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He YZG, Wang YX, Ma JS, Li RN, Wang J, Lian TY, Zhou YP, Yang HP, Sun K, Jing ZC. MicroRNAs and their regulators: Potential therapeutic targets in pulmonary arterial hypertension. Vascul Pharmacol 2023; 153:107216. [PMID: 37699495 DOI: 10.1016/j.vph.2023.107216] [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: 12/31/2022] [Revised: 08/26/2023] [Accepted: 09/03/2023] [Indexed: 09/14/2023]
Abstract
Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is a complex and progressive disease characterized by pulmonary arterial remodeling. Despite that current combination therapy has shown improvement in morbidity and mortality, a better deciphering of the underlying pathological mechanisms and novel therapeutic targets is urgently needed to combat PAH. MicroRNA, the critical element in post-transcription mechanisms, mediates cellular functions mainly by tuning downstream target gene expression. Meanwhile, upstream regulators can regulate miRNAs in synthesis, transcription, and function. In vivo and in vitro studies have suggested that miRNAs and their regulators are involved in PAH. However, the miRNA-related regulatory mechanisms governing pulmonary vascular remodeling and right ventricular dysfunction remain elusive. Hence, this review summarized the controversial roles of miRNAs in PAH pathogenesis, focused on different miRNA-upstream regulators, including transcription factors, regulatory networks, and environmental stimuli, and finally proposed the prospects and challenges for the therapeutic application of miRNAs and their regulators in PAH treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yang-Zhi-Ge He
- Center for bioinformatics, National Infrastructures for Translational Medicine, Institute of Clinical Medicine & Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Beijing 100730, China
| | - Yi-Xuan Wang
- Laboratory Department of Qingzhou People's Hospital, Qingzhou 262500, Shandong, China
| | - Jing-Si Ma
- Department of School of Pharmacy, Henan University, Kaifeng 475100, Henan, China
| | - Ruo-Nan Li
- Department of School of Pharmacy, Henan University, Kaifeng 475100, Henan, China
| | - Jia Wang
- Department of Medical Laboratory, Weifang Medical University, Weifang 261053, Shandong, China
| | - Tian-Yu Lian
- Medical Science Research Center, State Key Laboratory of Complex, Severe and Rare Diseases, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Beijing 100730, China
| | - Yu-Ping Zhou
- Department of Cardiology, State Key Laboratory of Complex, Severe and Rare Diseases, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Beijing 100730, China
| | - Hao-Pu Yang
- Tsinghua University School of Medicine, Beijing 100084, China
| | - Kai Sun
- Medical Science Research Center, State Key Laboratory of Complex, Severe and Rare Diseases, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Beijing 100730, China.
| | - Zhi-Cheng Jing
- Department of Cardiology, State Key Laboratory of Complex, Severe and Rare Diseases, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Beijing 100730, China.
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Zang H, Zhang Q, Li X. Non-Coding RNA Networks in Pulmonary Hypertension. Front Genet 2021; 12:703860. [PMID: 34917122 PMCID: PMC8669616 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2021.703860] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/30/2021] [Accepted: 11/08/2021] [Indexed: 01/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) are involved in various cellular processes. There are several ncRNA classes, including microRNAs (miRNAs), long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs), and circular RNAs (circRNAs). The detailed roles of these molecules in pulmonary hypertension (PH) remain unclear. We systematically collected and reviewed reports describing the functions of ncRNAs (miRNAs, lncRNAs, and circRNAs) in PH through database retrieval and manual literature reading. The characteristics of identified articles, especially the experimental methods, were carefully reviewed. Furthermore, regulatory networks were constructed using ncRNAs and their interacting RNAs or genes. These data were extracted from studies on pulmonary arterial smooth muscle cells, pulmonary artery endothelial cells, and pulmonary artery fibroblasts. We included 14 lncRNAs, 1 circRNA, 74 miRNAs, and 110 mRNAs in the constructed networks. Using these networks, herein, we describe the current knowledge on the role of ncRNAs in PH. Moreover, these networks actively provide an improved understanding of the roles of ncRNAs in PH. The results of this study are crucial for the clinical application of ncRNAs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hongbin Zang
- Department of Cardiology, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, China
| | - Qiongyu Zhang
- Department of Neurology, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, China
| | - Xiaodong Li
- Department of Cardiology, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, China
