Circ_FOXP1 promotes the growth and survival of high glucose-treated human trophoblast cells through the regulation of miR-508-3p/SMAD family member 2 pathway

Bone marrow mesenchymal stem cell-derived exosomal miR-221-3p promotes angiogenesis and wound healing in diabetes via the downregulation of forkhead box P1

AIM

Impaired wound healing in patients with diabetes can develop into nonhealing ulcerations. Because bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) exosomes can promote wound healing, this study aims to investigate the mechanism of BMSCs-isolated exosomal miR-221-3p in angiogenesis and diabetic wound healing.

METHODS

To mimic diabetes in vitro, human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) were subjected to high glucose (HG). Exosomes were derived from BMSCs and identified by transmission electron microscopy (TEM), western blot analysis and dynamic light scattering (DLS). The ability to differentiate BMSCs was assessed via Oil red O staining, alkaline phosphatase (ALP) staining and alizarin red staining. The ability to internalise PKH26-labelled exosomes was assessed using confocal microscopy. Migration, cell viability and angiogenesis were tested by scratch, MTT and tube formation assays separately. The miRNA and protein levels were analysed by quantitative reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) or western blotting. The relationship among miR-221-3p, FOXP1 and SPRY1 was determined using the dual-luciferase reporter, ChIP and RIP assays.

RESULTS

Exosomal miR-221-3p was successfully isolated from BMSCs and delivered into HUVECs. HG was found to suppress the angiogenesis, cell viability and migration of HUVECs and exosomal miR-221-3p separated from BMSCs inhibited the above phenomenon. FOXP1 could transcriptionally upregulate SPRY1, and the silencing of FOXP1 reversed the HG-stimulated angiogenesis inhibition, cell viability and migration in HUVECs via the downregulation of SPRY1. Meanwhile, miR-221-3p directly targeted FOXP1 and the overexpression of FOXP1 reversed the positive effect of exosomal miR-221-3p on HUVEC angiogenesis.

CONCLUSION

Exosomal miR-221-3p isolated from BMSCs promoted angiogenesis in diabetic wounds through the mediation of the FOXP1/SPRY1 axis. Furthermore, the findings of this study can provide new insights into probing strategies against diabetes.

Hsa_circ_0006260 Mediates Trophoblast Function by Fibronectin Type III Domains Containing Protein 5 via Interacting with miR-770-5p

A series of studies have confirmed the relationship between circular RNAs (circRNAs) and metabolic diseases. Hsa_circ_0006260 has been reported to be lowly expressed in the placenta of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) patients, but the underlying mechanism and its biological functions remain obscure. Placental tissues were collected from 37 pregnant women with normal glucose tolerance (NGT) and 37 pregnant women with GDM. Expression changes of hsa_circ_0006260 in placentas and high glucose (HG)-stimulated HTR-8/SVneo cells were detected using real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction. Cell viability and migration were determined by cell counting and transwell assays, respectively. Measurement of cytokines was done by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Cell apoptosis was estimated by flow cytometry assay. The molecular mechanisms were identified using dual-luciferase reporter and RNA-binding protein immunoprecipitation assays. Hsa_circ_0006260 expression was remarkably lowered in GDM patient-derived placentas and HG-stimulated HTR-8/SVneo cells. Functionally, hsa_circ_0006260 overexpression weakened HG-mediated repression of HTR-8/SVneo cell viability and migration, as well as promotion of HTR-8/SVneo cell inflammatory response and apoptosis. Mechanistically, hsa_circ_0006260 functioned as a miR-770-5p decoy to mediate fibronectin type III domains containing protein 5 (FNDC5) expression. Ectopic expression of miR-770-5p weakened hsa_circ_0006260 overexpression-mediated repression of HG-induced HTR-8/SVneo cell dysfunction. Also, FNDC5 knockdown lessened miR-770-5p overexpression-mediated promotion of HG-induced HTR-8/SVneo cell dysfunction. Our findings manifested a novel mechanism by which hsa_circ_0006260 could lower HG-induced HTR-8/SVneo cell dysfunction by upregulating FNDC5 via binding to miR-770-5p, which shed new light on circRNA mediated GDM pathogenesis.

The role of ncRNA regulatory mechanisms in diseases-case on gestational diabetes

Non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) are a class of RNA molecules that do not have the potential to encode proteins. Meanwhile, they can occupy a significant portion of the human genome and participate in gene expression regulation through various mechanisms. Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is a pathologic condition of carbohydrate intolerance that begins or is first detected during pregnancy, making it one of the most common pregnancy complications. Although the exact pathogenesis of GDM remains unclear, several recent studies have shown that ncRNAs play a crucial regulatory role in GDM. Herein, we present a comprehensive review on the multiple mechanisms of ncRNAs in GDM along with their potential role as biomarkers. In addition, we investigate the contribution of deep learning-based models in discovering disease-specific ncRNA biomarkers and elucidate the underlying mechanisms of ncRNA. This might assist community-wide efforts to obtain insights into the regulatory mechanisms of ncRNAs in disease and guide a novel approach for early diagnosis and treatment of disease.

