Potential Therapeutic Targeting of lncRNAs in Cholesterol Homeostasis

The Role of Selected lncRNAs in Lipid Metabolism and Cardiovascular Disease Risk

Lipid disorders increase the risk for the development of cardiometabolic disorders, including type 2 diabetes, atherosclerosis, and cardiovascular disease. Lipids levels, apart from diet, smoking, obesity, alcohol consumption, and lack of exercise, are also influenced by genetic factors. Recent studies suggested the role of long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) in the regulation of lipid formation and metabolism. Despite their lack of protein-coding capacity, lncRNAs are crucial regulators of various physiological and pathological processes since they affect the transcription and epigenetic chromatin remodelling. LncRNAs act as molecular signal, scaffold, decoy, enhancer, and guide molecules. This review summarises available data concerning the impact of lncRNAs on lipid levels and metabolism, as well as impact on cardiovascular disease risk. This relationship is significant because altered lipid metabolism is a well-known risk factor for cardiovascular diseases, and lncRNAs may play a crucial regulatory role. Understanding these mechanisms could pave the way for new therapeutic strategies to mitigate cardiovascular disease risk through targeted modulation of lncRNAs. The identification of dysregulated lncRNAs may pose promising candidates for therapeutic interventions, since strategies enabling the restoration of their levels could offer an effective means to impede disease progression without disrupting normal biological functions. LncRNAs may also serve as valuable biomarker candidates for various pathological states, including cardiovascular disease. However, still much remains unknown about the functions of most lncRNAs, thus extensive studies are necessary elucidate their roles in physiology, development, and disease.

Modulating the Expression of Exercise-induced lncRNAs: Implications for Cardiovascular Disease Progression

Recent research shows exercise is good for heart health, emphasizing the importance of physical activity. Sedentary behavior increases the risk of cardiovascular disease, while exercise can help prevent and treat it. Additionally, physical exercise can modulate the expression of lncRNAs, influencing cardiovascular disease progression. Therefore, understanding this relationship could help identify prospective biomarkers and therapeutic targets pertaining to cardiovascular ailments. This review has underscored recent advancements concerning the potential biomarkers of lncRNAs in cardiovascular diseases, while also summarizing existing knowledge regarding dysregulated lncRNAs and their plausible molecular mechanisms. Additionally, we have contributed novel perspectives on the underlying mechanisms of lncRNAs, which hold promise as potential biomarkers and therapeutic targets for cardiovascular conditions. The knowledge imparted in this review may prove valuable in guiding the design of future investigations and furthering the understanding of lncRNAs as diagnostic, prognostic, and therapeutic biomarkers for cardiovascular diseases.

Nicotine-induced Genetic and Epigenetic Modifications in Primary Human Amniotic Fluid Stem Cells

BACKGROUND

Smoking during pregnancy has been linked to adverse health outcomes in offspring, but the underlying mechanisms are not fully understood. To date, the effect of maternal smoking has been tested in primary tissues and animal models, but the scarcity of human tissues limits experimental studies. Evidence regarding smoking-related molecular alteration and gene expression profiles in stem cells is still lacking.

METHODS

We developed a cell culture model of human amniotic fluid stem cells (hAFSCs) of nicotine (NIC) exposure to examine the impact of maternal smoking on epigenetic alterations of the fetus.

RESULTS

NIC 0.1 μM (equivalent to "light" smoking, i.e., 5 cigarettes/day) did not significantly affect cell viability; however, significant alterations in DNA methylation and N6-methyladenosine (m6A) RNA methylation in hAFSCs occurred. These epigenetic changes may influence the gene expression and function of hAFSCs. Furthermore, NIC exposure caused time-dependent alterations of the expression of pluripotency genes and cell surface markers, suggesting enhanced cell stemness and impaired differentiation potential. Furthermore, NICtreated cells showed reduced mRNA levels of key adipogenic markers and hypomethylation of the promoter region of the imprinted gene H19 during adipogenic differentiation, potentially suppressing adipo/lipogenesis. Differential expression of 16 miRNAs, with predicted target genes involved in various metabolic pathways and linked to pathological conditions, including cognitive delay and fetal growth retardation, has been detected.