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Cho JS, Lee J, Park KC, Yang KJ, Cho EJ. The relationship between miRNA-26b and connective tissue growth factor in rat models of aortic banding and debanding. Korean J Intern Med 2021; 36:596-607. [PMID: 31875666 PMCID: PMC8137408 DOI: 10.3904/kjim.2019.120] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/05/2019] [Accepted: 07/23/2019] [Indexed: 11/27/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND/AIMS Connective tissue growth factor (CTGF) is a profibrotic factor implicated in pressure overload-mediated myocardial fibrosis. In this study, we determined the role of predicted CTGF-targeting microRNAs (miRNAs) in rat models of aortic stenosis and reverse cardiac remodeling. METHODS Minimally invasive ascending aortic banding was performed in 24 7-week-old male Sprague-Dawley rats, which were divided into three groups. The banding group consisted of eight rats that were sacrificed immediately after 6 weeks of aortic constriction. The debanding group underwent aortic constriction for 4 weeks and was sacrificed 2 weeks after band removal. The third group underwent sham surgery. We investigated the expression of CTGF, transforming growth factor-β1 (TGFβ1), and matrix metalloproteinase-2 using ELISA and examined miRNA-26b, miRNA-133a, and miRNA-19b as predicted CTGF-targeting miRNAs based on miRNA databases in 24-hour TGFβ-stimulated and TGFβ- washed fibroblasts and myocardial tissues from all subjects. RESULTS CTGF was elevated in 24-hour TGFβ-stimulated fibroblasts and decreased in 24-hour TGFβ-washed fibroblasts. miRNA-26b was significantly increased in TGFβ-washed fibroblasts compared with control and TGFβ-stimulated fibroblasts (p < 0.05). CTGF expression was significantly higher in the banding group than that in the sham and debanding groups. The relative expression levels of miRNA-26b were higher in the debanding group than in the banding group. CONCLUSION The results of our study using models of aortic banding and debanding suggested that miRNA-26b was significantly increased after aortic debanding. The in vitro model yielded the same results: miRNA-26b was upregulated after removal of TGFβ from fibroblasts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jung Sun Cho
- Division of Cardiology, Department of Internal Medicine, Daejeon St. Mary’s Hospital, The Catholic University of Korea, Daejeon, Korea
| | - Jongho Lee
- Department of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, Daejeon St. Mary’s Hospital, The Catholic University of Korea, Daejeon, Korea
| | - Ki Cheol Park
- Clinical Research Institute, College of Medicine, Daejeon St. Mary’s Hospital, The Catholic University of Korea, Daejeon, Korea
| | - Keum-Jin Yang
- Clinical Research Institute, College of Medicine, Daejeon St. Mary’s Hospital, The Catholic University of Korea, Daejeon, Korea
| | - Eun Joo Cho
- Division of Cardiology, Department of Internal Medicine, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, Korea
- Correspondence to Eun Joo Cho, M.D. Division of Cardiology, Department of Internal Medicine, College of Medicine, Yeouido St. Mary’s Hospital, The Catholic University of Korea, 10 63-ro, Yeongdeungpo-gu, Seoul 07345, Korea Tel: +82-2-3779-1335 Fax: +82-2-780-9114 E-mail:
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Wang J, Hu L, Huang H, Yu Y, Wang J, Yu Y, Li K, Li Y, Tian T, Chen F. CAR (CARSKNKDC) Peptide Modified ReNcell-Derived Extracellular Vesicles as a Novel Therapeutic Agent for Targeted Pulmonary Hypertension Therapy. Hypertension 2020; 76:1147-1160. [DOI: 10.1161/hypertensionaha.120.15554] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
In recent years, mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs)–derived extracellular vesicles (EVs) are emerging as a potential therapeutic agent for pulmonary hypertension (PH). However, the full realization of MSCs-derived EVs therapy has been hampered by the absence of standardization in MSCs culture and the challenges of industrial scale-up. The study was to exploit an alternative replacement for MSCs using currently commercialized stem cell lines for effective targeted PH therapy. ReNcell VM—a human neural stem cell line—has been utilized here as a reliable and easily adoptable source of EVs. We first demonstrated that ReNcell-derived EVs (ReNcell-EVs) pretreatment effectively prevented Su/Hx (SU5416/hypoxia)-induced PH in mice. Then for targeted therapy, we conjugated ReNcell-EVs with CAR (CARSKNKDC) peptide (CAR-EVs)—a peptide identified to specifically target hypertensive pulmonary arteries, by bio-orthogonal chemistry. Intravenous administration of CAR-EVs selectively targeted hypertensive pulmonary artery lesions especially pulmonary artery smooth muscle cells. Moreover, compared with unmodified ReNcell-EVs, CAR-EVs treatment significantly improved therapeutic effect in reversing Su/Hx-induced PH in mice. Mechanistically, ReNcell-EVs inhibited hypoxia-induced proliferation, migration, and phenotype switch of pulmonary artery smooth muscle cells, at least in part, via the delivery of its endogenous highly expressed miRNAs, let-7b-5p, miR-92b-3p, and miR-100-5p. In addition, we also found that ReNcell-EVs inhibited hypoxia-induced cell apoptosis and endothelial-mesenchymal transition in human microvascular endothelial cells. Taken together, our results provide an alternative to MSCs-derived EVs–based PH therapy via using ReNcell as a reliable source of EVs. Particularly, our CAR-conjugated EVs may serve as a novel drug carrier that enhances the specificity and efficiency of drug delivery for effective PH-targeted therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jie Wang
- From the Department of Forensic Medicine (Jie Wang, L.H., H.H., Yanfang Yu, Youjia Yu, K.L., Y.L., F.C.), Nanjing Medical University, Jiangsu, China
| | - Li Hu
- From the Department of Forensic Medicine (Jie Wang, L.H., H.H., Yanfang Yu, Youjia Yu, K.L., Y.L., F.C.), Nanjing Medical University, Jiangsu, China
| | - Huijie Huang
- From the Department of Forensic Medicine (Jie Wang, L.H., H.H., Yanfang Yu, Youjia Yu, K.L., Y.L., F.C.), Nanjing Medical University, Jiangsu, China
| | - Yanfang Yu
- From the Department of Forensic Medicine (Jie Wang, L.H., H.H., Yanfang Yu, Youjia Yu, K.L., Y.L., F.C.), Nanjing Medical University, Jiangsu, China
| | - Jingshen Wang
- Department of Neurobiology, Key Laboratory of Human Functional Genomics of Jiangsu (Jingshen Wang, T.T.), Nanjing Medical University, Jiangsu, China
