Long Non-coding RNA Maternally Expressed 3 Increases the Expression of Neuron-Specific Genes by Targeting miR-128-3p in All-Trans Retinoic Acid-Induced Neurogenic Differentiation From Amniotic Epithelial Cells

MicroRNA-128-3p Affects Neuronal Apoptosis and Neurobehavior in Cerebral Palsy Rats by Targeting E3 Ubiquitin-Linking Enzyme Smurf2 and Regulating YY1 Expression

This study was dedicated to investigating the effects of microRNA-128-3p (miR-128-3p) on neuronal apoptosis and neurobehavior in cerebral palsy (CP) rats via the Smurf2/YY1 axis.In vivo modeling of hypoxic-ischemic (HI) CP was established in neonatal rats. Neurobehavioral tests (geotaxis reflex, cliff avoidance reaction, and grip test) were measured after HI induction. The HI-induced neurological injury was evaluated by HE staining, Nissl staining, TUNEL staining, immunohistochemical staining, and RT-qPCR. The expression of miR-128-3p, Smurf2, and YY1 was determined by RT-qPCR and western blot techniques. Moreover, primary cortical neurons were used to establish the oxygen and glucose deprivation (OGD) model in vitro, cell viability was detected by CCK-8 assay, neuronal apoptosis was assessed by flow cytometry and western blot, and the underlying mechanism between miR-128-3p, Smurf2 and YY1 was verified by bioinformatics analysis, dual luciferase reporter assay, RIP, Co-IP, ubiquitination assay, western blot, and RT-qPCR.In vivo, miR-128-3p and YY1 expression was elevated, and Smurf2 expression was decreased in brain tissues of hypoxic-ischemic CP rats. Downregulation of miR-128-3p or overexpression of Smurf2 improved neurobehavioral performance, reduced neuronal apoptosis, and elevated Nestin and NGF expression in hypoxic-ischemic CP rats, and downregulation of Smurf2 reversed the effects of downregulation of miR-128-3p on neurobehavioral performance, neuronal apoptosis, and Nestin and NGF expression in hypoxic-ischemic CP rats, while overexpression of YY1 reversed the effects of Smurf2 on neurobehavioral performance, neuronal apoptosis, and Nestin and NGF expression in hypoxic-ischemic CP rats. In vitro, downregulation of miR-128-3p effectively promoted the neuronal survival, reduced the apoptosis rate, and decreased caspase3 protein expression after OGD, and overexpression of YY1 reversed the ameliorative effect of downregulation of miR-128-3p on OGD-induced neuronal injury. miR-128-3p targeted to suppress Smurf2 to lower YY1 ubiquitination degradation and decrease its expression.Inhibition of miR-128-3p improves neuronal apoptosis and neurobehavioral changes in hypoxic-ischemic CP rats by promoting Smurf2 to promote YY1 ubiquitination degradation and reduce YY1 expression.

Hidden regulators: the emerging roles of lncRNAs in brain development and disease

Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) have emerged as critical players in brain development and disease. These non-coding transcripts, which once considered as "transcriptional junk," are now known for their regulatory roles in gene expression. In brain development, lncRNAs participate in many processes, including neurogenesis, neuronal differentiation, and synaptogenesis. They employ their effect through a wide variety of transcriptional and post-transcriptional regulatory mechanisms through interactions with chromatin modifiers, transcription factors, and other regulatory molecules. Dysregulation of lncRNAs has been associated with certain brain diseases, including Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, cancer, and neurodevelopmental disorders. Altered expression and function of specific lncRNAs have been implicated with disrupted neuronal connectivity, impaired synaptic plasticity, and aberrant gene expression pattern, highlighting the functional importance of this subclass of brain-enriched RNAs. Moreover, lncRNAs have been identified as potential biomarkers and therapeutic targets for neurological diseases. Here, we give a comprehensive review of the existing knowledge of lncRNAs. Our aim is to provide a better understanding of the diversity of lncRNA structure and functions in brain development and disease. This holds promise for unravelling the complexity of neurodevelopmental and neurodegenerative disorders, paving the way for the development of novel biomarkers and therapeutic targets for improved diagnosis and treatment.