CONCLUSION

Our findings highlight multi-level effects of NIC on hAFSCs, including epigenetic modifications, altered gene expression, and impaired cellular differentiation, which may contribute to long-term consequences of smoking in pregnancy and its potential impact on offspring health and development.

ASXL3 gene mutations inhibit cell proliferation and promote cell apoptosis in mouse cardiomyocytes by upregulating lncRNA NONMMUT063967.2

Congenital heart disease (CHD) is a serious condition with unknown etiology. In a recent study, a compound heterozygous mutation (c.3526C > T [p.Arg1176Trp] and c.4643A > G [p.Asp1548Gly]) in the ASXL3 gene was identified, which is associated with CHD. This mutation was overexpressed in HL-1 mouse cardiomyocyte cells, leading to increased cell apoptosis and decreased cell proliferation. However, whether this effect is mediated by long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) is yet to be determined. We identified the differences among lncRNA and mRNA profiles in mouse heart tissues using sequencing to explore this issue. We detected HL-1 cell proliferation and apoptosis through CCK8 and flow cytometry. Fgfr2, lncRNA, and Ras/ERK signaling pathway expressions were evaluated using quantitative real time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) and western blot (WB) assays. We also conducted functional investigations by silencing lncRNA NONMMUT063967.2. The sequencing revealed significant changes in lncRNA and mRNA profiles, with the expression of lncRNA NONMMUT063967.2 being significantly promoted in the ASXL3 gene mutations group (MT) while the expression of Fgfr2 being downregulated. The in vitro experiments showed that ASXL3 gene mutations inhibited the proliferation of cardiomyocytes and accelerated cell apoptosis by promoting the expression of lncRNAs (NONMMUT063967.2, NONMMUT063918.2, and NONMMUT063891.2), suppressing the formation of FGFR2 transcripts, and inhibiting the Ras/ERK signaling pathway. The decrease in FGFR2 had the same effect on the Ras/ERK signaling pathway, proliferation, and apoptosis in mouse cardiomyocytes as ASXL3 mutations. Further mechanistic studies revealed that suppression of lncRNA NONMMUT063967.2 and overexpression of FGFR2 reversed the effects of the ASXL3 mutations on the Ras/ERK signaling pathway, proliferation, and apoptosis in mouse cardiomyocytes. Therefore, ASXL3 mutation decreases FGFR2 expression by upregulating lncRNA NONMMUT063967.2, inhibiting cell proliferation and promoting cell apoptosis in mouse cardiomyocytes.

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.

LncRNAs in colorectal cancer: Biomarkers to therapeutic targets

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the third leading cause of cancer-related death in men and women worldwide. As early detection is associated with lower mortality, novel biomarkers are urgently needed for timely diagnosis and appropriate management of patients to achieve the best therapeutic response. Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) have been reported to play essential roles in CRC progression. Accordingly, the regulatory roles of lncRNAs should be better understood in general and for identifying diagnostic, prognostic and predictive biomarkers in CRC specifically. In this review, the latest advances on the potential diagnostic and prognostic lncRNAs as biomarkers in CRC samples were highlighted, Current knowledge on dysregulated lncRNAs and their potential molecular mechanisms were summarized. The potential therapeutic implications and challenges for future and ongoing research in the field were also discussed. Finally, novel insights on the underlying mechanisms of lncRNAs were examined as to their potential role as biomarkers and therapeutic targets in CRC. This review may be used to design future studies and advanced investigations on lncRNAs as biomarkers for the diagnosis, prognosis and therapy in CRC.