| | - Youjia Yu
- From the Department of Forensic Medicine (Jie Wang, L.H., H.H., Yanfang Yu, Youjia Yu, K.L., Y.L., F.C.), Nanjing Medical University, Jiangsu, China
| | - Kai Li
- From the Department of Forensic Medicine (Jie Wang, L.H., H.H., Yanfang Yu, Youjia Yu, K.L., Y.L., F.C.), Nanjing Medical University, Jiangsu, China
| | - Yan Li
- From the Department of Forensic Medicine (Jie Wang, L.H., H.H., Yanfang Yu, Youjia Yu, K.L., Y.L., F.C.), Nanjing Medical University, Jiangsu, China
| | - Tian Tian
- Department of Neurobiology, Key Laboratory of Human Functional Genomics of Jiangsu (Jingshen Wang, T.T.), Nanjing Medical University, Jiangsu, China
| | - Feng Chen
- From the Department of Forensic Medicine (Jie Wang, L.H., H.H., Yanfang Yu, Youjia Yu, K.L., Y.L., F.C.), Nanjing Medical University, Jiangsu, China
- Key Laboratory of Targeted Intervention of Cardiovascular Disease, Collaborative Innovation Center for Cardiovascular Disease Translational Medicine (F.C.), Nanjing Medical University, Jiangsu, China
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Xiao Y, Sun Y, Ma X, Wang C, Zhang L, Wang J, Wang G, Li Z, Tian W, Zhao Z, Jing Q, Zhou J, Jing Z. MicroRNA-22 Inhibits the Apoptosis of Vascular Smooth Muscle Cell by Targeting p38MAPKα in Vascular Remodeling of Aortic Dissection. MOLECULAR THERAPY. NUCLEIC ACIDS 2020; 22:1051-1062. [PMID: 33294292 PMCID: PMC7691156 DOI: 10.1016/j.omtn.2020.08.018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/20/2020] [Accepted: 08/19/2020] [Indexed: 02/03/2023]
Abstract
MicroRNA 22 (miR-22) was found in diverse cardiovascular diseases to have a role in regulating multiple cellular processes. However, the regulatory role of miR-22 in aortic dissection (AD) was still unclear. The miR-22 expression in human aorta was explored. A series of mimic, inhibitor, or small interfering RNA (siRNA) plasmids were delivered into vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) to explore the effects of miR-22 and p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase α (p38MAPKα) in controlling VSMC apoptosis in vitro. In addition, a mouse AD model was established, and histopathologic analyses were performed to evaluate the regulatory effects of miR-22. Reduced miR-22 and increased apoptosis of VSMCs was seen in human AD aorta. Downregulation of miR-22 increased the apoptosis of VSMCs in vitro. Bioinformatics analyses revealed that p38MAPKα was a target of miR-22. Inhibiting p38MAPKα expression could reverse the apoptosis of VSMCs induced by miR-22 downregulation. Knockdown of miR-22 in the AD mouse model significantly promoted the development of AD. Our data underscore the importance of vascular remodeling and VSMC function in AD. miR-22 may represent a new therapeutic approach for AD by regulating the apoptosis of VSMCs through the MAPK signaling pathway.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yu Xiao
- Department of Vascular Surgery, Changhai Hospital, Navy Medical University, Shanghai 200433, China
| | - Yudong Sun
- Department of Vascular Surgery, Changhai Hospital, Navy Medical University, Shanghai 200433, China.,Department of General Surgery, Jinling Hospital, Medical School of Nanjing University, Nanjing, China
| | - Xiang Ma
- Department of Vascular Surgery, Changhai Hospital, Navy Medical University, Shanghai 200433, China
| | - Chen Wang
- Institute of Health Sciences, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine & Shanghai Institutes for Biological Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200025, China
| | - Lei Zhang
- Department of Vascular Surgery, Changhai Hospital, Navy Medical University, Shanghai 200433, China
| | - Jiannan Wang
- Department of Vascular Surgery, Changhai Hospital, Navy Medical University, Shanghai 200433, China
| | - Guokun Wang
- Institution of Cardiac Surgery, Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Changhai Hospital, Navy Medical University, Shanghai, China
| | - Zhenjiang Li
- Department of Vascular Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Medical School of Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Wen Tian
- Department of Vascular Surgery, Changhai Hospital, Navy Medical University, Shanghai 200433, China
| | - Zhiqing Zhao
- Department of Vascular Surgery, Changhai Hospital, Navy Medical University, Shanghai 200433, China
| | - Qing Jing
- Institute of Health Sciences, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine & Shanghai Institutes for Biological Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200025, China
| | - Jian Zhou
- Department of Vascular Surgery, Changhai Hospital, Navy Medical University, Shanghai 200433, China
| | - Zaiping Jing
- Department of Vascular Surgery, Changhai Hospital, Navy Medical University, Shanghai 200433, China
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Zhou S, Zhu K, Du Y, Jiang H, Li M, Wu P, Xu A, Ding X, Sun L, Cao C, Sun G, Wang R. Estrogen administration reduces the risk of pulmonary arterial hypertension by modulating the miR-133a signaling pathways in rats. Gene Ther 2019; 27:113-126. [PMID: 31562386 DOI: 10.1038/s41434-019-0103-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/26/2019] [Revised: 09/11/2019] [Accepted: 09/16/2019] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