MiR-128-3p - a gray eminence of the human central nervous system

MicroRNA-128-3p (miR-128-3p) is a versatile molecule with multiple functions in the physiopathology of the human central nervous system. Perturbations of miR-128-3p, which is enriched in the brain, contribute to a plethora of neurodegenerative disorders, brain injuries, and malignancies, as this miRNA is a crucial regulator of gene expression in the brain, playing an essential role in the maintenance and function of cells stemming from neuronal lineage. However, the differential expression of miR-128-3p in pathologies underscores the importance of the balance between its high and low levels. Significantly, numerous reports pointed to miR-128-3p as one of the most depleted in glioblastoma, implying it is a critical player in the disease's pathogenesis and thus may serve as a therapeutic agent for this most aggressive form of brain tumor. In this review, we summarize the current knowledge of the diverse roles of miR-128-3p. We focus on its involvement in the neurogenesis and pathophysiology of malignant and neurodegenerative diseases. We also highlight the promising potential of miR-128-3p as an antitumor agent for the future therapy of human cancers, including glioblastoma, and as the linchpin of brain development and function, potentially leading to the development of new therapies for neurological conditions.

Non-canonical retinoid signaling in neural development, regeneration and synaptic function

Canonical retinoid signaling via nuclear receptors and gene regulation is critical for the initiation of developmental processes such as cellular differentiation, patterning and neurite outgrowth, but also mediates nerve regeneration and synaptic functions in adult nervous systems. In addition to canonical transcriptional regulation, retinoids also exert rapid effects, and there are now multiple lines of evidence supporting non-canonical retinoid actions outside of the nucleus, including in dendrites and axons. Together, canonical and non-canonical retinoid signaling provide the precise temporal and spatial control necessary to achieve the fine cellular coordination required for proper nervous system function. Here, we examine and discuss the evidence supporting non-canonical actions of retinoids in neural development and regeneration as well as synaptic function, including a review of the proposed molecular mechanisms involved.

Carbon-coated selenium nanoparticles for photothermal therapy in choriocarcinoma cells

Choriocarcinoma can be cured by chemotherapy, but this causes resistance and severe side effects that bring about physical and psychological consequences for patients. Therefore, there is still an urgent need to find other alternative minimally invasive therapies to halt the progression of choriocarcinoma. Novel carbon-coated selenium nanoparticles (C-Se) were successfully synthesized for choriocarcinoma photothermal therapy. C-Se combined with near-infrared laser irradiation can inhibit the proliferation of human choriocarcinoma (JEG-3) cells and induce cell apoptosis. C-Se killed cells and produced ROS under near-infrared laser irradiation. Finally, the therapeutic mechanism of C-Se + laser was explored showing that C-Se + laser influenced numerous biological processes. Taken together, C-Se exhibited significant potential for choriocarcinoma photothermal therapy.

Differential Expression of MicroRNA (MiR-27, MiR-145) among Dental Pulp Stem Cells (DPSCs) Following Neurogenic Differentiation Stimuli

This study sought to evaluate the expression of previously identified microRNAs known to regulate neuronal differentiation in mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs), including miR-27, miR-125, miR-128, miR-135, miR-140, miR-145, miR-218 and miR-410, among dental pulp stem cells (DPSCs) under conditions demonstrated to induce neuronal differentiation. Using an approved protocol, n = 12 DPSCs were identified from an existing biorepository and treated with basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) and epidermal growth factor (EGF), which were previously demonstrated to induce neural differentiation markers including Sox1, Pax6 and NFM among these DPSCs. This study revealed that some microRNAs involved in the neuronal differentiation of MSCs were also differentially expressed among the DPSCs, including miR-27 and miR-145. In addition, this study also revealed that administration of bFGF and EGF was sufficient to modulate miR-27 and miR-145 expression in all of the stimulus-responsive DPSCs but not among all of the non-responsive DPSCs-suggesting that further investigation of the downstream targets of these microRNAs may be needed to fully evaluate and understand these observations.