Cholesterol-Related lncRNAs as Response Predictors of Atorvastatin Treatment in Chilean Hypercholesterolemic Patients: A Pilot Study

Statins are currently the treatment of choice for hypercholesterolemia. However, wide interindividual variability has been observed in the response to treatment. Recent studies have reported the role of lncRNAs in the metabolism of lipids; nevertheless, there are few studies to date that show their role in the response to treatment with statins. Thus, the aim of this study was to assess the levels of expression of three lncRNAs (RP1-13D10.2; MANTIS; lncHR1) associated with genes involved in cholesterol homeostasis in leukocyte cells of hypercholesterolemic patients after treatment with atorvastatin and compare them with levels in subjects with normal cholesterol levels. A secondary aim was to assess the levels of expression in monocytic THP-1 cells differentiated to macrophages. The study included 20 subjects with normal cholesterol (NC) levels and 20 individuals with hypercholesterolemia (HC). The HC patients were treated with atorvastatin (20 mg/day/4 weeks). THP-1 cells were differentiated to macrophages with PMA and treated with different doses of atorvastatin for 24 h. Expression of lncRNAs was determined by RT-qPCR. The lncRNAs RP1-13D10.2 (p < 0.0001), MANTIS (p = 0.0013) and lncHR1 (p < 0.0001) presented increased expression in HC subjects compared with NC subjects. Furthermore, atorvastatin had a negative regulatory effect on the expression of lncHR1 (p < 0.0001) in HC subjects after treatment. In vitro, all the lncRNAs showed significant differences in expression after atorvastatin treatment. Our findings show that the lncRNAs tested present differential expression in HC patients and play a role in the variability reported in the response to atorvastatin treatment. Further research is needed to clarify the biological impact of these lncRNAs on cholesterol homeostasis and treatment with statins.

Regulatory Non-Coding RNAs in Familial Hypercholesterolemia, Theranostic Applications

Familial hypercholesterolemia (FH) is a common monogenic disease which is associated with high serum levels of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) and leads to atherosclerosis and cardiovascular disease (CVD). Early diagnosis and effective treatment strategy can significantly improve prognosis. Recently, non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) have emerged as novel biomarkers for the diagnosis and innovative targets for therapeutics. Non-coding RNAs have essential roles in the regulation of LDL-C homeostasis, suggesting that manipulation and regulating ncRNAs could be a promising theranostic approach to ameliorate clinical complications of FH, particularly cardiovascular disease. In this review, we briefly discussed the mechanisms and pathophysiology of FH and novel therapeutic strategies for the treatment of FH. Moreover, the theranostic effects of different non-coding RNAs for the treatment and diagnosis of FH were highlighted. Finally, the advantages and disadvantages of ncRNA-based therapies vs. conventional therapies were discussed.

HAND2-AS1 targeting miR-1208/SIRT1 axis alleviates foam cell formation in atherosclerosis

The abnormally expressed long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) exert an important part in the occurrence and development of cardiovascular disease, however, their roles in atherosclerosis (AS) remains unknown. This work focused on investigating the role of HAND2 Antisense RNA 1 (HAND2-AS1) and the related mechanism. As a result, SIRT1 and HAND2-AS1 expression significantly decreased in plasma from patients with atherosclerotic plaques and macrophages originating from THP-1 induced by ox-LDL. Lentivirus mediated HAND2-AS1 overexpression markedly inhibited lipid absorption and deposition within foam cells originating from THP-1 macrophages. HAND2-AS1 endogenously sponged miR-128 and suppressed its activity via sequence complementation. Furthermore, HAND2-AS1 enhanced the expression of SIRT1 via binding to miR-128, thereby promoting ABCA1/G1 expression. Altogether, HAND2-AS1 targeting miR-1208/SIRT1 axis alleviates the formation of foam cells within AS. Besides, HAND2-AS1 may be used to be the possible anti-AS therapeutic target.

