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Gaunt JR, Zainolabidin N, Yip AKK, Tan JM, Low AYT, Chen AI, Ch'ng TH. Cytokine enrichment in deep cerebellar nuclei is contributed by multiple glial populations and linked to reduced amyloid plaque pathology. J Neuroinflammation 2023; 20:269. [PMID: 37978387 PMCID: PMC10656954 DOI: 10.1186/s12974-023-02913-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/24/2023] [Accepted: 09/28/2023] [Indexed: 11/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD) pathology and amyloid-beta (Aβ) plaque deposition progress slowly in the cerebellum compared to other brain regions, while the entorhinal cortex (EC) is one of the most vulnerable regions. Using a knock-in AD mouse model (App KI), we show that within the cerebellum, the deep cerebellar nuclei (DCN) has particularly low accumulation of Aβ plaques. To identify factors that might underlie differences in the progression of AD-associated neuropathology across regions, we profiled gene expression in single nuclei (snRNAseq) across all cell types in the DCN and EC of wild-type (WT) and App KI male mice at age 7 months. We found differences in expression of genes associated with inflammatory activation, PI3K-AKT signalling, and neuron support functions between both regions and genotypes. In WT mice, the expression of interferon-response genes in microglia is higher in the DCN than the EC and this enrichment is confirmed by RNA in situ hybridisation, and measurement of inflammatory cytokines by protein array. Our analyses also revealed that multiple glial populations are responsible for establishing this cytokine-enriched niche. Furthermore, homogenates derived from the DCN induced inflammatory gene expression in BV2 microglia. We also assessed the relationship between the DCN microenvironment and Aβ pathology by depleting microglia using a CSF1R inhibitor PLX5622 and saw that, surprisingly, the expression of a subset of inflammatory cytokines was increased while plaque abundance in the DCN was further reduced. Overall, our study revealed the presence of a cytokine-enriched microenvironment unique to the DCN that when modulated, can alter plaque deposition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jessica R Gaunt
- Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine, Nanyang Technological University, Clinical Science Building, 11 Mandalay Road, Singapore, 308232, Singapore
| | - Norliyana Zainolabidin
- Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine, Nanyang Technological University, Clinical Science Building, 11 Mandalay Road, Singapore, 308232, Singapore
| | - Alaric K K Yip
- Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine, Nanyang Technological University, Clinical Science Building, 11 Mandalay Road, Singapore, 308232, Singapore
| | - Jia Min Tan
- Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine, Nanyang Technological University, Clinical Science Building, 11 Mandalay Road, Singapore, 308232, Singapore
| | - Aloysius Y T Low
- Department of Biology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Albert I Chen
- Center for Aging Research, Scintillon Institute, 6868 Nancy Ridge Drive, San Diego, CA, 92121, USA.
- Molecular Neurobiology Laboratory, Salk Institute, La Jolla, CA, 92037, USA.
| | - Toh Hean Ch'ng
- Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine, Nanyang Technological University, Clinical Science Building, 11 Mandalay Road, Singapore, 308232, Singapore.
- School of Biological Science, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore, 63755, Singapore.
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2
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Han P, Mo S, Wang Z, Xu J, Fu X, Tian Y. UXT at the crossroads of cell death, immunity and neurodegenerative diseases. Front Oncol 2023; 13:1179947. [PMID: 37152054 PMCID: PMC10154696 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2023.1179947] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/05/2023] [Accepted: 04/03/2023] [Indexed: 05/09/2023] Open
Abstract
The ubiquitous expressed transcript (UXT), a member of the prefoldin-like protein family, modulates regulated cell death (RCD) such as apoptosis and autophagy-mediated cell death through nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), P53, P62, and methylation, and is involved in the regulation of cell metabolism, thereby affecting tumor progression. UXT also maintains immune homeostasis and reduces proteotoxicity in neuro-degenerative diseases through selective autophagy and molecular chaperones. Herein, we review and further elucidate the mechanisms by which UXT affects the regulation of cell death, maintenance of immune homeostasis, and neurodegenerative diseases and discuss the possible UXT involvement in the regulation of ferroptosis and immunogenic cell death, and targeting it to improve cancer treatment outcomes by regulating cell death and immune surveillance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pengzhe Han
- Third Hospital of Shanxi Medical University, Shanxi Bethune Hospital, Shanxi Academy of Medical Sciences Tongji Shanxi Hospital, Taiyuan, China
| | - Shaojian Mo
- Third Hospital of Shanxi Medical University, Shanxi Bethune Hospital, Shanxi Academy of Medical Sciences Tongji Shanxi Hospital, Taiyuan, China
- Department of Biliary and Pancreatic Surgery, Shanxi Bethune Hospital, Shanxi Academy of Medical Sciences, Tongji Shanxi Hospital, Taiyuan, China
| | - Zhengwang Wang
- Third Hospital of Shanxi Medical University, Shanxi Bethune Hospital, Shanxi Academy of Medical Sciences Tongji Shanxi Hospital, Taiyuan, China
| | - Jiale Xu