We aimed to investigate how estrogen (ES) is implicated in the pathogenesis of pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) potentially by reducing the extent of vascular remodeling in females. HE assay, Western Blot, IHC, and real-time PCR were carried out to observe the role of ES in regulating miR-133a expression and the levels of MYOSLID, SRF, CTGF, and vascular remodeling in rats. In addition, MTT assay and flow cytometry were utilized to observe how ES affects cell proliferation and cell cycle in PAH. Moreover, luciferase assays were carried out to clarity the regulatory relationship between miR-133a and its downstream targets. ES administration relieved the deregulation of miR-133a, MYOSLID, SRF, and CTGF in PAH rats. In addition, ES also reduced the thickening of blood vessels in PAH rats. ES could activate miR-133a promoter and arrest the cells in the G0/G1 cycle, thus dose-dependently suppressing the proliferation of cells. In addition, the presence of ES, MYOSLID siRNA, or miR-133a precursor all altered the expression of MYOSLID, SP1, SRF, and CTGF, thus establishing a molecular signaling pathway among these factors. Furthermore, miR-133a could bind to SP1, MYOSLID, SRF, and CTGF to reduce their expression. Moreover, SRF was proved to function as an activator of miR-133a promoter. Two feedback loops were established in this study: a negative feedback loop between SRF and miR-133a, and a positive loop among miR-133a/SRF/MLK1/MYOSLID. ES treatment upregulates miR-133a expression and reduces the incidence of PAH and vascular remodeling.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sijing Zhou
- Hefei Prevention and Treatment Center for Occupational Diseases, 230022, Hefei, China
| | - Ke Zhu
- Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, 230022, Hefei, China
| | - Yongsheng Du
- Department of General Medicine, Hefei Second People's Hospital, Changjiang East Road, 230022, Hefei, China
| | - Huihui Jiang
- Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, 230022, Hefei, China
| | - Min Li
- Department of Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, 230022, Hefei, China
| | - Peipei Wu
- Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, 230022, Hefei, China
| | - Aiqun Xu
- Department of General Medicine, Hefei Second People's Hospital, Changjiang East Road, 230022, Hefei, China
| | - Xing Ding
- Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, 230022, Hefei, China
| | - Li Sun
- Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, 230022, Hefei, China
| | - Chao Cao
- Department of Respiratory Medicine, Ningbo First Hospital, 315000, Ningbo, China
| | - Gengyun Sun
- Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, 230022, Hefei, China.
| | - Ran Wang
- Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, 230022, Hefei, China.
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Zhou S, Jiang H, Li M, Wu P, Sun L, Liu Y, Zhu K, Zhang B, Sun G, Cao C, Wang R. Circular RNA hsa_circ_0016070 Is Associated with Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension by Promoting PASMC Proliferation. MOLECULAR THERAPY. NUCLEIC ACIDS 2019; 18:275-284. [PMID: 31593832 PMCID: PMC6796681 DOI: 10.1016/j.omtn.2019.08.026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 52] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/28/2019] [Revised: 08/13/2019] [Accepted: 08/29/2019] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Noncoding RNAs play an important role in the pathogenesis of pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH). In this study, we investigated the roles of hsa_circ_0016070, miR-942, and CCND1 in PAH. circRNA microarray was used to search circRNAs involved in PAH, whereas real-time PCR and western blot analysis were performed to detect miR-942 and CCND1 expression in different groups. In addition, the effect of miR-942 on CCND1 expression, as well as the effect of hsa_circ_0016070 on the expression of miR-942 and CCND1, was also studied using real-time PCR and western blot analysis. Moreover, MTT assay and flow cytometry were used to detect the effect of hsa _circ_0016070 on cell proliferation and cell cycle. According to the results of circRNA microarray analysis, hsa _circ_0016070 was identified to be associated with the risk of PAH in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients. The miR-942 level in the COPD(+) PAH(+) group was much lower than that in the COPD(+) PAH(−) group, while the CCND1 level in the COPD(+) PAH(+) group was much higher. CCND1 was identified as a candidate target gene of miR-942, and the luciferase assay showed that the luciferase activity of wild-type CCND1 3′ UTR was inhibited by miR-942 mimics. In addition, hsa _circ_0016070 reduced miR-942 expression and enhanced CCND1 expression. Furthermore, hsa _circ_0016070 evidently increased cell viability and decreased the number of cells arrested in the G1/G0 phase. In summary, the results of this study suggested that hsa_circ_0016070 was associated with vascular remodeling in PAH by promoting the proliferation of pulmonary artery smooth muscle cells (PASMCs) via the miR-942/CCND1. Accordingly, has_circ_0016070 might be used as a novel biomarker in the diagnosis and treatment of PAH.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sijing Zhou
- Hefei Prevention and Treatment Center for Occupational Diseases, Hefei 230022, China
| | - Huihui Jiang
- Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei 230022, China
| | - Min Li
- Department of Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei 230022, China
| | - Peipei Wu
- Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei 230022, China
| | - Li Sun
- Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei 230022, China
| | - Yi Liu
- Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei 230022, China
| | - Ke Zhu
- Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei 230022, China
| | - Binbin Zhang
- Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei 230022, China
| | - Gengyun Sun
- Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei 230022, China.
| | - Chao Cao
- Department of Respiratory Medicine, Ningbo First Hospital, Ningbo 315000, China.
| | - Ran Wang
- Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei 230022, China.
