Expression of a Novel Long Noncoding RNA (lncRNA), GASL1, is Downregulated in Patients with Intracranial Aneurysms and Regulates the Proliferation of Vascular Smooth Muscle Cells In Vitro

Non-coding RNAs to treat vascular smooth muscle cell dysfunction

Vascular smooth muscle cell (vSMC) dysfunction is a critical contributor to cardiovascular diseases, including atherosclerosis, restenosis and vein graft failure. Recent advances have unveiled a fascinating range of non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) that play a pivotal role in regulating vSMC function. This review aims to provide an in-depth analysis of the mechanisms underlying vSMC dysfunction and the therapeutic potential of various ncRNAs in mitigating this dysfunction, either preventing or reversing it. We explore the intricate interplay of microRNAs, long-non-coding RNAs and circular RNAs, shedding light on their roles in regulating key signalling pathways associated with vSMC dysfunction. We also discuss the prospects and challenges associated with developing ncRNA-based therapies for this prevalent type of cardiovascular pathology.

SMOC2 promoted vascular smooth muscle cell proliferation, migration, and extracellular matrix degradation by activating BMP/TGF-β1 signaling pathway

A widespread degenerative condition of the aorta, abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA), severely endangers the health of middle-aged and elderly people. SPARC related modular calcium binding2 (SMOC2) is upregulated in the carotid arteries of rats with atherosclerotic lesions, but its function in AAA is still unknown. Therefore, the aim of this research was to evaluate the function of SMOC2 in AAA. The results showed that in the AAA tissues, SMOC2 expression was upregulated compared with healthy controls. Overexpression of SMOC2 promoted vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) proliferation, migration, and extracellular matrix (ECM) degradation. In contrast, silence of SMOC2 inhibited VSMCs proliferation, migration, and ECM degradation. Overexpression of SMOC2 promoted BMP and TGF-β1 expression and silence of SMOC2 had an opposite effect. Besides, inhibition of BMP or TGF-β1 suppressed VSMCs cell proliferation, migration, and ECM degradation. Moreover, inhibition BMP or TGF-β1 reversed the promotive effects of SMOC2 overexpression on VSMCs proliferation, migration, and ECM degradation. SMOC2 may affecte the formation of AAA by upregulating BMP and TGF-β1 to regulate the proliferation, migration, and ECM degradation of VSMCs.

Long non-coding RNA NORAD induces phenotypic regulation of vascular smooth muscle cells through regulating microRNA-136-5p-targeted KDM1A

OBJECTIVE

Effect of long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) on intracranial aneurysm (IA) development has been identified, while the role of noncoding RNA activated by DNA damage (NORAD) in IA remains unexplored. We aimed to verify the impact of NORAD on IA through sponging microRNA-136-5p (miR-136-5p).

METHODS

Ruptured and unruptured IAs were harvested from IA patients, and expression of NORAD, miR-136-5p, and KDM1A was determined. The vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) were cultured and, respectively, transfected with altered NORAD, miR-136-5p, or lysine-specific demethylase 1 (KDM1A) to observe their effect on biological functions, as well as on contraction and synthesis-specific indices of VSMCs. Interactions between NORAD and miR-136-5p, and between miR-136-5p and KDM1A were confirmed.

RESULTS

NORAD and KDM1A were upregulated while miR-136-5p was downregulated in IA, especially in ruptured IA. NORAD overexpression or miR-136-5p inhibition accelerated proliferation and migration, and decelerated phenotypic switching and apoptosis of VSMCs. The effects of overexpressed NORAD on VSMCs were reserved by miR-136-5p upregulation or KDM1A knockdown. NORAD functioned as a competing endogenous RNA of miR-136-5p and miR-136-5p targeted KDM1A.

CONCLUSION

NORAD suppressed miR-136-5p, thus upregulating KDM1A to participate in IA formation and rupture by inducing phenotypic regulation of VSMCs.