- Third Hospital of Shanxi Medical University, Shanxi Bethune Hospital, Shanxi Academy of Medical Sciences Tongji Shanxi Hospital, Taiyuan, China
| | - Xifeng Fu
- Third Hospital of Shanxi Medical University, Shanxi Bethune Hospital, Shanxi Academy of Medical Sciences Tongji Shanxi Hospital, Taiyuan, China
- Department of Biliary and Pancreatic Surgery, Shanxi Bethune Hospital, Shanxi Academy of Medical Sciences, Tongji Shanxi Hospital, Taiyuan, China
| | - Yanzhang Tian
- Third Hospital of Shanxi Medical University, Shanxi Bethune Hospital, Shanxi Academy of Medical Sciences Tongji Shanxi Hospital, Taiyuan, China
- Department of Biliary and Pancreatic Surgery, Shanxi Bethune Hospital, Shanxi Academy of Medical Sciences, Tongji Shanxi Hospital, Taiyuan, China
- *Correspondence: Yanzhang Tian,
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3
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Edmister ST, Creton R. Modulation of calcineurin signaling during development. Dev Neurobiol 2022; 82:505-516. [PMID: 35785416 PMCID: PMC9922048 DOI: 10.1002/dneu.22895] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2022] [Revised: 06/26/2022] [Accepted: 06/28/2022] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Abstract
Calcineurin signaling pathways are suppressed in Down syndrome (trisomy 21), by overexpression of genes that are located on chromosome 21. Two key genes are the regulator of calcineurin 1 (RCAN1), also called the Down syndrome critical region 1 (DSCR1), and the dual-specificity tyrosine-phosphorylation-regulated kinase 1A (DYRK1A). The suppressed calcineurin pathway may potentially be restored using small-molecule DYRK inhibitors, which have been proposed as therapeutics in Down syndrome. However, little is known about the benefits and risks of such treatments during various stages of embryonic development, fetal development, and childhood. We examined the modulation of calcineurin signaling during development, using zebrafish as a model system. To mimic suppressed calcineurin signaling in Down syndrome, zebrafish were exposed to the calcineurin inhibitors cyclosporine and tacrolimus during development. We found that suppression of calcineurin signaling changed specific larval behaviors, including activity and responses to acoustic and visual stimuli, depending on the period of exposure. Cotreatment with the DYRK inhibitor proINDY restored a few of these behaviors but also induced a range of adverse side effects including decreased activity and reduced optomotor responses to visual stimuli. Based on these results, we conclude that proINDY has limited benefits and substantial risks when used during development. We propose that zebrafish is an efficient model system for preliminary safety and efficacy tests of other DYRK inhibitors that aim to restore calcineurin signaling during neural development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sara Tucker Edmister
- Department of Molecular Biology, Cell Biology and Biochemistry, Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island, USA
| | - Robbert Creton
- Department of Molecular Biology, Cell Biology and Biochemistry, Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island, USA
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Wu CI, Vinton EA, Pearse RV, Heo K, Aylward AJ, Hsieh YC, Bi Y, Adeleye S, Fancher S, Duong DM, Seyfried NT, Schwarz TL, Young-Pearse TL. APP and DYRK1A regulate axonal and synaptic vesicle protein networks and mediate Alzheimer's pathology in trisomy 21 neurons. Mol Psychiatry 2022; 27:1970-1989. [PMID: 35194165 PMCID: PMC9133025 DOI: 10.1038/s41380-022-01454-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/13/2021] [Accepted: 01/18/2022] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
Trisomy 21 (T21) causes Down syndrome and an early-onset form of Alzheimer's disease (AD). Here, we used human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs) along with CRISPR-Cas9 gene editing to investigate the contribution of chromosome 21 candidate genes to AD-relevant neuronal phenotypes. We utilized a direct neuronal differentiation protocol to bypass neurodevelopmental cell fate phenotypes caused by T21 followed by unbiased proteomics and western blotting to define the proteins dysregulated in T21 postmitotic neurons. We show that normalization of copy number of APP and DYRK1A each rescue elevated tau phosphorylation in T21 neurons, while reductions of RCAN1 and SYNJ1 do not. To determine the T21 alterations relevant to early-onset AD, we identified common pathways altered in familial Alzheimer's disease neurons and determined which of these were rescued by normalization of APP and DYRK1A copy number in T21 neurons. These studies identified disruptions in T21 neurons in both the axonal cytoskeletal network and presynaptic proteins that play critical roles in axonal transport and synaptic vesicle cycling. These alterations in the proteomic profiles have functional consequences: fAD and T21 neurons exhibit dysregulated axonal trafficking and T21 neurons display enhanced synaptic vesicle release. Taken together, our findings provide insights into the initial molecular alterations within neurons that ultimately lead to synaptic loss and axonal degeneration in Down syndrome and early-onset AD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chun-I Wu
- Ann Romney Center for Neurologic Diseases, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Elizabeth A Vinton
- Ann Romney Center for Neurologic Diseases, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Richard V Pearse