Current status and future trends of reconstructing a vascularized tissue-engineered trachea

Alternative treatment of long tracheal defects remains one of the challenges faced by thoracic surgeons. Tissue engineering has shown great potential in addressing this regenerative medicine conundrum and the technology to make tracheal grafts using this technique is rapidly maturing, leading to unique therapeutic approaches. However, the clinical application of tissue-engineered tracheal implants is limited by insufficient revascularization. Among them, realizing the vascularization of a tissue-engineered trachea is the most challenging problem to overcome. To achieve long-term survival after tracheal transplantation, an effective blood supply must be formed to support the metabolism of seeded cells and promote tissue healing and regeneration. Otherwise, repeated infection, tissue necrosis, lumen stenosis lack of effective epithelialization, need for repeated bronchoscopy after surgery, and other complications will be inevitable and lead to graft failure and a poor outcome. Here we review and analyze various tissue engineering studies promoting angiogenesis in recent years. The general situation of reconstructing a vascularized tissue-engineered trachea, including current problems and future development trends, is elaborated from the perspectives of seed cells, scaffold materials, growth factors and signaling pathways, surgical interventions in animal models and clinical applications. This review also provides ideas and methods for the further development of better biocompatible tracheal substitutes in the future.

Long non-coding RNA nuclear paraspeckle assembly transcript 1 downregulation protects lens epithelial cells from oxidative stress-induced apoptosis by regulating the microRNA-124-3p/death-associated protein kinase 1 axis in age-related cataract

Oxidative stress plays a significant role in cataract development. It causes the apoptosis of lens epithelial cells (LECs), resulting in lens opacification and accelerating cataract progression. Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) and microRNAs have been linked to cataract development. Notably, lncRNA nuclear paraspeckle assembly transcript 1 (NEAT1) is involved in LEC apoptosis and cataract formation. However, the molecular mechanism by which NEAT1 causes age-related cataracts remains unknown. In this study, LECs (SRA01/04) were exposed to 200 μM H₂O2 to generate an in vitro cataract model. The apoptosis and viability of cells were determined using flow cytometry and 3-(4, 5-Dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2, 5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide assays, respectively. Additionally, western blotting and quantitative polymerase chain reaction were used to determine the miRNA and lncRNA expression levels. When LECs were treated with hydrogen peroxide, lncRNA NEAT1 expression levels were significantly upregulated, which contributed to LEC apoptosis. Notably, lncRNA NEAT1 suppressed the expression of miR-124-3p, a critical regulator of apoptosis, whereas NEAT1 inhibition increased miR-124-3p expression and alleviated apoptosis. However, this effect was reversed when miR1243p expression was inhibited. Additionally, the miR1243p mimic effectively inhibited the death-associated protein kinase 1 (DAPK1) expression and apoptosis of LECs, while the DAPK1 mimic reversed these effects. In conclusion, our findings indicate that the lncRNA NEAT1/miR-124-3p/DAPK1 signaling loop is involved in the regulation of LEC apoptosis induced by oxidative stress, which can be exploited to develop potential treatment strategies for age-related cataracts.

Enhanced hippocampal neurogenesis mediated by PGC-1α-activated OXPHOS after neonatal low-dose Propofol exposure

Background

Developing brain is highly plastic and can be easily affected. Growing pediatric usage of anesthetics during painless procedures has raised concerns about the effect of low-dose anesthetics on neurodevelopment. It is urgent to ascertain the neuronal effect of low-dose Propofol, a widely used anesthetic in pediatrics, on developing brains.

Methods

The behavioral tests after neonatal exposure to low-dose/high-dose Propofol in mice were conducted to clarify the cognitive effect. The nascent cells undergoing proliferation and differentiation stage in the hippocampus and cultured neural stem cells (NSCs) were further identified. In addition, single-nuclei RNA sequencing (snRNA-seq), NSCs bulk RNA-seq, and metabolism trials were performed for pathway investigation. Furthermore, small interfering RNA and stereotactic adenovirus injection were, respectively, used in NSCs and hippocampal to confirm the underlying mechanism.