The Pathogenic Role of Long Non-coding RNA H19 in Atherosclerosis via the miR-146a-5p/ANGPTL4 Pathway

The abnormally expressed long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) H19 has a crucial function in the development and progression of cardiovascular disease; however, its role in atherosclerosis is yet to be known. We aimed to examine the impacts of lncRNA H19 on atherogenesis as well as the involved mechanism. The outcomes from this research illustrated that the expression of lncRNA H19 was elevated in mouse blood and aorta with lipid-loaded macrophages and atherosclerosis. Adeno-associated virus (AAV)-mediated lncRNA H19 overexpression significantly increased the atherosclerotic plaque area in apoE^−/− mice supplied with a Western diet. The upregulation of lncRNA H19 decreased the miR-146a-5p expression but increased the levels of ANGPTL4 in mouse blood and aorta and THP-1 cells. Furthermore, lncRNA H19 overexpression promoted lipid accumulation in oxidized low-density lipoprotein (ox-LDL)-induced THP-1 macrophages. However, the knockdown of lncRNA H19 served as a protection against atherosclerosis in apoE^−/− mice and lowered the accumulation of lipids in ox-LDL-induced THP-1 macrophages. lncRNA H19 promoted the expression of ANGPTL4 via competitively binding to miR-146a-5p, thus promoting lipid accumulation in atherosclerosis. These findings altogether demonstrated that lncRNA H19 facilitated the accumulation of lipid in macrophages and aggravated the progression of atherosclerosis through the miR-146a-5p/ANGPTL4 pathway. Targeting lncRNA H19 might be an auspicious therapeutic approach for preventing and treating atherosclerotic disease.

Targeting epigenetics and lncRNAs in liver disease: From mechanisms to therapeutics

Early onset and progression of liver diseases can be driven by aberrant transcriptional regulation. Different transcriptional regulation processes, such as RNA/DNA methylation, histone modification, and ncRNA-mediated targeting, can regulate biological processes in healthy cells, as well also under various pathological conditions, especially liver disease. Numerous studies over the past decades have demonstrated that liver disease has a strong epigenetic component. Therefore, the epigenetic basis of liver disease has challenged our knowledge of epigenetics, and epigenetics field has undergone an important transformation: from a biological phenomenon to an emerging focus of disease research. Furthermore, inhibitors of different epigenetic regulators, such as m⁶A-related factors, are being explored as potential candidates for preventing and treating liver diseases. In the present review, we summarize and discuss the current knowledge of five distinct but interconnected and interdependent epigenetic processes in the context of hepatic diseases: RNA methylation, DNA methylation, histone methylation, miRNAs, and lncRNAs. Finally, we discuss the potential therapeutic implications and future challenges and ongoing research in the field. Our review also provides a perspective for identifying therapeutic targets and new hepatic biomarkers of liver disease, bringing precision research and disease therapy to the modern era of epigenetics.

LncRNAs as Therapeutic Targets and Potential Biomarkers for Lipid-Related Diseases

Lipid metabolism is an essential biological process involved in nutrient adjustment, hormone regulation, and lipid homeostasis. An irregular lifestyle and long-term nutrient overload can cause lipid-related diseases, including atherosclerosis, myocardial infarction (MI), obesity, and fatty liver diseases. Thus, novel tools for efficient diagnosis and treatment of dysfunctional lipid metabolism are urgently required. Furthermore, it is known that lncRNAs based regulation like sponging microRNAs (miRNAs) or serving as a reservoir for microRNAs play an essential role in the progression of lipid-related diseases. Accordingly, a better understanding of the regulatory roles of lncRNAs in lipid-related diseases would provide the basis for identifying potential biomarkers and therapeutic targets for lipid-related diseases. This review highlighted the latest advances on the potential biomarkers of lncRNAs in lipid-related diseases and summarised current knowledge on dysregulated lncRNAs and their potential molecular mechanisms. We have also provided novel insights into the underlying mechanisms of lncRNAs which might serve as potential biomarkers and therapeutic targets for lipid-related diseases. The information presented here may be useful for designing future studies and advancing investigations of lncRNAs as biomarkers for diagnosis, prognosis, and therapy of lipid-related diseases.