Anti-Inflammatory MicroRNAs and Their Potential for Inflammatory Diseases Treatment

MiR-33-Mediated Regulation of Autophagy and Inflammation in CIK Cells Through Atg5

MicroRNA-33 (miR-33) plays a critical role in the regulation of autophagy and inflammatory responses. In this study, C. idella kidney (CIK) cells were transfected with a miR-33 mimic or inhibitor and Atg5 was overexpressed or silenced to elucidate the regulatory mechanism of miR-33. Our findings revealed that the miR-33 mimic significantly decreased the expression of LC3B (a marker of autophagy activation), and the level of autophagy-related genes (Beclin-1, Atg5 and LC3-1) was also significantly downregulated (p < 0.05). Additionally, the miR-33 mimic promoted the secretion of proinflammatory factors, including TNF-α, IL-6, IL-12 and IL-1β (p < 0.05). In contrast, the miR-33 inhibitor significantly enhanced LC3B protein expression and increased the relative expression of Beclin-1 and Atg5 (p < 0.05). The secretion of proinflammatory factors (TNF-α, IL-6 and IL-12) was significantly reduced (p < 0.05). These results suggested that inhibition of miR-33 could induce the initiation of autophagy and attenuate the inflammatory response in CIK cells. Furthermore, we identified Atg5 as a direct target gene of miR-33. Overexpression of Atg5 significantly upregulated the levels of Beclin-1, Atg5, Atg4C and LC3-1, along with a reduction in the secretion of proinflammatory factors (TNF-α, IL-12 and IL-1β). Besides, the activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) were significantly increased (p < 0.05). Conversely, interference with Atg5 expression caused significant downregulation in the expression levels of Beclin-1, Atg5, Atg12, Atg4C and LC3-1, resulting in increased secretion of TNF-α, IL-12 and IL-1β and decreased activity of acid phosphatase (ACP) and SOD (p < 0.05). Taken together, these results suggested that inhibition of miR-33 expression could promote the initiation of autophagy and attenuate the inflammation in CIK cells through targeting Atg5. This study not only enhances the understanding of the mechanism by which miR-33 regulates autophagy and inflammation in fish but also provides a theoretical foundation and novel insights to improve disease management in the fish aquaculture industry.

MicroRNA expression profiling in the adult offspring of rats with periodontal disease

OBJECTIVE

The present study investigated the relationship between maternal periodontal disease, insulin resistance, activation of inflammatory pathways and epigenetic modifications in adult offspring.

DESIGN

Therefore, female Wistar rats were divided into control and experimental groups. Seven days after the induction of periodontal disease, female rats from both groups were mated with healthy male rats. After weaning, male offspring were divided into control offspring (CN-o) and periodontal disease offspring (PED-o) groups. Body weight was measured at 0-75 days of age. At day 75, the following were measured in the offspring: insulin resistance by the HOMA-IR index; global miRNAs by microtranscriptome array; validation of the selected miRNAs by quantitative real-time PCR expression; interleukin 1 receptor associated kinase 1 (IRAK1) and tumor necrosis factor receptor-associated factor 6 (TRAF6) content in the gastrocnemius muscle tissue (GSM) by western blotting.

RESULTS

Maternal periodontal disease leads to low birth weight (LBW) in the offspring and insulin resistance in adulthood; changes in global miRNA expression (5 miRNAs upregulated and 6 downregulated); and increased protein expression of IRAK1 and TRAF6 in GSM.

CONCLUSIONS

These findings demonstrate that maternal periodontal disease causes LBW, insulin resistance, activation of inflammatory pathways, and changes in global miRNA expression.

Peripheral blood miRNAs are associated with airflow below threshold in children with asthma

BACKGROUND

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are crucial post-transcriptional regulators involved in inflammatory diseases, such as asthma. Poor lung function and airflow issues in childhood are linked to the development of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) in adulthood.

METHODS

We analyzed small RNA-Seq data from 365 peripheral whole blood samples from the Genetics of Asthma in Costa Rica Study (GACRS) for association with airflow levels measured by FEV1/FVC. Differentially expressed (DE) miRNAs were identified using DESeq2 in R, adjusting for covariates and applying a 10% false discovery rate (FDR). The analysis included 361 samples and 649 miRNAs. The two DE miRNAs were further tested for association with airflow obstruction in a study of adult former smokers with and without COPD.