Results

Behavioral tests in mice showed enhanced spatial cognitive ability after being exposed to low-dose Propofol. Activated neurogenesis was observed both in hippocampal and cultured NSCs. Moreover, transcriptome analysis of snRNA-seq, bulk RNA-seq, and metabolism trials revealed a significantly enhanced oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS) level in NSCs. Furthermore, PGC-1α, a master regulator in mitochondria metabolism, was found upregulated after Propofol exposure both in vivo and in vitro. Importantly, downregulation of PGC-1α remarkably prevented the effects of low-dose Propofol in activating OXPHOS and neurogenesis.

Conclusions

Taken together, this study demonstrates a novel alteration of mitochondrial function in hippocampal neurogenesis after low-dose Propofol exposure, suggesting the safety, even potentially beneficial effect, of low-dose Propofol in pediatric use.

Long non-coding RNA-X-inactive specific transcript inhibits cell viability, and induces apoptosis through the microRNA-30c-5p/Bcl2-like protein 11 signaling axis in human granulosa-like tumor cells

The role of long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) is being actively explored in polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). Recent research has shown that long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) X–inactive Specific Transcript (XIST) is overexpressed in patients with PCOS and is associated with poor pregnancy outcomes. However, the precise function and mechanism of action of lncRNA XIST in PCOS are unknown. We aimed to determine whether lncRNA XIST contributes to PCOS by modulating ovarian granulosa cell physiology. We also investigated any potential molecular regulatory mechanisms. In this study, we discovered that the lncRNA XIST was significantly downregulated in human ovarian granulosa-like tumor (KGN) cells. Notably, overexpression of lncRNA XIST decreased miR-30c-5p expression in KGN cells, inhibited proliferation, and induced apoptosis in KGN cells. However, cotransfection with amiR-30c-5p mimic significantly reduced these effects. Additionally, we discovered that the miR-30c-5p mimic effectively inhibited Bcl2-like protein 11 (BCL2L11) expression, a critical apoptotic promoter, whereas silencing of miR-30c-5p increased BCL2L11 expression, inhibited KGN cell proliferation, and induced apoptosis. In contrast, cotransfection of BCL2L11 with siRNA significantly reversed these effects. In conclusion, this study established that lncRNA XIST plays a critical role in PCOS by modulating the miR-30c-5p/BCL2L11 signaling axis and regulating ovarian granulosa cell physiology.

The Emerging Roles of Long Non-Coding RNAs in Intellectual Disability and Related Neurodevelopmental Disorders

In the human brain, long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) are widely expressed in an exquisitely temporally and spatially regulated manner, thus suggesting their contribution to normal brain development and their probable involvement in the molecular pathology of neurodevelopmental disorders (NDD). Bypassing the classic protein-centric conception of disease mechanisms, some studies have been conducted to identify and characterize the putative roles of non-coding sequences in the genetic pathogenesis and diagnosis of complex diseases. However, their involvement in NDD, and more specifically in intellectual disability (ID), is still poorly documented and only a few genomic alterations affecting the lncRNAs function and/or expression have been causally linked to the disease endophenotype. Considering that a significant fraction of patients still lacks a genetic or molecular explanation, we expect that a deeper investigation of the non-coding genome will unravel novel pathogenic mechanisms, opening new translational opportunities. Here, we present evidence of the possible involvement of many lncRNAs in the etiology of different forms of ID and NDD, grouping the candidate disease-genes in the most frequently affected cellular processes in which ID-risk genes were previously collected. We also illustrate new approaches for the identification and prioritization of NDD-risk lncRNAs, together with the current strategies to exploit them in diagnosis.