- Ann Romney Center for Neurologic Diseases, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Keunjung Heo
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Kirby Neurobiology Center, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Aimee J Aylward
- Ann Romney Center for Neurologic Diseases, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Yi-Chen Hsieh
- Ann Romney Center for Neurologic Diseases, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Yan Bi
- Ann Romney Center for Neurologic Diseases, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Sopefoluwa Adeleye
- Ann Romney Center for Neurologic Diseases, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Seeley Fancher
- Ann Romney Center for Neurologic Diseases, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Duc M Duong
- Department of Biochemistry, Emory School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA
- Department of Neurology, Emory School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Nicholas T Seyfried
- Department of Biochemistry, Emory School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA
- Department of Neurology, Emory School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Thomas L Schwarz
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Kirby Neurobiology Center, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Tracy L Young-Pearse
- Ann Romney Center for Neurologic Diseases, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA.
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.
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5
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Thomas T, Khalaf S, Grigorenko EL. A systematic review and meta-analysis of imaging genetics studies of specific reading disorder. Cogn Neuropsychol 2021; 38:179-204. [PMID: 34529546 DOI: 10.1080/02643294.2021.1969900] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Abstract
The imaging genetics of specific reading disabilities (SRD) is an emerging field that aims to characterize the disabilities' neurobiological causes, including atypical brain structure and function and distinct genetic architecture. The present review aimed to summarize current imaging genetics studies of SRD, characterize the effect sizes of reported results by calculating Cohen's d, complete a Fisher's Combined Probability Test for genes featured in multiple studies, and determine areas for future research. Results demonstrate associations between SRD risk genes and reading network brain phenotypes. The Fisher's test revealed promising results for the genes DCDC2, KIAA0319, FOXP2, SLC2A3, and ROBO1. Future research should focus on exploratory approaches to identify previously undiscovered genes. Using comprehensive neuroimaging (e.g., functional and effective connectivity) and genetic (e.g., sequencing and epigenetic) techniques, and using larger samples, diverse stages of development, and longitudinal investigations, would help researchers understand the neurobiological correlates of SRD to improve early identification.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tina Thomas
- Department of Psychology, University of Houston, Houston, TX, USA.,Texas Institute for Measurement, Evaluation, and Statistics, University of Houston, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Shiva Khalaf
- Texas Institute for Measurement, Evaluation, and Statistics, University of Houston, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Elena L Grigorenko
- Department of Psychology, University of Houston, Houston, TX, USA.,Texas Institute for Measurement, Evaluation, and Statistics, University of Houston, Houston, TX, USA.,Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
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Kinoshita C, Kubota N, Aoyama K. Interplay of RNA-Binding Proteins and microRNAs in Neurodegenerative Diseases. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms22105292. [PMID: 34069857 PMCID: PMC8157344 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22105292] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/30/2021] [Revised: 05/14/2021] [Accepted: 05/15/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
The number of patients with neurodegenerative diseases (NDs) is increasing, along with the growing number of older adults. This escalation threatens to create a medical and social crisis. NDs include a large spectrum of heterogeneous and multifactorial pathologies, such as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, frontotemporal dementia, Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, Huntington’s disease and multiple system atrophy, and the formation of inclusion bodies resulting from protein misfolding and aggregation is a hallmark of these disorders. The proteinaceous components of the pathological inclusions include several RNA-binding proteins (RBPs), which play important roles in splicing, stability, transcription and translation. In addition, RBPs were shown to play a critical role in regulating miRNA biogenesis and metabolism. The dysfunction of both RBPs and miRNAs is often observed in several NDs. Thus, the data about the interplay among RBPs and miRNAs and their cooperation in brain functions would be important to know for better understanding NDs and the development of effective therapeutics. In this review, we focused on the connection between miRNAs, RBPs and neurodegenerative diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chisato Kinoshita
- Department of Pharmacology, Teikyo University School of Medicine, 2-11-1 Kaga, Itabashi, Tokyo 173-8605, Japan;
- Correspondence: (C.K.); (K.A.); Tel.: +81-3-3964-3794 (C.K.); +81-3-3964-3793 (K.A.)
