Small interfering RNA-induced silencing lncRNA PVT1 inhibits atherosclerosis via inactivating the MAPK/NF-κB pathway

Two sides of the same coin: Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease and atherosclerosis

The prevalence of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and atherosclerosis remain high, which is primarily due to widespread adoption of a western diet and sedentary lifestyle. NAFLD, together with advanced forms of this disease such as non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) and cirrhosis, are closely associated with atherosclerotic-cardiovascular disease (ASCVD). In this review, we discussed the association between NAFLD and atherosclerosis and expounded on the common molecular biomarkers underpinning the pathogenesis of both NAFLD and atherosclerosis. Furthermore, we have summarized the mode of function and potential clinical utility of existing drugs in the context of these diseases.

Roles of lncRNAs in NF-κB-Mediated Macrophage Inflammation and Their Implications in the Pathogenesis of Human Diseases

Over the past century, molecular biology's focus has transitioned from proteins to DNA, and now to RNA. Once considered merely a genetic information carrier, RNA is now recognized as both a vital element in early cellular life and a regulator in complex organisms. Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs), which are over 200 bases long but do not code for proteins, play roles in gene expression regulation and signal transduction by inducing epigenetic changes or interacting with various proteins and RNAs. These interactions exhibit a range of functions in various cell types, including macrophages. Notably, some macrophage lncRNAs influence the activation of NF-κB, a crucial transcription factor governing immune and inflammatory responses. Macrophage NF-κB is instrumental in the progression of various pathological conditions including sepsis, atherosclerosis, cancer, autoimmune disorders, and hypersensitivity. It orchestrates gene expression related to immune responses, inflammation, cell survival, and proliferation. Consequently, its malfunction is a key contributor to the onset and development of these diseases. This review aims to summarize the function of lncRNAs in regulating NF-κB activity in macrophage activation and inflammation, with a particular emphasis on their relevance to human diseases and their potential as therapeutic targets. The insights gained from studies on macrophage lncRNAs, as discussed in this review, could provide valuable knowledge for the development of treatments for various pathological conditions involving macrophages.

Mussel oil is superior to fish oil in preventing atherosclerosis of ApoE-/- mice

Objectives

The present study aimed to explore the preventive effect of mussel oil (MO) on atherosclerosis and the potential mechanism in apolipoprotein E-null (ApoE-/-) mice.

Methods

ApoE-/- mice were fed with a high-fat and high-cholesterol chow and given corn oil (CO), fish oil (FO), MO, or aspirin (ASP, dissolved in CO) by gavage for 12  weeks. The total n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) in MO (51.01%) and FO (46.82%) were comparable (mainly C22:6n-3 and C20:5n-3). Wild-type mice were fed with a normal chow and given equivalent CO as health control (CON).

Results

Compared with the CON group, obvious atherosclerotic plaque appeared at aorta and aortic sinus in the CO group. Compared with the CO group, MO but not FO had a significantly smaller atherosclerotic plaque area in the aorta. The aortic atherosclerotic plaque area was comparable in the MO, CON, and ASP groups. The MO group had a significantly smaller atherosclerotic plaque area, lower lipid deposition, lower contents of smooth muscle cell (SMC), and slightly lower contents of macrophage at the aortic sinus than the FO group. Serum concentrations of IL-1β, NF-κB, and VCAM-1 were comparable in the MO and FO groups and were significantly lower than the CO group. Compared with the CO group, the MO group but not FO group had significantly lower aortic protein levels of p65NF-κB, p38MAPK, and VCAM-1. The aortic protein levels of p-p65NF-κB and p-p38MAPK were significantly lower in the MO group than the FO group.

Conclusion

In conclusion, MO is more potent than FO in preventing atherosclerosis, and the possible mechanism may be by downregulating p38MAPK/NF-κB signaling pathway, decreasing VCAM-1 and macrophage, and inhibiting proliferation and migration of SMC.

lncRNA HOTAIRM1 Activated by HOXA4 Drives HUVEC Proliferation Through Direct Interaction with Protein Partner HSPA5