RESULTS

We found 1 upregulated and 1 downregulated miRNA in participants with airflow below the threshold compared to those above it. In the adult study, the same miRNAs were upregulated and downregulated in individuals with FEV1/FVC < 0.7 versus those with FEV1/FVC > 0.7, showing suggestive statistical evidence. The target genes of these miRNAs were enriched for PI3K-Akt, Hippo, WNT, MAPK, and focal adhesion pathways.

CONCLUSIONS

Two differentially expressed miRNAs were associated with airflow levels in children with asthma and airflow obstruction in adults with COPD. This suggests that shared genetic regulatory systems may influence childhood airflow and contribute to adulthood airflow obstruction.

Exploring the effect of hsa-miR-19b-3p on IL-1R1 expression and serum levels in alopecia areata

Alopecia areata (AA) is an autoimmune condition marked by hair loss, linked to inflammatory processes involving the interleukin-1 receptor type 1 (IL-1R1) pathway. This study aims to explore the relationship between IL-1R1 gene expression, serum IL-1R1 levels, and hsa-miR-19b-3p in relation to AA severity. Using a case-control design, we assessed 100 AA patients and 100 healthy controls, measuring serum IL-1R1 through enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and analyzing IL-1R1 gene and hsa-miR-19b-3p expression levels via quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR). Bioinformatic analysis predicted a binding site for hsa-miR-19b-3p on the IL-1R1 gene, suggesting a regulatory role for this miRNA in AA pathology. Demonstrated significantly higher serum IL-1R1, IL-1R1 gene expression, and hsa-miR-19b-3p levels in AA patients compared to controls. Within the AA cohort, severe cases showed the highest levels, with notable correlations between serum IL-1R1, IL-1R1 gene expression, and hsa-miR-19b-3p. Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) curve analysis revealed robust diagnostic potential, with area under the curve (AUC) values of 0.71, 0.73, and 0.76 for serum IL-1R1, hsa-miR-19b-3p, and IL-1R1 gene expression, respectively. Elevated IL-1R1 and hsa-miR-19b-3p levels are associated with AA and its severity, suggesting these markers have potential as diagnostic and prognostic indicators. These findings enhance the understanding of IL-1R1's role in AA and highlight potential molecular targets for future therapeutic approaches.

mir-330-5p from mesenchymal stem cell-derived exosomes targets SETD7 to reduce inflammation in rats with cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury

This study was to investigate the role of microRNA (miR)-330-5p derived from mesenchymal stem cells-secreted exosomes (MSCs-Exo) in cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury (CI/RI) through targeting lysine N-methyltransferase SET domain containing 7 (SETD7). MSCs-Exo were separated and identified. MSCs-Exo were used to treat the middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) rat model. By using the nerve injury score, Nissl, hematoxylin and eosin, and terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick-end labeling staining, the neural function, pathological alterations, and neuronal death in MCAO rats were examined. Using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent test, tumor necrosis factor-α, interleukin (IL)-1β, and IL-6 in brain homogenate were tested. Rat brain expression levels of SETD7 and miR-330-5p were examined. Subsequently, the effects of MSCs-Exo, miR-330-5p, and SETD7 on neurological function and pathological alterations were assessed using gain and loss function tests. miR-330-5p expression was decreased and SETD7 expression was increased in the brain tissue of MCAO rats. Both MSCs-Exo and MSCs-Exo-derived miR-330-5p reduced inflammation in MCAO rats. miR-330-5p targeted SETD7, and SETD7 upregulation blocked the therapeutic effect of MSCs-Exo-derived miR-330-5p on MCAO rats. MSCs-Exo-derived miR-330-5p targets SETD7 to reduce inflammation in MCAO rats, providing a new therapeutic target for CI/RI therapy.

miRNAs Dysregulated in Human Papillomavirus-Associated Benign Prostatic Lesions and Prostate Cancer

Prostate pathologies, including chronic prostatitis, benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), and prostate cancer (PCa), are strongly associated with chronic inflammation, which is a key risk factor and hallmark of these diseases [...].