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Jiang L, Cao S. Role of microRNA‐26a in cartilage injury and chondrocyte proliferation and apoptosis in rheumatoid arthritis rats by regulating expression of CTGF. J Cell Physiol 2019; 235:979-992. [PMID: 31267533 DOI: 10.1002/jcp.29013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/11/2018] [Accepted: 04/17/2019] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Liangde Jiang
- Department of Orthopaedics Beijing City Renhe Hospital Beijing China
| | - Shuai Cao
- Department of Orthopaedics Beijing City Renhe Hospital Beijing China
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Miao C, Chang J, Zhang G. Recent research progress of microRNAs in hypertension pathogenesis, with a focus on the roles of miRNAs in pulmonary arterial hypertension. Mol Biol Rep 2018; 45:2883-2896. [DOI: 10.1007/s11033-018-4335-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/16/2018] [Accepted: 08/28/2018] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
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Wang R, Zhou S, Wu P, Li M, Ding X, Sun L, Xu X, Zhou X, Zhou L, Cao C, Fei G. Identifying Involvement of H19-miR-675-3p-IGF1R and H19-miR-200a-PDCD4 in Treating Pulmonary Hypertension with Melatonin. MOLECULAR THERAPY-NUCLEIC ACIDS 2018; 13:44-54. [PMID: 30240970 PMCID: PMC6146608 DOI: 10.1016/j.omtn.2018.08.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/20/2018] [Revised: 08/10/2018] [Accepted: 08/18/2018] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Non-coding RNAs play an important role in the pathogenesis of pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH). The aim of this study was to characterize the therapeutic role of melatonin as well as the underlying molecular mechanism (its effects on the expression of H19 and its downstream signaling pathways) in the treatment of PAH. Real-time PCR and western blot analysis were performed to evaluate the expression of H19, miR-200a, miR-675, insulin-like growth factor-1 receptor (IGF1R), and programmed cell death 4 (PDCD4). The value of systolic pulmonary artery pressure (SPAP) and the ratio of medial thickening in the monocrotaline (MCT) group were increased, whereas the melatonin treatment could decrease these values to some extent. The weights of RV (right ventricle), LV (left ventricle) + IVS (interventricular septal), and RV/(LV + IVS) in the MCT group were much higher than those in the MCT + melatonin and control groups. In addition, the expression of H19, miR-675, IGF1R mRNA, and IGF1R protein in the MCT group was the highest, whereas their expression in the control group was the lowest. The expression of miR-200, PDCD4 mRNA, and PDCD4 protein in the MCT group was the lowest, whereas their expression in the control group was the highest. Furthermore, H19 directly suppressed the expression of miR-200a, whereas miR-675-3p and miR-200a directly inhibited the expression of IGF1R and PDCD4, respectively. Finally, melatonin treatment inhibited cell proliferation; upregulated the expression of H19, miR-675-3p, and PDCD4; and downregulated the expression of miR-200a and IGF1R. This study demonstrated the role of H19-miR-675-3p-IGF1R- and H19-miR-200a-PDCD4-signaling pathways in the melatonin treatment of PAH.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ran Wang
- Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei 230022, China
| | - Sijing Zhou
- Hefei Prevention and Treatment Center for Occupational Diseases, Hefei 230022, China
| | - Peipei Wu
- Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei 230022, China
| | - Min Li
- Department of Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei 230022, China
| | - Xing Ding
- Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei 230022, China
| | - Li Sun
- Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei 230022, China
| | - Xuan Xu
- Division of Pulmonary/Critical Care Medicine, Cedars Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA 90015, USA
| | - Xuexin Zhou
- The First Clinical College of Anhui Medical University, Hefei 230032, China
| | - Luqian Zhou
- The First Clinical College of Anhui Medical University, Hefei 230032, China
| | - Chao Cao
- Department of Respiratory Medicine, Ningbo First Hospital, Ningbo 315000, China.
| | - Guanghe Fei
- Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei 230022, China.
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Zhou S, Liu Y, Li M, Wu P, Sun G, Fei G, Xu X, Zhou X, Zhou L, Wang R. Combined Effects of PVT1 and MiR-146a Single Nucleotide Polymorphism on the Lung Function of Smokers with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease. Int J Biol Sci 2018; 14:1153-1162. [PMID: 30123065 PMCID: PMC6097483 DOI: 10.7150/ijbs.25420] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2018] [Accepted: 06/16/2018] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Non-coding RNAs play an important role in the pathogenesis of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). This study was performed to investigate the role of PVT1 and miR-146a single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the lung function of COPD smokers. Real-time PCR and Western blot analyses were performed to measure the expression of miR-146 and PVT1 SNPs and determine the effect of these SNPs on the pathogenesis of COPD. A total of 100 COPD smokers were enrolled in this study and divided into four groups as follows: Rs2910164CC/GC + Rs13281615GG; Rs2910164CC/GC + Rs13281615GA/AA; Rs2910164GG + Rs13281615GG; and Rs2910164GG + Rs13281615GA/AA. No obvious differences in terms of age, sex, and body height and weight were found among the four groups. However, the Rs2910164GG + Rs13281615GA/AA was associated with the highest stage of the Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease and the highest values of the forced vital capacity, forced expiratory volume, and diffusing capacity of carbon monoxide, while the lowest values of these parameters were observed in the Rs2910164CC/GC + Rs13281615GG group. In addition, the highest and lowest COX2 levels were observed in the Rs2910164GG + Rs13281615GA/AA and Rs2910164CC/GC + Rs13281615GG groups, respectively. PVT1 directly and negatively regulated the miR-146a expression, which in turn directly and negatively regulated COX2 expression. Thus, the combined actions of SNP in PVT1 Rs13281615 and miR-146a Rs2910164 affected the lung function in COPD smokers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sijing Zhou