| | - Noriko Kubota
- Department of Pharmacology, Teikyo University School of Medicine, 2-11-1 Kaga, Itabashi, Tokyo 173-8605, Japan;
- Teikyo University Support Center for Women Physicians and Researchers, 2-11-1 Kaga, Itabashi, Tokyo 173-8605, Japan
| | - Koji Aoyama
- Department of Pharmacology, Teikyo University School of Medicine, 2-11-1 Kaga, Itabashi, Tokyo 173-8605, Japan;
- Correspondence: (C.K.); (K.A.); Tel.: +81-3-3964-3794 (C.K.); +81-3-3964-3793 (K.A.)
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7
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Thiel G, Schmidt T, Rössler OG. Ca 2+ Microdomains, Calcineurin and the Regulation of Gene Transcription. Cells 2021; 10:cells10040875. [PMID: 33921430 PMCID: PMC8068893 DOI: 10.3390/cells10040875] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2021] [Revised: 04/06/2021] [Accepted: 04/09/2021] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Ca2+ ions function as second messengers regulating many intracellular events, including neurotransmitter release, exocytosis, muscle contraction, metabolism and gene transcription. Cells of a multicellular organism express a variety of cell-surface receptors and channels that trigger an increase of the intracellular Ca2+ concentration upon stimulation. The elevated Ca2+ concentration is not uniformly distributed within the cytoplasm but is organized in subcellular microdomains with high and low concentrations of Ca2+ at different locations in the cell. Ca2+ ions are stored and released by intracellular organelles that change the concentration and distribution of Ca2+ ions. A major function of the rise in intracellular Ca2+ is the change of the genetic expression pattern of the cell via the activation of Ca2+-responsive transcription factors. It has been proposed that Ca2+-responsive transcription factors are differently affected by a rise in cytoplasmic versus nuclear Ca2+. Moreover, it has been suggested that the mode of entry determines whether an influx of Ca2+ leads to the stimulation of gene transcription. A rise in cytoplasmic Ca2+ induces an intracellular signaling cascade, involving the activation of the Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent protein phosphatase calcineurin and various protein kinases (protein kinase C, extracellular signal-regulated protein kinase, Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent protein kinases). In this review article, we discuss the concept of gene regulation via elevated Ca2+ concentration in the cytoplasm and the nucleus, the role of Ca2+ entry and the role of enzymes as signal transducers. We give particular emphasis to the regulation of gene transcription by calcineurin, linking protein dephosphorylation with Ca2+ signaling and gene expression.
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Roh JW, Hwang GE, Kim WK, Nam JH. Ca 2+ Sensitivity of Anoctamin 6/TMEM16F Is Regulated by the Putative Ca 2+-Binding Reservoir at the N-Terminal Domain. Mol Cells 2021; 44:88-100. [PMID: 33658434 PMCID: PMC7941003 DOI: 10.14348/molcells.2021.2203] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/14/2020] [Revised: 01/05/2021] [Accepted: 01/26/2021] [Indexed: 11/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Anoctamin 6/TMEM16F (ANO6) is a dual-function protein with Ca2+-activated ion channel and Ca2+-activated phospholipid scramblase activities, requiring a high intracellular Ca2+ concentration (e.g., half-maximal effective Ca2+ concentration [EC50] of [Ca2+]i > 10 μM), and strong and sustained depolarization above 0 mV. Structural comparison with Anoctamin 1/TMEM16A (ANO1), a canonical Ca2+- activated chloride channel exhibiting higher Ca2+ sensitivity (EC50 of 1 μM) than ANO6, suggested that a homologous Ca2+-transferring site in the N-terminal domain (Nt) might be responsible for the differential Ca2+ sensitivity and kinetics of activation between ANO6 and ANO1. To elucidate the role of the putative Ca2+-transferring reservoir in the Nt (Nt-CaRes), we constructed an ANO6-1-6 chimera in which Nt-CaRes was replaced with the corresponding domain of ANO1. ANO6- 1-6 showed higher sensitivity to Ca2+ than ANO6. However, neither the speed of activation nor the voltage-dependence differed between ANO6 and ANO6-1-6. Molecular dynamics simulation revealed a reduced Ca2+ interaction with Nt- CaRes in ANO6 than ANO6-1-6. Moreover, mutations on potentially Ca2+-interacting acidic amino acids in ANO6 Nt- CaRes resulted in reduced Ca2+ sensitivity, implying direct interactions of Ca2+ with these residues. Based on these results, we cautiously suggest that the net charge of Nt- CaRes is responsible for the difference in Ca2+ sensitivity between ANO1 and ANO6.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jae Won Roh