LncRNA ANRIL Facilitates Vascular Smooth Muscle Cell Proliferation and Suppresses Apoptosis via Modulation of miR-7/FGF2 Pathway in Intracranial Aneurysms

BACKGROUND

Proliferation and apoptosis of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) are linked to intracranial aneurysm (IA) formation and progression. Long antisense noncoding RNA in the INK4 locus (ANRIL) has been reported to regulate VSMC functions in several cardiovascular diseases. However, little is known about how ANRIL influences VSMC proliferation and apoptosis during IA pathogenesis.

METHODS

The expression level of ANRIL in the plasma and arterial wall tissues of patients with IA was detected by real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction. The functional role of ANRIL in the regulation of VSMC proliferation and apoptosis and its downstream regulatory mechanism were determined using Cell Counting Kit 8, immunofluorescence, terminal-deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated UTP nick end labeling, western blotting, luciferase reporter assay, and RNA immunoprecipitation assay.

RESULTS

ANRIL was downregulated in the plasma and arterial wall tissues of patients with IA, when compared with control groups. Overexpression of ANRIL significantly promoted VSMC proliferation and blocked cell apoptosis. Mechanistic studies demonstrated that ANRIL directly bound to microRNA-7 (miR-7) and that overexpression of miR-7 overturned the increased cell proliferation and decreased cell apoptosis, which was induced by ANRIL restoration. Besides, further study showed that ANRIL positively regulated fibroblast growth factor 2 (FGF2) expression via targeting miR-7.

CONCLUSIONS

These results suggested that ANRIL affects VSMC proliferation and apoptosis via regulation of the miR-7/FGF2 pathway in IA, which provided a potential novel strategy for the treatment of IA.

Non-Coding RNAs as Circulating Biomarkers for the Diagnosis of Intracranial Aneurysm: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

BACKGROUND

Early diagnosis of intracranial aneurysm (IA) is arduous in the current situation, and no biomarker is available for the screening of IA. We here systematically evaluate the diagnostic value of circulating non-coding RNA (ncRNA) for the diagnosis of IA.

METHODS

We searched PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, Scopus and Cochrane Library databases from inception to June 2020. We included studies that investigated the diagnostic performance of circulating ncRNAs for the diagnosis of IA. We performed Random-effect meta-analyses for the diagnostic test accuracy to calculate pooled estimates. Subgroup analyses and sensitivity analyses were conducted to explore the source of heterogeneity.

RESULTS

Thirteen studies, including 1,105 patients and 28 ncRNAs, were included. The pooled sensitivity and specificity were 0.80 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.76-0.83) and 0.80 (95% CI, 0.76-0.84), respectively, and the area under the hierarchical summary receiver operating characteristic curve was 0.87 (95% CI, 0.84-0.89). The pooled positive and negative likelihood ratios were 3.97 (95% CI, 3.17-4.98) and 0.25 (95% CI, 0.21-0.31), corresponding with a diagnostic odds ratio of 15.63 (95% CI, 10.41-23.47). Subgroup analyses revealed that the diagnostic accuracy of miRNA, lncRNA and circRNA were not significantly different (p > 0.05). Circulating ncRNAs showed higher diagnostic accuracy for patients with unruptured IA than those with ruptured IA (p = 0.0122).

CONCLUSION

Current evidence suggests that the circulating ncRNA test could be an effective method for universal IA screening. Future clinical studies need to confirm the diagnostic role of specific ncRNAs.