- Hefei Prevention and Treatment Center for Occupational Diseases, Hefei 230022, China
| | - Yi Liu
- Department of respiratory and critical care medicine, the first affiliated hospital of Anhui medical university, Hefei 230022, China
| | - Min Li
- Department of oncology, the first affiliated hospital of Anhui medical university, Hefei 230022, China
| | - Peipei Wu
- Department of respiratory and critical care medicine, the first affiliated hospital of Anhui medical university, Hefei 230022, China
| | - Gengyun Sun
- Department of respiratory and critical care medicine, the first affiliated hospital of Anhui medical university, Hefei 230022, China
| | - Guanghe Fei
- Department of respiratory and critical care medicine, the first affiliated hospital of Anhui medical university, Hefei 230022, China
| | - Xuan Xu
- Division of Pulmonary/Critical Care Medicine, Cedars sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles 90015, USA
| | - Xuexin Zhou
- The first clinical college of Anhui medical university, Hefei 230032, China
| | - Luqian Zhou
- The first clinical college of Anhui medical university, Hefei 230032, China
| | - Ran Wang
- Department of respiratory and critical care medicine, the first affiliated hospital of Anhui medical university, Hefei 230022, China
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12
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Zheng J, Hu L, Cheng J, Xu J, Zhong Z, Yang Y, Yuan Z. lncRNA PVT1 promotes the angiogenesis of vascular endothelial cell by targeting miR‑26b to activate CTGF/ANGPT2. Int J Mol Med 2018; 42:489-496. [PMID: 29620147 DOI: 10.3892/ijmm.2018.3595] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/12/2017] [Accepted: 03/22/2018] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
Angiogenesis is essential for various biological processes, including tumor blood supply delivery, cancer cell growth, invasion and metastasis. Plasmacytoma variant translocation 1 (PVT1) long noncoding RNA (lncRNA) has been previously reported to affect angiogenesis of glioma microvascular endothelial cells by regulating microRNA (miR)‑186 expression level. However, the specific underlying molecular mechanism of PVT1 regulation of angiogenesis in vascular endothelial cells remains to be elucidated. The present study investigated the role of PVT1 in cell proliferation, migration and vascular tube formation of human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) using MTT assay, Transwell migration assay and in vitro vascular tube formation assay, respectively. In order to determine the effect of miR‑26b on cell proliferation, migration and vascular tube formation of HUVECs, miR‑26 mimic or miR‑26b inhibitor were transfected into HUVECs. Reverse transcription‑quantitative polymerase chain reaction and western blotting were conducted to quantify the mRNA and protein expression levels of target genes. The present study confirmed that miR‑26b bound 3'‑untranslated region (3'‑UTR) and subsequently influenced gene expression level using dual luciferase reporter assay. The current study observed that PVT1 affected cell proliferation, migration and in vitro vascular tube formation of HUVECs. In addition, it was determined that PVT1 was able to bind and degrade miR‑26b to promote connective tissue growth factor (CTGF) and angiopoietin 2 (ANGPT2) expression. miR‑26b was also identified to have a suppressive role in cell proliferation, migration and in vitro vascular tube formation of HUVECs via binding 3'‑UTR regions and downregulating CTGF and ANGPT2 expression levels. The current findings may improve the understanding of the underlying mechanism of PVT1 contributing to angiogenesis of vascular endothelial cells and offer rationale for targeting PVT1 to treat angiogenesis dysfunction‑associated diseases, including cancer metastasis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jifu Zheng
- Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang, Jiangxi 330006, P.R. China
| | - Lili Hu
- Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang, Jiangxi 330006, P.R. China
| | - Jing Cheng
- Department of Hematology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang, Jiangxi 330006, P.R. China
| | - Jing Xu
- Department of Hematology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang, Jiangxi 330006, P.R. China
| | - Zhiqiang Zhong
- Department of Hematology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang, Jiangxi 330006, P.R. China
| | - Yuan Yang
- Department of Hematology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang, Jiangxi 330006, P.R. China
| | - Zheng Yuan
- Department of Hematology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang, Jiangxi 330006, P.R. China
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13
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Characterization of serum miRNAs as molecular biomarkers for acute Stanford type A aortic dissection diagnosis. Sci Rep 2017; 7:13659. [PMID: 29057982 PMCID: PMC5651857 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-017-13696-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/05/2017] [Accepted: 09/25/2017] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Early and convenient diagnosis is urgently needed for acute Stanford type A aortic dissection (AAAD) patients due to its high mortality within the first 48 hours. Circulating microRNAs (miRNAs) are promising biomarkers of cardiovascular diseases, however, little is known about circulating miRNAs involved in AAAD. Here, the blood serum was sampled from 104 AAAD+ patients and 103 age-matched donors. Initial screening was conducted using the TaqMan Low Density Array followed by RT-qPCR confirmation. According to the two-phase selection and validation process, we found that miR-25, miR-29a and miR-155 were significantly elevated, while miR-26b was markedly decreased in AAAD+ serum samples compared with AAAD- individuals. Most importantly, for individuals with hypertension, which is a major contributor to AAAD, the 4-miRNA panel also showed high accuracy in predicting those who are more likely to develop AAAD. In the blind trial set, the panel correctly classified 93.33% AAAD+ patients and 86.67% controls from the hypertension cohort. Finally, the serum miRNA-based biomarker for early AAAD detection was supported by a retrospective analysis. Taken together, we identify a distinct profile of 4-miRNA that can serve as a noninvasive biomarker for AAAD diagnosis, especially for those with hypertension.