Despite the substantial progress in deciphering the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis (AS), cardiovascular mortality is still increasing. Therefore, atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease remains a sweeping epidemic that jeopardizes human health. Disentangling the molecular underpinnings of AS is imperative in the molecular cardiology field. Overwhelming evidence has indicated that the recognition of a fascinating class of players, known as long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs), provides causality for coordinating AS. However, the function and mechanism of HOTAIRM1 are still poorly understood in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) and AS. Herein, we primarily underscored that lncRNA HOTAIRM1 is potentially responsible for AS; as such, it was dramatically up-regulated in HUVECs upon ox-LDL stimulation. Functionally, HOTAIRM1 knockdown attenuated HUVEC proliferation and potentiated apoptosis in the absence and presence of ox-LDL. Furthermore, HOTAIRM1 was preferentially located in the nuclei of HUVECs. Mechanistically, HOXA4 is directly bound to the HOTAIRM1 promoter and activated its transcription. Of note, a positive feedback signaling between HOXA4 and HOTAIRM1 was determined. Intriguingly, the interplay between HOTAIRM1 and HSPA5 occurred in an RNA-binding protein pattern and a transcription-dependent regulatory manner. In addition, HSPA5 overexpression partially antagonized HUVEC proliferation inhibition of HOTAIRM1 depletion. Taken together, our findings delineate a pivotal functional interaction among HOXA4, HOTAIRM1, and HSPA5 as a novel regulatory circuit for modulating HUVEC proliferation. An in-depth investigation of the HOXA4-HOTAIRM1-HSPA5 axis promises to yield significant breakthroughs in identifying the molecular mechanisms governing AS and developing therapeutic avenues for AS.

Probing the links: Long non-coding RNAs and NF-κB signalling in atherosclerosis

Atherosclerosis is a chronic inflammatory disease that involves the accumulation of lipids and immune cells in the arterial wall. NF-kB signaling is a key regulator of inflammation and is known to play a critical role in atherosclerosis. Recent studies have shown that lncRNAs can regulate NF-kB and contribute to the development and progression of atherosclerosis. Preliminary findings reveal significant alterations in the expression of specific lncRNAs in atherosclerotic lesions compared to healthy arterial tissue. Experimental evidence suggests that these dysregulated lncRNAs can influence the NF-kB pathway. By unravelling the crosstalk between lncRNAs and NF-kB signaling, this review aims to enhance our understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying atherosclerosis. Identifying novel therapeutic targets and diagnostic markers may lead to developing interventions and management strategies for this prevalent cardiovascular disease. This review summarizes the current knowledge on the role of lncRNAs in NF-kB signaling in atherosclerosis and highlights their potential as therapeutic targets for this disease.

Plasmacytoma Variant Translocation 1 (PVT1) Gene as a Potential Novel Target for the Treatment of Diabetic Nephropathy

Introduction: Diabetic nephropathy (DN), a severe microvascular complication in patients with diabetes, is clinically characterized by progressive decline in glomerular filtration rate (GFR). DN is the most common cause of end-stage renal disease (ESRD), and has a consistently high mortality rate. Despite the fact that the prevalence of DN is increasing worldwide, the molecular mechanism underlying the pathogenesis of DN is not fully understood. Previous studies indicated PVT1 as a key determinant of ESRD as well as a mediator of extracellular matrix (ECM) accumulation in vitro. More investigations into the role of PVT1 in DN development are needed. Objectives: To study the effect of PVT1 silencing on progression of DN in diabetic male C57BL/6 mice at early, intermediate and relatively advanced ages. Methods: Diabetic mice were treated with either scramble-siRNA (DM + siRNA (scramble)) or PVT1-siRNA (DM + siRNA (PVT1)), whereas the control mice were normal mice without siRNA injection (Control). Blood, urine and kidney were collected at the age of 9 (young), 16 (middle-aged) or 24 (old) weeks old. Kidney function, histology and molecular gene expression were evaluated. Results: Our findings showed that silencing of PVT1 reduced kidney hypertrophy, proteinuria (UAE, UACR, UPE, UPCR), serum creatinine, serum TGF-β1, serum insulin decline, glomerular and mesangial areas, and increased creatinine clearance in diabetic mice to levels closer to the age-matched controls. Also, silencing of PVT1 markedly suppressed the upregulation of PAI-1, TGF-β1, FN1, COL4A1, and downregulation of BMP7. Conclusion: Silencing of PVT1 ameliorates DN in terms of kidney function and histology in diabetic mice. The renoprotection is attributed to the reduction in ECM accumulation, TGF-β1 elevation and insulin decline. PVT1 is suggested to play an important role in ECM accumulation which makes it a possible target for the treatment of DN.

Decoding the Mechanism of Shixiao Powder in Treating Coronary Heart Disease Based on Network Pharmacology and Molecular Docking

Shixiao powder comes from the Formularies of the Bureau of People's Welfare Pharmacies in the Song Dynasty and consists of two herbs, Puhuang (PH) and Wulingzhi (WLZ). PH-WLZ is a commonly used drug pair for the treatment of coronary heart disease (CHD), and its clinical effect is remarkable. However, our understanding of the mechanism of treatment of CHD is still unclear. In this study, the method of network pharmacology was used to explore the mechanism of PH-WLZ in the treatment of CHD. A total of 56 active ingredients were identified from PH-WLZ, of which 93 targets of 41 active ingredients overlapped with those of CHD. By performing Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) enrichment analysis, we obtained the main pathways associated with CHD and those associated with the mechanism of PH-WLZ in the treatment of CHD. By constructing the protein-protein interaction (PPI) network of common targets, 10 hub genes were identified. Based on the number of hub genes contained in the enrichment analysis, we obtained the key pathways of PH-WLZ in the treatment of CHD. The key KEGG pathway in the treatment of CHD by PH-WLZ is mainly enriched in atherosclerosis, inflammation, immunity, oxidative stress, and infection-related pathways. Moreover, the results of molecular docking showed that the active ingredients of PH-WLZ had a good affinity with the hub genes. The results indicate that the mechanism of PH-WLZ in the treatment of CHD may be related to regulation of lipid metabolism, regulation of immune and inflammatory responses, regulation of downstream genes of fluid shear stress, antiaging and oxidative stress, and virus inhibition.