The novel target of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma: lncRNA GASL1 regulates cell migration, invasion and cell cycle stagnation by inactivating the Wnt3a/β-catenin signaling

Long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) Growth-Arrest Associated LncRNA 1 (GASL1) is a lncRNA with a suppressive role in glioma, prostate carcinoma and gastric carcinoma, whereas its involvement in esophageal cancer is unknown. In the present study, we used RT-qPCR to detect the expression of GASL1 in esophageal cancer cell carcinoma (ESCC) cell lines, and constructed the overexpression and interference plasmids of GASL1 and the interference plasmid of DKK1. CCK8 was used to detect the cell proliferation level, clone formation experiment was used to detect the cell clonal formation ability, flow cytometry was used to detect the cell cycle level, and wound healing and Transwell experiments were respectively used to detect the cell invasion and migration. The interference and overexpression plasmids of GASL1 were injected into mice subcutaneously for tumor-bearing experiment. The body weight, tumor growth curve, and tumor weight of mice were recorded, and western blot was used to detect the expression of proliferation-, invasion-, and migration-related proteins and the expression of Wnt3a/β-catenin signal-related proteins in tumor tissues. LncRNA GASL1 was down-regulated in ESCC cell lines, and GASL1 inhibited ESCC cell progression and regulated cell cycle arrest in ESCC cells. In vivo, GASL1 inhibited tumor growth. GASL1 decreased the protein levels of DDK1, Wnt3a, β-catenin, and c-MYC in ESCC cell lines. Interfering DKK1 activates Wnt3a/β--catenin signal to reverse the inhibitory effects of GASL1 on proliferation, cell cycle acceleration, invasion, and migration. In conclusion, lncRNA GASL1 regulates cell migration, invasion and cell cycle stagnation by inactivating the wnt/β-catenin signaling.

The Role of Long Non-Coding RNAs in Intracranial Aneurysms and Subarachnoid Hemorrhage

Intracranial aneurysms (IAs) represent the most complex and relevant problem of modern neurology and neurosurgery. They serve as one of the main causes of non-traumatic subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH), causing up to 85% of all cases of intracranial hemorrhage, which is associated with frequent disability and high mortality among patients. Unfortunately, the molecular mechanisms of the development and rupture of IAs are still under study. Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) are non-coding RNAs that typically have a length of more than 200 nucleotides. It is known that lncRNAs regulate many processes, such as transcription, translation, cell differentiation, regulation of gene expression, and regulation of the cell cycle. In recent years, a lot of evidence has established their role in human diseases from oncology to cardiovascular disease. Recent studies have shown that lncRNAs may be involved in the pathogenesis of IAs. The study of lncRNAs and its targets in various pathological conditions of a person is a rapidly developing field, and it is likely that the knowledge obtained from these studies regarding the pathogenesis of intracranial aneurysms will have the potential to use lncRNAs in therapy, as well as in the diagnosis and prediction of high aneurysms risk of rupture.

Long Non-Coding RNA LINC01783 Promotes the Progression of Cervical Cancer by Sponging miR-199b-5p to Mediate GBP1 Expression

BACKGROUND

Long non-coding RNA showed potential regulating effects in oncogenesis. Highly expressed LncRNA LINC01783 is observed in cervical cancer. However, the specific pathogenesis of cervical cancer is still unclear.

METHODS

Differential lncRNAs in cervical cancer were identified based on TCGA dataset. Subsequently, qRT-PCR was utilized for testing the LINC01783 expression in cervical cancer cell lines and normal human cervical epithelial cell line HcerEpic. CCK-8, EdU, Wound healing assay, Transwell assay and flow cytometry were used for detecting proliferative and migratory potential, cell cycle and apoptosis of cervical cancer cells, respectively. To identify the potential target of LINC01783, bioinformatics assay and dual-luciferase reporter gene assay were performed. Moreover, to clarify their interactions and roles in regulating the progression of cervical cancer, Western blot assay and RIP assay were carried out.

RESULTS

Our results revealed LINC01783 is overexpressed in cervical cancer cells. Overexpressed LINC01783 considerably accelerated the cell proliferation, migration and invasion of cervical cancer cells while restrained cell apoptosis of them. Moreover, LINC01783 positively regulated the GBP1 expression via competitively binding to miR-199b-5p.

CONCLUSION

LINC01783 is involved in the progression of cervical cancer through competitively binding to miR-199b-5p to mediate GBP1 expression.