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14
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Chen D, Gao W, Wang S, Ni B, Gao Y. Critical effects of epigenetic regulation in pulmonary arterial hypertension. Cell Mol Life Sci 2017; 74:3789-3808. [PMID: 28573430 PMCID: PMC11107652 DOI: 10.1007/s00018-017-2551-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/08/2017] [Revised: 05/14/2017] [Accepted: 05/29/2017] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is characterized by persistent pulmonary vasoconstriction and pulmonary vascular remodeling. The pathogenic mechanisms of PAH remain to be fully clarified and measures of effective prevention are lacking. Recent studies; however, have indicated that epigenetic processes may exert pivotal influences on PAH pathogenesis. In this review, we summarize the latest research findings regarding epigenetic regulation in PAH, focusing on the roles of non-coding RNAs, histone modifications, ATP-dependent chromatin remodeling and DNA methylation, and discuss the potential of epigenetic-based therapies for PAH.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dewei Chen
- Department of Pathophysiology and High Altitude Pathology, College of High Altitude Military Medicine, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing, People's Republic of China
- Key Laboratory of High Altitude Medicine of PLA, College of High Altitude Military Medicine, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing, 400038, People's Republic of China
| | - Wenxiang Gao
- Department of Pathophysiology and High Altitude Pathology, College of High Altitude Military Medicine, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing, People's Republic of China
- Key Laboratory of High Altitude Medicine of PLA, College of High Altitude Military Medicine, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing, 400038, People's Republic of China
| | - Shouxian Wang
- Department of Pathophysiology and High Altitude Pathology, College of High Altitude Military Medicine, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing, People's Republic of China
- Key Laboratory of High Altitude Medicine of PLA, College of High Altitude Military Medicine, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing, 400038, People's Republic of China
| | - Bing Ni
- Department of Pathophysiology and High Altitude Pathology, College of High Altitude Military Medicine, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing, People's Republic of China.
- Key Laboratory of High Altitude Medicine of PLA, College of High Altitude Military Medicine, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing, 400038, People's Republic of China.
| | - Yuqi Gao
- Institute of Medicine and Hygienic Equipment for High Altitude Region, College of High Altitude Military Medicine, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing, People's Republic of China.
- Key Laboratory of High Altitude Medicine of PLA, College of High Altitude Military Medicine, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing, 400038, People's Republic of China.
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15
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Zhou S, Sun L, Cao C, Wu P, Li M, Sun G, Fei G, Ding X, Wang R. Hypoxia-induced microRNA-26b inhibition contributes to hypoxic pulmonary hypertension via CTGF. J Cell Biochem 2017; 119:1942-1952. [PMID: 28816418 DOI: 10.1002/jcb.26355] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2017] [Accepted: 08/15/2017] [Indexed: 01/02/2023]
Abstract
The objective of this study was to explore the role of miRNAs in the control of HPH as well as molecular mechanism underlying. Computational analysis and luciferase assay were carried out to search the target gene of miR-26b. Luciferase assay, RT-PCR and western-blot analysis was performed to test interaction among hypoxia, miR-26b, SRF and CTGF. MiR-26b was significantly downregulated; meanwhile, CTGF and SRF were significantly upregulated in HPH rat model. Using computational analysis, CTGF was found to be a virtual target gene of miR-26b, and only cell transfected with vectors containing wild-type CTGF 3'UTR and miR-26b showed a lower luciferase activity than scramble control. Hypoxia significantly inhibited miR-26b promoter, and promoted SRF promoter. Meanwhile, hypoxia had no effect on CTGF promoter. In addition, SRF promoted the promoter of CTGF. MiR-26b was significantly downregulated; meanwhile, CTGF and SRF were upregulated in PASMCs exposed to hypoxia. In addition, miR-26b and SRF siRNA, but not CTGF siRNA, significantly inhibited SRF expression. Meanwhile, miR-26b, SRF siRNA, and CTGF siRNA significantly inhibited CTGF expression in hypoxia-treated cell. PASMCs treated with hypoxia showed higher cell viability and higher percentage cells in S phase than the control, which could be reversed by miR-26b, SRF siRNA, and CTGF siRNA transfection. These findings suggested that hypoxia induced miR-26b inhibition and SRF and CTGF upregulation in HPH rat model. CTGF mediated hypoxia-induced regulation of miR-26b and SRF in proliferation of PASMCs, which indicated that hypoxia-induced miR-26b inhibition contributed to the pathogenesis of HPH via CTGF.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sijing Zhou
- Department of Occupational Medicine, Hefei Prevention and Treatment Center for Occupational Diseases, Hefei, China
| | - Li Sun
- Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
| | - Chao Cao
- Department of Respiratory Medicine, Ningbo First Hospital, Ningbo, China
| | - Peipei Wu
- Department of Occupational Medicine, Hefei Prevention and Treatment Center for Occupational Diseases, Hefei, China
| | - Min Li
- Department of Oncology, First affiliated hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
| | - Gengyun Sun
- Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
| | - Guanghe Fei
- Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
| | - Xing Ding
- Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
| | - Ran Wang
- Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
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16
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Hou J, Zhou J. WWC3 downregulation correlates with poor prognosis and inhibition of Hippo signaling in human gastric cancer. Onco Targets Ther 2017; 10:2931-2942. [PMID: 28652775 PMCID: PMC5476718 DOI: 10.2147/ott.s124790] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
