed purine nucleotide metabolism or excretion of uric acid through the kidney. Moreover, their presence in the circulation has led to the idea that ncRNAs might serve as biomarkers for specific disease states to guide clinical decision-making. Therefore, we summarize the emerging evidence and review the current literature on the regulatory role of miRNAs and lncRNAs in gout pathophysiology. We further discuss the opportunities and challenges of ncRNAs as new blood-based biomarkers for future studies aimed at translation into clinical applications in the diagnosis and therapy of gout.

Study on the Multitarget Mechanism of Sanmiao Pill on Gouty Arthritis Based on Network Pharmacology

Sanmiao pill (SMP), a Chinese traditional formula, had been used to treat gouty arthritis (GA). However, the active compounds and underlying mechanism remained unclear. Hence, network pharmacology and molecular docking were utilized to explore bioactive compounds and potential mechanism of action of SMP in treating GA. In the study, the compounds of SMP, corresponding targets, and GA-related targets were mined from various pharmacological databases. Then, herb-compound-target, compound-target, PPI, and target-pathway networks were constructed. Ultimately, molecular docking was carried out to verify the predicted results. The results indicated that 47 active compounds, 338 targets, and 144 disease targets were collected. Network analysis implied that Phellodendron chinense Schneid. played a vital role in the whole formula. Moreover, 7 compounds (quercetin, kaempferol, wogonin, rutaecarpine, baicalein, beta-sitosterol, and stigmasterol) and 4 targets (NFKB1, RELA, MAPK1, and TNF) might be the kernel compounds and targets of SMP against GA. According to GOBP and KEGG pathway enrichment analysis and target-pathway network, SMP might exert a therapeutic role in GA by regulating numerous biological processes and pathways, including lipopolysaccharide-mediated signaling pathway, positive regulation of transcription, Toll-like receptor signaling pathway, JAK-STAT signaling pathway, NOD-like receptor signaling pathway, and MAPK signaling pathway. The results of molecular docking showcased that 11 pairs of compound with targets had tight binding strength. Thereinto, 4 compounds of MAPK1 and 5 compounds of NFKB1 possessed a better combination, suggesting that MAPK1 and NFKB1 might be considered as therapeutic targets in treatment of GA. This study verified that SMP had synergistic effect on GA by multicomponents, multitargets, and multipathways.

MiR-920 promotes osteogenic differentiation of human bone mesenchymal stem cells by targeting HOXA7

Background

To explore the effect of miR-920 on osteogenic differentiation of human bone mesenchymal stem cells (hBMSCs) and the possible mechanism.

Methods

Osteoporosis (OP) and healthy control bone tissues were collected, and the relative expression of miR-920 and HOXA7 was measured. hBMSCs were isolated and cultured in vitro. Alkaline phosphatase activity and miR-920 and HOXA7 relative expression were measured during osteogenic differentiation of hBMSCs. Then, bioinformatic analysis was performed to assess the potential mechanism of miR-920. MiR-920 mimic and inhibitor were introduced into hBMSCs by lipofection transfection and were used to investigate the effect of miR-920 on the osteogenic differentiation of hBMSCs. A dual luciferase reporter assay was used to identify whether the 3′UTR of HOXA7 mRNA was a direct target of miR-920. Western blotting was performed to assess whether miR-920 affected the MAPK signaling pathway.

Results

We found that miR-920 was downregulated in OP patients compared with controls, while HOXA7 was upregulated, and miR-920 had a negative correlation with HOXA7 (r = − 0.859, P = 0.001). Moreover, miR-920 was increased during osteogenic differentiation of hBMSCs, while HOXA7 had the opposite tendency. Bioinformatic analysis revealed that there were a total of 207 target genes, and MAPK was a potential targeted signaling pathway. MiR-920 mimic significantly increased ALP activity, calcium deposition, osteoblastic protein expression (ALP and OSX), and p-p38 and p-JNK protein levels.