MicroRNA signatures in neuroplasticity, neuroinflammation and neurotransmission in association with depression

Depression is a multifactorial disorder that occurs mainly on account of the dysregulation of neuroplasticity, neurotransmission and neuroinflammation in the brain. In addition to environmental /lifestyle factors, the pathogenesis of disease has been associated with genetic and epigenetic factors that affect the reprogramming of normal brain function. MicroRNA (miRNAs), a type of non-coding RNAs, are emerging as significant players that play a vital role in the regulation of gene expression and have been extensively explored in neurodegenerative disorders. Recent studies have also shown the role of gut microbiota that forms a complex bidirectional network with gut brain axis, impacting neuroinflammation in case of Parkinson's disease and depression. Translating targeted miRNA-based therapies for the treatment of neurological disorders including depression, into clinical practice remains challenging due to the ineffective delivery of the therapeutic molecules and off-target effects of the specific miRNAs. This review provides significant insights into how miRNAs are emerging as vital players in the development of depression, especially the ones involved in three important processes including neuroplasticity, neurotransmission and neuroinflammation. In this review, the current status of miRNAs as biomarkers for therapeutic interventions in the case of depression has been discussed along with an overview of future perspectives, like use of nanotechnology and gene editing, keeping in view other multifactorial disorders where such interventions by mimics and inhibitors have already reached clinical trials. The challenges for targeting the specific miRNAs for therapeutic outcomes have also been highlighted.

Targeting ICAM1 to Ameliorate Vaso-Occlusion and Inflammation in Sickle Cell Disease

Sickle cell disease (SCD) is a hereditary disorder characterized by vaso-occlusion, inflammation, and tissue damage. Intercellular adhesion molecule 1 (ICAM-1) plays a crucial role in the pathophysiology of SCD by promoting the adhesion of sickle cells to the endothelium, contributing to vaso-occlusion and tissue damage. The ICAM-1 gene encodes a glycoprotein that interacts with lymphocyte function-associated antigen 1 (LFA-1) and macrophage 1-antigen (Mac-1) receptors, perpetuating inflammation, and oxidative stress. The NF-κB signaling pathway regulates ICAM-1 expression, which is elevated in patients with SCD, leading to increased endothelial cell activation and damage. Targeting ICAM-1 and its interactions with sickle cells and the endothelium has emerged as a potential therapeutic strategy for managing SCD. This review highlights the complex interplay between ICAM-1, sickle cells, and the endothelium, and discusses the potential of ICAM-1-targeted therapies for mitigating VOC and improving the quality of life for patients with SCD.

Regulatory role of microRNAs in virus-mediated inflammation

Viral infections in humans often cause excessive inflammation. In some viral infections, inflammation can be serious and even fatal, while in other infections it can promote viral clearance. Viruses can escape from the host immune system via regulating inflammatory pathways, thus worsening the illness. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are tiny non-coding RNA molecules expressed within diverse tissues as well as cells and are engaged in different normal pathological and physiological pathways. Emerging proof suggests that miRNAs can impact innate and adaptive immunity, inflammatory responses, cell invasion, and the progression of viral infections. We discuss some intriguing new findings in the current work, focusing on the impacts of different miRNAs on host inflammatory responses and virus-mediated inflammation. A better understanding of dysregulated miRNAs in viral infections could improve the identification, prevention, and treatment of several serious diseases.

Circulatory microRNAs and proinflammatory cytokines as predictors of lupus nephritis

Introduction

Lupus nephritis (LN) is one of the most prevalent severe organ manifestations of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), impacting 70% of SLE patients. MicroRNAs (miRNAs), are small non-coding RNA molecules which influence the expression of approximately one-third of human genes after the process of transcription. Dysregulation of miRNAs was documented in numerous disorders, including SLE and LN. Cytokines are the orchestrators of the immune response in autoimmune diseases. Our study aims to explore the variation in the levels of circulating miRNAs and proinflammatory cytokines as potential diagnostic biomarkers among LN and SLE patients without LN in comparison to controls.

Methods

The study involved 20 LN patients, 20 SLE patients without LN, and 10 healthy controls. Serum levels of IL-12 and IL-21 in addition to miR-124, miR-146a, miR-199a, and miR-21 were assessed using the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for cytokines and quantitative real-time PCR for miRNAs.