Evaluating the Role of lncRNAs in the Incidence of Cardiovascular Diseases in Androgenetic Alopecia Patients

Hair loss occurs in patients with Androgenetic Alopecia (AGA). The pattern of hair loss is different between men and women. The main cause of hair loss is increased cell apoptosis and decreased regeneration, proliferation and differentiation processes in hair follicles. Long Non-Coding RNAs (lncRNAs) are one of the most important molecules that regulate the processes of apoptosis, regeneration, proliferation and differentiation in hair follicles. Since studies have shown that lncRNAs can be effective in the development of cardiotoxicity and induction of cardiovascular disease (CVD); so effective lncRNAs in the regulation of regeneration, proliferation, differentiation and apoptosis of hair follicles can be involved in the development of CVD in AGA patients with. Therefore, this study investigated the lncRNAs involved in increasing apoptosis and reducing the processes of regeneration, proliferation and differentiation of hair follicles. The aim of the current study was to evaluate the role of lncRNAs as a risk factor in the incidence of CVD in AGA patients; it will help to design treatment strategies by targeting signaling pathways without any cardiotoxicity complications.

Non-coding RNAs Regulate the Pathogenesis of Aortic Dissection

Aortic dissection (AD) is a fatal cardiovascular disease. It is caused by a rupture of the aortic intima or bleeding of the aortic wall that leads to the separation of different aortic wall layers. Patients with untreated AD have a mortality rate of 1–2% per hour after symptom onset. Therefore, effective biomarkers and therapeutic targets are needed to reduce AD-associated mortality. With the development of molecular technology, researchers have begun to explore the pathogenesis of AD at gene and protein levels, and have made some progress, but the pathogenesis of AD remains unclear. Non-coding RNAs, such as microRNAs, lncRNAs, and circRNAs, have been identified as basic regulators of gene expression and are found to play a key role in the pathogenesis of AD. Thus, providing a theoretical basis for developing these non-coding RNAs as clinical biomarkers and new therapeutic targets for AD in the future. Previous studies on the pathogenesis of AD focused on miRNAs, but recently, there have been an increasing number of studies that explore the role of lncRNAs, and circRNAs in AD. This review summarizes the existing knowledge on the roles of various non-coding RNAs in the pathogenesis of AD, discusses their potential role as clinical biomarkers and therapeutic targets, states the limitations of existing evidence, and recommends future avenues of research on the pathogenesis of AD.

Long Non-Coding RNAs Might Regulate Phenotypic Switch of Vascular Smooth Muscle Cells Acting as ceRNA: Implications for In-Stent Restenosis

Coronary in-stent restenosis is a late complication of angioplasty. It is a multifactorial process that involves vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs), endothelial cells, and inflammatory and genetic factors. In this study, the transcriptomic landscape of VSMCs’ phenotypic switch process was assessed under stimuli resembling stent injury. Co-cultured contractile VSMCs and endothelial cells were exposed to a bare metal stent and platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF-BB) 20 ng/mL. Migratory capacity (wound healing assay), proliferative capacity, and cell cycle analysis of the VSMCs were performed. RNAseq analysis of contractile vs. proliferative VSMCs was performed. Gene differential expression (DE), identification of new long non-coding RNA candidates (lncRNAs), gene ontology (GO), and pathway enrichment (KEGG) were analyzed. A competing endogenous RNA network was constructed, and significant lncRNA–miRNA–mRNA axes were selected. VSMCs exposed to “stent injury” conditions showed morphologic changes, with proliferative and migratory capacities progressing from G0-G1 cell cycle phase to S and G2-M. RNAseq analysis showed DE of 1099, 509 and 64 differentially expressed mRNAs, lncRNAs, and miRNAs, respectively. GO analysis of DE genes showed significant enrichment in collagen and extracellular matrix organization, regulation of smooth muscle cell proliferation, and collagen biosynthetic process. The main upregulated nodes in the lncRNA-mediated ceRNA network were PVT1 and HIF1-AS2, with downregulation of ACTA2-AS1 and MIR663AHG. The PVT1 ceRNA axis appears to be an attractive target for in-stent restenosis diagnosis and treatment.