Conclusion

Overall, miR-920 promotes osteogenic differentiation of hBMSCs by targeting HOXA7 through the MAPK signaling pathway.

miR‑802 inhibits the epithelial‑mesenchymal transition, migration and invasion of cervical cancer by regulating BTF3

MicroRNA (miR)-802 has been discovered to be involved in the occurrence and development of numerous types of tumor; however, studies into the role of miR‑802 in cervical cancer are limited. Therefore, the present study aimed to investigate the regulatory effects of miR‑802 in cervical cancer cells. miR‑802 expression levels in cervical cancer tissue and cells were analyzed using reverse transcription‑quantitative (RT‑q)PCR, a dual‑reporter luciferase activity assay was used to identify the direct target gene of miR‑802, and RT‑qPCR and western blotting were performed to determine the relationship between miR‑802 and basic transcription factor 3 (BTF3). Cell viability, and migration and invasion were analyzed using Cell Counting Kit‑8 and Transwell assays, respectively. Finally, the expression levels of metastasis‑associated proteins, N‑cadherin and E‑cadherin, were determined using RT‑qPCR and western blotting. Decreased expression levels of miR‑802 were found in cervical cancer tissues and cells, and the overexpression of miR‑802 inhibited cell viability, migration and invasion. Moreover, miR‑802 was discovered to directly target BTF3 to inhibit its expression. Notably, the overexpression miR‑802 markedly reversed the promotive effect of BTF3 on cell viability, in addition to the migratory and invasive abilities of the cells. Simultaneously, the overexpression of miR‑802 significantly suppressed epithelial‑mesenchymal transition, and the expression levels of matrix metallopeptidase (MMP)2 and MMP9 in cells through regulating BTF3. In conclusion, the present study revealed that miR‑802 may suppress cervical cancer progression by decreasing BTF3 expression levels, indicating that it may represent a potential therapeutic target for the treatment and prognosis of patients with cervical cancer.

miR-488 mediates negative regulation of the AKT/NF-κB pathway by targeting Rac1 in LPS-induced inflammation

Endometritis is an inflammatory change in the structure of the endometrium due to various causes and is a common cause of infertility. Studies have confirmed that microRNAs (miRNAs) play a key regulatory role in various inflammatory diseases. However, the miRNA-mediated mechanism of endometrial inflammation induced by lipopolysaccharides (LPS) remains unclear. In this study, real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction, Western blot analysis, immunofluorescence and Rac family small GTPase 1 (Rac1) interference were used to reveal the overexpression of miR-488 in the LPS-induced bovine uterus, and the effect of protein kinase B κ-light chain enhancement of the nuclear factor-activated B cells (AKT/NF-κB) pathway in intimal epithelial cells. The results showed that the expression of inflammatory cytokines such as interleukin-1β (IL-1β), IL-6, and tumor necrosis factor-α in the experimental group was significantly lower than that in the control group when miR-488 was overexpressed. Similar results were observed in the expression levels of p-AKT, p-IKK, and p-p65 proteins. In addition, the dual-luciferase reporter system confirmed that miRNA-488 may directly target the 3'-untranslated region of Rac1. In turn, the expression of Rac1 was inhibited. Moreover, the nuclear translocation of NF-κB was inhibited, and meanwhile, the accumulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in the cells was reduced. Thus, we provide basic data for the negative regulation of miR-488 in LPS-induced inflammation by inhibiting ROS production and the AKT/NF-kB pathway in intimal epithelial cells.

Genome-wide association study revealed novel loci which aggravate asymptomatic hyperuricaemia into gout

Objective

The first ever genome-wide association study (GWAS) of clinically defined gout cases and asymptomatic hyperuricaemia (AHUA) controls was performed to identify novel gout loci that aggravate AHUA into gout.

Methods

We carried out a GWAS of 945 clinically defined gout cases and 1003 AHUA controls followed by 2 replication studies. In total, 2860 gout cases and 3149 AHUA controls (all Japanese men) were analysed. We also compared the ORs for each locus in the present GWAS (gout vs AHUA) with those in the previous GWAS (gout vs normouricaemia).