Results

A significant downregulation in miR-124 (p<0.001) and a significant overexpression of miR-146a (p=0.005) were found in SLE patients without LN in comparison to controls. In comparison to SLE patients without LN and the control group, miR-199a, miR-21, and miR-146a were significantly upregulated in LN patients (p=<0.001) with high diagnostic values of these miRNAs in discriminating LN from SLE patients without LN according to Receiver operating curve (ROC) analysis. Logistic regression analysis revealed that only miR-199a is an independent predictor of LN (OR 1.69; 95% CI: 1.1-2.6). The expression of miR-124 was reduced in LN patients in comparison to the control but increased in LN patients in comparison to SLE patients without LN. However, there was no statistically significant difference in either scenario. In comparison to both SLE patients without LN and controls, LN patients exhibited the highest serum levels of IL-12 and IL-21, with no statistically significant difference. Regression analysis revealed that only miR-146a was associated with creatinine levels and SLEDAI score (p= 0.009 and 0.03, respectively), while miR-124 was associated with hemoglobin level (p=0.03).

Conclusion

MiR-199a is an independent predictor for LN and might be used as a diagnostic biomarker for this disease. MiR-146a might play an important role in LN pathophysiology.

The miRNA Landscape in Crohn's disease: Implications for novel therapeutic approaches and interactions with Existing therapies

MicroRNAs (miRNAs), which are non-coding RNAs consisting of 18-24 nucleotides, play a crucial role in the regulatory pathways of inflammatory diseases. Several recent investigations have examined the potential role of miRNAs in forming Crohn's disease (CD). It has been suggested that miRNAs serve as diagnostics for both fibrosis and inflammation in CD due to their involvement in the mechanisms of CD aggravation and fibrogenesis. More information on CD pathophysiology could be obtained by identifying the miRNAs concerned with CD and their target genes. These findings have prompted several in vitro and in vivo investigations into the putative function of miRNAs in CD treatment. Although there are still many unanswered questions, the growing body of evidence has brought miRNA-based therapy one step closer to clinical practice. This extensive narrative study offers a concise summary of the most current advancements in CD. We go over what is known about the diagnostic and therapeutic benefits of miRNA mimicry and inhibition so far, and we see what additional miRNA family targets could be useful for treating CD-related inflammation and fibrosis.

Asiaticoside alleviates lipopolysaccharide-induced acute lung injury by blocking Sema4D/CD72 and inhibiting mitochondrial dysfunction in RAW264.7 cell and mice

Acute lung injury (ALI) is a common disease with complex pathogenesis. However, the treatment is mainly symptomatic with limited clinical options. Asiaticoside (AS), a Chinese herbal extract, has protective effects against LPS-induced ALI in mice and inhibits nitric oxide and prostaglandin E2 synthesis; however, the specific mechanism of AS in the prevention and treatment of LPS-induced ALI needs further study. Sema4D/CD72 pathway, mitochondrial dysfunction, and miRNA-21 are closely associated with inflammation. Therefore, the present study aimed to explore whether AS exerts its therapeutic effect on ALI by influencing Sema4D/CD72 pathway and mitochondrial dysfunction, restoring the balance of inflammatory factors, and influencing miRNA-21 expression. Cell and animal experiments were performed to investigate the effect of AS on ALI. Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) was used to establish the ALI model. CCK8 and flow cytometry were used to detect the cell viability and apoptosis rate. HE staining and wet-to-dry weight ratio (W/D) of lung tissue were determined. The expressions of Sema4D, CD72, NF-κB p65, Bax, Bcl2, and caspase 3 in RAW264.7 cells and lung tissues were detected by western blot, and the levels of IL-10 and IL-1β induced by LPS in supernatant of RAW264.7 cells and BALF were measured by ELISA. And the expression of miRNA-21 in cells and lung tissues was detected by fluorescence quantitative PCR. The result shows that AS treatment suppressed LPS-induced cell damage and lung injury in mice. AS treatment could alleviate the pathological changes such as inflammatory infiltration and histopathological changes in the lungs caused by LPS, and reduce the ratio of W/D. AS significantly alleviated the decrease of mitochondrial membrane potential induced by LPS, inhibited the increase of ROS production, and reduced the expression of mitochondrial fission proteins Drp1 and Fis1. The high-dose AS group significantly downregulated the expression of Sema4D, CD72, phosphorylated NF-κB p65, and apoptosis-related proteins, decreased the pro-inflammatory factor IL-1β, and enhanced the level of anti-inflammatory factor IL-10. In addition, AS promoted miRNA-21 expression. These effects inhibited apoptosis and restored the balance between anti- and pro-inflammatory factors. This represents the inaugural report elucidating the mechanism by which AS inhibits the Sema4D/CD72 signaling pathway. These findings offer novel insights into the potential application of AS in both preventing and treating ALI.