- Department of Physiology, Dongguk University College of Medicine, Gyeongju 38066, Korea
| | - Ga Eun Hwang
- Department of Physiology, Dongguk University College of Medicine, Gyeongju 38066, Korea
| | - Woo Kyung Kim
- Department of Internal Medicine, Graduate School of Medicine, Dongguk University, Goyang 10326, Korea
- Channelopathy Research Center (CRC), Dongguk University College of Medicine, Goyang 10326, Korea
| | - Joo Hyun Nam
- Department of Physiology, Dongguk University College of Medicine, Gyeongju 38066, Korea
- Channelopathy Research Center (CRC), Dongguk University College of Medicine, Goyang 10326, Korea
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Novel Identified Circular Transcript of RCAN2, circ-RCAN2, Shows Deviated Expression Pattern in Pig Reperfused Infarcted Myocardium and Hypoxic Porcine Cardiac Progenitor Cells In Vitro. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms22031390. [PMID: 33573240 PMCID: PMC7866528 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22031390] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/23/2020] [Revised: 01/27/2021] [Accepted: 01/28/2021] [Indexed: 01/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Circular RNAs (circRNAs) are crucial in gene regulatory networks and disease development, yet circRNA expression in myocardial infarction (MI) is poorly understood. Here, we harvested myocardium samples from domestic pigs 3 days after closed-chest reperfused MI or sham surgery. Cardiac circRNAs were identified by RNA-sequencing of rRNA-depleted RNA from infarcted and healthy myocardium tissue samples. Bioinformatics analysis was performed using the CIRIfull and KNIFE algorithms, and circRNAs identified with both algorithms were subjected to differential expression (DE) analysis and validation by qPCR. Circ-RCAN2 and circ-C12orf29 expressions were significantly downregulated in infarcted tissue compared to healthy pig heart. Sanger sequencing was performed to identify the backsplice junctions of circular transcripts. Finally, we compared the expressions of circ-C12orf29 and circ-RCAN2 between porcine cardiac progenitor cells (pCPCs) that were incubated in a hypoxia chamber for different time periods versus normoxic pCPCs. Circ-C12orf29 did not show significant DE in vitro, whereas circ-RCAN2 exhibited significant ischemia-time-dependent upregulation in hypoxic pCPCs. Overall, our results revealed novel cardiac circRNAs with DE patterns in pCPCs, and in infarcted and healthy myocardium. Circ-RCAN2 exhibited differential regulation by myocardial infarction in vivo and by hypoxia in vitro. These results will improve our understanding of circRNA regulation during acute MI.
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Wardaszka P, Soczewka P, Sienko M, Zoladek T, Kaminska J. Partial Inhibition of Calcineurin Activity by Rcn2 as a Potential Remedy for Vps13 Deficiency. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms22031193. [PMID: 33530471 PMCID: PMC7865597 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22031193] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/07/2020] [Revised: 01/21/2021] [Accepted: 01/22/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Regulation of calcineurin, a Ca2+/calmodulin-regulated phosphatase, is important for the nervous system, and its abnormal activity is associated with various pathologies, including neurodegenerative disorders. In yeast cells lacking the VPS13 gene (vps13Δ), a model of VPS13-linked neurological diseases, we recently demonstrated that calcineurin is activated, and its downregulation reduces the negative effects associated with vps13Δ mutation. Here, we show that overexpression of the RCN2 gene, which encodes a negative regulator of calcineurin, is beneficial for vps13Δ cells. We studied the molecular mechanism underlying this effect through site-directed mutagenesis of RCN2. The interaction of the resulting Rcn2 variants with a MAPK kinase, Slt2, and subunits of calcineurin was tested. We show that Rcn2 binds preferentially to Cmp2, one of two alternative catalytic subunits of calcineurin, and partially inhibits calcineurin. Rcn2 ability to bind to and reduce the activity of calcineurin was important for the suppression. The binding of Rcn2 to Cmp2 requires two motifs in Rcn2: the previously characterized C-terminal motif and a new N-terminal motif that was discovered in this study. Altogether, our findings can help to better understand calcineurin regulation and to develop new therapeutic strategies against neurodegenerative diseases based on modulation of the activity of selected calcineurin isoforms.
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