Results

This new approach enabled us to identify two novel gout loci (rs7927466 of CNTN5 and rs9952962 of MIR302F) and one suggestive locus (rs12980365 of ZNF724) at the genome-wide significance level (p<5.0×10^–8). The present study also identified the loci of ABCG2, ALDH2 and SLC2A9. One of them, rs671 of ALDH2, was identified as a gout locus by GWAS for the first time. Comparing ORs for each locus in the present versus the previous GWAS revealed three ‘gout vs AHUA GWAS’-specific loci (CNTN5, MIR302F and ZNF724) to be clearly associated with mechanisms of gout development which distinctly differ from the known gout risk loci that basically elevate serum uric acid level.

Conclusions

This meta-analysis is the first to reveal the loci associated with crystal-induced inflammation, the last step in gout development that aggravates AHUA into gout. Our findings should help to elucidate the molecular mechanisms of gout development and assist the prevention of gout attacks in high-risk AHUA individuals.

Identification of altered microRNAs in retinas of mice with oxygen-induced retinopathy

AIM

To identify disease-related miRNAs in retinas of mice with oxygen-induced retinopathy (OIR), and to explore their potential roles in retinal pathological neovascularization.

METHODS

The retinal miRNA expression profile in mice with OIR and room air controls at postnatal day 17 (P17) were determined through miRNA microarray analysis. Several miRNAs were significantly up- and down-regulated in retinas of mice with OIR compared to controls by quantitative real-time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). Two databases including Targetscan7.1 and MirdbV5 were used to predict target genes that associated with those significantly altered miRNAs in retinas of mice with OIR. Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway analyses were also conducted to identify possible biological functions of the target genes.

RESULTS

In comparison with room air controls, 3 and 8 miRNAs were significantly up- and down-regulated, respectively, in retinas of mice with OIR. The qRT-PCR data confirmed that mmu-miR-350-3p and mmu-miR-202-3p were significantly up-regulated, while mmu-miR-711 and mmu-miR-30c-1-3p were significantly down-regulated in mice with OIR compared to controls. GO analysis demonstrated that the identified target genes were related to functions such as cellular macromolecule metabolic process. KEGG pathway analysis showed a group of pathways, such as Wnt signaling pathway, transcriptional misregulation in cancer, Mucin type O-glycan biosynthesis, and mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling pathway might be involved in pathological process of retinal neovascularization.

CONCLUSION

Our findings suggest that the differentially expressed miRNAs in retinas of mice with OIR might provide potential therapeutic targets for treating retinal neovascularization.

A Randomized Controlled Trial of Chuanhutongfeng Mixture for the Treatment of Chronic Gouty Arthritis by Regulating miRNAs

Background

We investigated whether Chuanhutongfeng mixture has actions on chronic gouty arthritis (CGA) by regulating miRNAs.

Methods

A total of 255 patients with CGA and 30 controls were enrolled. miRNA expression profiles and cluster analysis were preformed; RT-qPCR was used to detect miRNAs associated with CGA. Patients were allocated into Chuanhutongfeng mixture, allopurinol (positive control), and control (etoricoxib) groups. Expression of plasma miRNAs was measured before and after treatments; expression of chemokine 2 (CCL2) and interleukin 8 (CXCL8) was determined by ELISA.

Results

48 miRNAs were differentially expressed and compared to controls. 36 miRNAs expression levels were > 1.5 times and 12 miRNAs < 1.5 times compared to the controls. miR-339-5p, miR-486-5p, and miR-361-5p levels in patients with CGA were lower than in controls (P < 0.05). This trial showed that the Chuanhutongfeng mixture and allopurinol groups had upregulated the expressions of miR-486-5, miR-339-5p, and miR-361-5p and decreased levels of CCL2 and CXCL8 proteins. After 8 weeks of treatment, Chuanhutongfeng mixture decreased serum uric acid levels more than allopurinol (P < 0.05) and reduced levels of CCL2 and CXCL8 protein significantly more than in the allopurinol and control groups.

Conclusions

The therapeutic actions of Chuanhutongfeng mixture inhibit the expression of proteins CCL2 and CXCL8 in plasma and upregulated the expressions of three miRNAs (miR-486-5p, miR-339-5p, and miR-361-5p).