The aim of this study was to investigate the clinicopathological significance and biological roles of WWC3 in human gastric cancer (GC). Clinical significance of WWC3 in human GCs was examined by using immunohistochemistry (IHC). WWC3 was downregulated in 48 of 111 human GCs, and its downregulation was associated with advanced stage, positive nodal status, and higher relapse rate. Importantly, WWC3 downregulation correlated with poor survival. It was also found that WWC3 protein expression was downregulated in GC cell lines compared with normal cell line GES-1. On one hand, WWC3 overexpression inhibited the cell growth rate and invading ability in HGC-27 cell line. On the other hand, depleting WWC3 by small interfering RNA (siRNA) promoted proliferation rate and invading ability in the SGC-7901 cell line. In addition, cell cycle analysis showed that WWC3 overexpression inhibited while its depletion accelerated cell cycle progression at the G1/S transition. Western blot (WB) analysis demonstrated that WWC3 repressed cyclin D1 and cyclin E while upregulated p27 expression. Luciferase reporter assay showed that WWC3 activated Hippo signaling pathway by suppressing TEAD transcription activity, with downregulation of total and nuclear YAP and its target CTGF. WWC3 siRNA depletion exhibited the opposite effects. In conclusion, this study indicates that WWC3 serves as a tumor suppressor in GC by activating Hippo signaling.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiabin Hou
- The First Affiliated Hospital, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, People's Republic of China
| | - Jin Zhou
- The First Affiliated Hospital, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, People's Republic of China
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17
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Ding X, Zhou S, Li M, Cao C, Wu P, Sun L, Fei G, Wang R. Upregulation of SRF Is Associated With Hypoxic Pulmonary Hypertension by Promoting Viability of Smooth Muscle Cells via Increasing Expression of Bcl-2. J Cell Biochem 2017; 118:2731-2738. [PMID: 28176371 DOI: 10.1002/jcb.25922] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/17/2016] [Accepted: 02/06/2017] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
The aim of study was to investigate the involvement of hypoxia-induced upregulation of serum response factor (SRF) and its downstream effector, B cell leukemia-2 (Bcl-2), in hypoxia-induced pulmonary hypertension (PH). Immunohistochemistry analysis and western blot analysis were used to detect the levels of SRF and Bcl-2 in rats exposed to hypoxia. Furthermore, the regulatory relationship between SRF and Bcl-2 was investigated in PASMCs using real-time PCR and western-blot analysis. We found that mPAP (mean pulmonary arterial pressure) and WA (the ratio of vascular wall area to external diameter) were increased after exposure to hypoxia, while LA (the ratio of vascular lumen area to total area) decreased after exposure to hypoxia. The immunohistochemistry analysis displayed a substantial increase in SRF and Bcl-2 in pulmonary arterial walls after 14 days of hypoxia. And the western blotting showed that SRF and Bcl-2 protein levels were much higher after 7 days of hypoxia and then remained at a high level. And then the levels of SRF and Bcl-2 in pulmonary artery smooth muscle cells (PASMCs) exposed to hypoxia were substantially suppressed following introduction of SRF siRNA, and the level of Bcl-2 was remarkably inhibited by Bcl-2 siRNA, while Bcl-2 siRNA had no effect on SRF level. Finally, SRF siRNA, and Bcl-2 siRNA significantly reduced viability of PASMCs exposed to hypoxia, and enhanced apoptosis of PASMCs exposed to hypoxia. These data validated that SRF responded to hypoxia, which subsequently was involved in pulmonary hypertension by abnormally promoting viability of PASMCs via modulating expression of Bcl-2. J. Cell. Biochem. 118: 2731-2738, 2017. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xing Ding
- Department of Respiratory Medicine, First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
| | - Sijing Zhou
- Department of Occupational Medicine, Hefei Third Clinical College Affiliated to Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
| | - Min Li
- Department of Oncology, First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
| | - Chao Cao
- Department of Respiratory Medicine, Ningbo First Hospital, Ningbo, China
| | - Peipei Wu
- Department of Respiratory Medicine, First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
| | - Li Sun
- Department of Respiratory Medicine, First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
| | - Guanghe Fei
- Department of Respiratory Medicine, First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
| | - Ran Wang
- Department of Respiratory Medicine, First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
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18
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CircRNA_000203 enhances the expression of fibrosis-associated genes by derepressing targets of miR-26b-5p, Col1a2 and CTGF, in cardiac fibroblasts. Sci Rep 2017; 7:40342. [PMID: 28079129 PMCID: PMC5228128 DOI: 10.1038/srep40342] [Citation(s) in RCA: 196] [Impact Index Per Article: 28.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/12/2016] [Accepted: 12/05/2016] [Indexed: 01/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Circular RNAs (circRNAs) participate in regulating gene expression in diverse biological and pathological processes. The present study aimed to investigate the mechanism underlying the modulation of circRNA_000203 on expressions of fibrosis-associated genes in cardiac fibroblasts. CircRNA_000203 was shown upregulated in the diabetic mouse myocardium and in Ang-II-induced mouse cardiac fibroblasts. Enforced-expression of circRNA_000203 could increase expressions of Col1a2, Col3a1 and α-SMA in mouse cardiac fibroblasts. RNA pull-down and RT-qPCR assay indicated that circRNA_000203 could specifically sponge miR-26b-5p. Dual luciferase reporter assay revealed that miR-26b-5p interacted with 3′UTRs of Col1a2 and CTGF, and circ_000203 could block the interactions of miR-26b-5p and 3′UTRs of Col1a2 and CTGF. Transfection of miR-26b-5p could post-transcriptionaly inhibit expressions of Col1a2 and CTGF, accompanied with the suppressions of Col3a1 and α-SMA in cardiac fibroblasts. Additionally, over-expression of circRNA_000203 could eliminate the anti-fibrosis effect of miR-26b-5p in cardiac fibroblasts. Together, our results reveal that suppressing the function of miR-26b-5p contributes to the pro-fibrosis effect of circRNA_000203 in cardiac fibroblasts.
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