Role of lncRNAs in the Development of Ischemic Stroke and Their Therapeutic Potential

Stroke is a major cause of premature mortality and disability around the world. Therefore, identification of cellular and molecular processes implicated in the pathogenesis and progression of ischemic stroke has become a priority. Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) are emerging as significant players in the pathophysiology of cerebral ischemia. They are involved in different signalling pathways of cellular processes like cell apoptosis, autophagy, angiogenesis, inflammation, and cell death, impacting the progression of cerebral damage. Exploring the functions of these lncRNAs and their mechanism of action may help in the development of promising treatment strategies. In this review, the current knowledge of lncRNAs in ischemic stroke, focusing on the mechanism by which they cause cellular apoptosis, inflammation, and microglial activation, has been summarized. Very few lncRNAs have been functionally annotated. Therefore, the therapies based on lncRNAs still face many hurdles since the potential targets are likely to increase with the identification of new ones. Majority of experiments involving the identification and function of lncRNAs have been carried out in animal models, and the role of lncRNAs in human stroke presents a challenge. However, mitigating these issues through more rational experimental design might lead to the development of lncRNA-based stroke therapies to treat ischemic stroke.

Non-Coding RNAs in Retinoic Acid as Differentiation and Disease Drivers

All-trans retinoic acid (RA) is the most active metabolite of vitamin A. Several studies have described a pivotal role for RA signalling in different biological processes such as cell growth and differentiation, embryonic development and organogenesis. Since RA signalling is highly dose-dependent, a fine-tuning regulatory mechanism is required. Thus, RA signalling deregulation has a major impact, both in development and disease, related in many cases to oncogenic processes. In this review, we focus on the impact of ncRNA post-transcriptional regulatory mechanisms, especially those of microRNAs and lncRNAs, in RA signalling pathways during differentiation and disease.

Circular RNAs in Toxicology

Circular RNAs (circRNAs) are a type of closed, long, non-coding RNAs, which have attracted significant attention in recent years. CircRNAs exhibit unique functions and are characterized by stable expression in various tissues across different species. Because the identification of circRNA in plant viroids in 1976, numerous studies have been conducted to elucidate its generation as well as expression under normal and disease conditions. The rapid development of research focused on the roles of circRNAs as biomarkers in diseases such as cancers has led to increased interests in evaluating the effects of toxicants on the human genetics from a toxicological perspective. Notably, increasing amounts of chemicals are generated in the environment; however, their toxic features and interactions with the human body, particularly from the epigenetic viewpoint, remain largely unknown. Considering the unique features of circRNAs as potential prognostic biomarkers as well as their roles in evaluating health risks following exposure to toxicants, the aim of this review was to assess the latest progress in the research concerning circRNA, to address the role of the circRNA-miRNA-mRNA axis in diseases and processes occurring after exposure to toxic compounds. Another goal was to identify the gaps in understanding the interactions between toxic compounds and circRNAs as potential biomarkers. The review presents general information about circRNA (ie, biogenesis and functions) and provides insights into newly discovered exosome-contained circRNA. The roles of circRNAs as potential biomarkers are also explored. A comprehensive review of the available literature on the role of circRNA in toxicological research (ie, chemical carcinogenesis, respiratory toxicology, neurotoxicology, and other unclassified toxicological categories) is included.

Microarray analysis reveals a potential role of lncRNA expression in remote ischemic preconditioning in myocardial ischemia-reperfusion injury

The challenge to avoid or reduce cardiopulmonary bypass-related injuries in cardiovascular surgery remains a major issue. Remote ischemic preconditioning (RIPC) remains a promising strategy whose clinical applications appear to be significantly more realistic and extensive as compared with other conservative or surgical strategies. However, considering its underlying mechanism(s) are still unclear, novel ideas and methods must be explored to enhance its potential in clinical applications. Long noncoding RNAs (LncRNAs) are a kind of RNAs that have been implicated in the occurrence and development of cardiovascular diseases. The differently expressed LncRNAs and their biological effects during RIPC have not been explored previously. In this study, mouse and human LncRNA microarrays were used to investigate the expression signatures of LncRNAs and mRNAs in the myocardial tissue after RIPC. Therafter, homology comparisons were used to screen homologous genes from differentially expressed LncRNAs. Competing endogenous RNA (ceRNA) mechanism analysis were employed to find the matching relationship among homologous LncRNA, mRNA and microRNA. 554 differentially expressed mouse LncRNAs (281 up-regulated/273 down-regulated) and 1392 differentially expresssed human LncRNAs (635 up-regulated/757 down-regulated) were selected for further analysis. Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) was used to quantify these LncRNAs, homology comparison and ceRNA mechanism analysis provided a pair of homologous LncRNAs (ENST00000574727 & ENSMUST00000123752) for further research investigation. Overall, in this study, a number of differentially expressed LncRNAs were identified which may play an important role the regulation of both inflammation and cell proliferation. The findings may thus unveil the mystery of RIPC and discover a novel protective mechanism for the mitigation of cardiovascular ischemia-reperfusion disease.