Circular RNA SESN2 aggravates gestational trophoblast cell damage induced by high glucose by binding to IGF2BP2

Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is a common disease in pregnant women that threatens maternal and fetal health. Circular RNAs (circRNAs) have been considered potential diagnostic markers for GDM and affect trophoblast cell phenotypes. This study aimed to explore the effect of circSESN2 on high glucose (HG)-treated trophoblast cells. Peripheral blood and placental tissues were taken from patients with GDM, in which circSESN2 and IGF2BP2 levels were detected by quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction and/or western blot. HTR-8/SVneo cells were treated with 25 mM glucose and transduced with circSESN2 or IGF2BP2 knockdown vectors. HTR-8/SVneo cell viability was evaluated by MTT assay, cell migration by scratch test, and cell invasion by transwell assay, IL-1β, IL-6, TNF-α, malondialdehyde, and superoxide dismutase levels by ELISA or kits, and reactive oxygen species levels by DCFH-DA probes. The binding between circSESN2 and IGF2BP2 was verified by RNA pulldown and RIP assays. CircSESN2 and IGF2BP2 were overexpressed in GDM patients. Suppressing circSESN2 or IGF2BP2 increased HTR-8/SVneo cell invasion and migration, decreased cell apoptosis, and reduced pro-inflammatory cytokine release and oxidative stress injury. CircSESN2 bound IGF2BP2 and IGF2BP2 overexpression accelerated HG-induced HTR-8/SVneo cell damage despite circSESN2 knockdown. Collectively, circSESN2 exacerbated HG-induced trophoblast cell damage by binding IGF2BP2 and upregulating its protein expression.

Hyperglycemia disturbs trophoblast functions and subsequently leads to failure of uterine spiral artery remodeling

Uterine spiral artery remodeling is necessary for fetal growth and development as well as pregnancy outcomes. During remodeling, trophoblasts invade the arteries, replace the endothelium and disrupt the vascular smooth muscle, and are strictly regulated by the local microenvironment. Elevated glucose levels at the fetal-maternal interface are associated with disorganized placental villi and poor placental blood flow. Hyperglycemia disturbs trophoblast proliferation and invasion via inhibiting the epithelial-mesenchymal transition, altering the protein expression of related proteases (MMP9, MMP2, and uPA) and angiogenic factors (VEGF, PIGF). Besides, hyperglycemia influences the cellular crosstalk between immune cells, trophoblast, and vascular cells, leading to the failure of spiral artery remodeling. This review provides insight into molecular mechanisms and signaling pathways of hyperglycemia that influence trophoblast functions and uterine spiral artery remodeling.

Xiaotangzhike Pill Attenuates the Progression of Diabetes In Vivo through the Mediation of the Akt/GSK-3β Axis

Background

Diabetes seriously threatens the health of people. Traditional Chinese medicine has been proven to inhibit the progression of diabetes. Meanwhile, the Xiaotangzhike pill (XTZK) was known to alleviate the symptom of diabetes. Thus, this research decided to investigate the mechanism underlying the impact of XTZK in diabetes remains unexplored.

Methods

To assess the impact of XTZK in diabetes, in vivo model of diabetes was constructed. The contents of total cholesterol (TC), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), triglyceride (TG), and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) in the rats were tested by the commercial kits. In addition, Masson and hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) staining were applied for assessing the histological changes and fibrosis in the rats, respectively. Furthermore, a western blot was applied to assess the protein levels.

Results

Streptozotocin (STZ) significantly increased the levels of area under the curve (AUC), TG, TC, LDL-C, and decreased the contents of HDL-C in rats, while these phenomena were partially reversed by XTZK. In addition, STZ notably induced inflammatory infiltration and fibrosis in the liver tissues of rats, which was greatly restored by XTZK. The levels of aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), and malondialdehyde (MDA) in the serum of rats were notably upregulated by STZ, while the effect of STZ was markedly abolished by XTZK. Meanwhile, STZ-caused the upregulation of p-Smad2 and α-SMA in rats was restored by XTZK. Furthermore, XTZK notably inhibited the progression of Qi and Yin deficiency syndrome in diabetes through the mediation of the Akt/GSK-3β axis.

Conclusion

The Xiaotangzhike pill attenuates the progression of diabetes through the mediation of the Akt/GSK-3β axis. Hence, our study might supply a novel insight into discovering new strategies against diabetes.