Adult neurogenesis and the molecular signalling pathways in brain: the role of stem cells in adult hippocampal neurogenesis

Molecular signalling pathways are an evolutionarily conserved multifaceted pathway that can control diverse cellular processes. The role of signalling pathways in regulating development and tissue homeostasis as well as hippocampal neurogenesis is needed to study in detail. In the adult brain, the Notch signalling pathway, in collaboration with the Wnt/β-catenin, bone morphogenetic proteins (BMPs), and sonic hedgehog (Shh) molecular signalling pathways, are involved in stem cell regulation in the hippocampal formation, and they also control the plasticity of the neural stem cells (NSCs) or neural progenitor cells (NPCs) which involved in neurogenesis processes. Here we discuss the distinctive roles of molecular signalling pathways involved in the generation of new neurons from a pool of NSCs in the adult brain. Our approach will facilitate the understanding of the molecular signalling mechanism of hippocampal neurogenesis during NSCs development in the adult brain using molecular aspects coupled with cell biological and physiological analysis.

LncRNA MALAT1 targeting miR-124-3p regulates DAPK1 expression contributes to cell apoptosis in Parkinson's Disease

Death associated protein kinase 1 (DAPK1) was initially discovered in the progress of gamma-interferon induced programmed cell death, it is a key factor in the central nervous system, including Parkinson's disease (PD). However, the underlying mechanisms of DAPK1 in PD remain unclear and this research work aims to explore the potential mechanisms of DAPK1 in PD. In the study, we exposed SH-SY5Y cells to MPP+ and treated mice with MPTP to investigate the roles of DAPK1 in PD and the underlying mechanisms. The results indicated that the expression of DAPK1 is significantly upregulated and negatively correlated with miR-124-3p levels in SH-SY5Y cells treated by MPP+ , and miR-124-3p mimics could effectively inhibit DAPK1 expressions and alleviate MPP+ -induced cell apoptosis. In addition, knockdown MALAT1 reduces the levels of DAPK1 and the ratio of SH-SY5Y cell apoptosis, which is reversed via miR-124-3p inhibitor in vitro. Similarly, knockdown MALAT1 could improve behavioral changes and reduce apoptosis by miR-124-3p upregulation and DAPK1 downregulation in MPTP induced PD mice. Taken together, our data showed that lncRNA MALAT1 positively regulates DAPK1 expression by targeting miR-124-3p, and mediates cell apoptosis and motor disorders in PD. In summary, these results suggest that MALAT1/miR-124-3p /DAPK1 signaling cascade mediates cell apoptosis in vitro and in vivo, which may provide experimental evidence of developing potential therapeutic strategies for PD.

The functions of long non-coding RNAs in neural stem cell proliferation and differentiation

The capacities for neural stem cells (NSCs) self-renewal with differentiation are need to be precisely regulated for ensuring brain development and homeostasis. Recently, increasing number of studies have highlighted that long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) are associated with NSC fate determination during brain development stages. LncRNAs are a class of non-coding RNAs more than 200 nucleotides without protein-coding potential and function as novel critical regulators in multiple biological processes. However, the correlation between lncRNAs and NSC fate decision still need to be explored in-depth. In this review, we will summarize the roles and molecular mechanisms of lncRNAs focusing on NSCs self-renewal, neurogenesis and gliogenesis over the course of neural development, still more, dysregulation of lncRNAs in all stage of neural development have closely relationship with development disorders or glioma. In brief, lncRNAs may be explored as effective modulators in NSCs related neural development and novel biomarkers for diagnosis and prognosis of neurological disorders in the future.