LncRNA-NEAT1 inhibits the occurrence and development of pancreatic cancer through spongy miR-146b-5p/traf6

To investigate the inhibitory effect of LNCNA-NEA1 on pancreatic cancer development and progression via spongiosa miR-146b-5p/TRAF6, 60 pancreatic cancer patients diagnosed from December 2017 to December 2019 were selected as a general source of information. Real-time fluorescence quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RTFQ-PCR) was used to detect the expression level of NEAT1 in cancerous and adjacent non-cancerous tissues. Cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8) and transwell were used to determine the effect of LNCNA-NEA1 on the proliferation and migration of pancreatic cancer cells (Panc-1). The results of dual luciferase reporter gene assay showed that nea 1 could target and regulate the expression of spongy miR-146b-5p/TRAF6, and reducing the expression of spongy miR-146b-5p/TRAF6 could reverse the inhibitory effects of nea 1-siRNA on proliferation, migration and invasion of pancreatic cancer cells. Therefore, it was concluded that knockdown of nea 1 could inhibit the proliferation, migration and invasion of pancreatic cancer cells by upregulating the level of miR-146b-5p/TRAF6, and the expression of lnc RNA-nea 1 could be used as an indicator for preoperative diagnosis and postoperative prognosis of pancreatic cancer patients.      .

IRF5 Variants Are Risk Factors for Systemic Lupus Erythematosus in Two Mexican Populations

INTRODUCTION

Interferon regulatory factor 5 ( IRF5 ) is one of the pivotal genes implicated in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) among diverse ethnic groups, including Europeans, Asians, Hispanics, and Africans. Notably, its significance appears particularly pronounced among Hispanic populations. Previous studies have identified several single-nucleotide variants within IRF5 , such as rs2004640G/T, rs2070197T/C, and rs10954213G/A, as associated with susceptibility to SLE among patients from Mexico City. However, the population of Yucatan, located in the Southeast of Mexico and characterized by a greater Amerindian genetic component, remains largely unexplored in this regard.

OBJECTIVES

Our study aimed to replicate the observed association between IRF5 variants and susceptibility to SLE among patients from Central Mexico and Yucatan. Furthermore, we investigated the impact of IRF5 rs59110799G/T, a variant that has not been previously studied in SLE individuals.

METHOD

Our study included 204 SLE patients and 160 controls from Central Mexico, as well as 184 SLE patients and 184 controls from Yucatan. All participants were females 18 years and older. We employed a TaqMan assay to detect the presence of the following single-nucleotide variants: rs2004640G/T, rs2070197T/C, rs10954213G/A, and rs59110799G/T. Furthermore, we utilized 2 distinct web tools and databases to predict the potential functional implications of IRF5 variants.

RESULTS

In SLE patients from Central Mexico, several IRF5 alleles showed significant associations with the disease following adjustment by the Bonferroni test: the rs2070197C allele (odds ratio [OR], 2.08), the rs10954213A allele (OR, 1.59), and the rs59110799G allele (OR, 1.71). Conversely, among patients from Yucatan, the following alleles showed associations: rs2004640T (OR, 1.51), rs2070197C (OR, 1.62), rs10954213A (OR, 1.67), and rs59110799G (OR, 1.44).

CONCLUSION

Our findings highlight genetic variations between Mexican populations and emphasize the role of IRF5 as a risk factor in SLE patients from both Central Mexico and Yucatan.

A brief overview of SARS-CoV-2 infection and its management strategies: a recent update

The COVID-19 pandemic has become a global health crisis, inflicting substantial morbidity and mortality worldwide. A diverse range of symptoms, including fever, cough, dyspnea, and fatigue, characterizes COVID-19. A cytokine surge can exacerbate the disease's severity. This phenomenon involves an increased immune response, marked by the excessive release of inflammatory cytokines like IL-6, IL-8, TNF-α, and IFNγ, leading to tissue damage and organ dysfunction. Efforts to reduce the cytokine surge and its associated complications have garnered significant attention. Standardized management protocols have incorporated treatment strategies, with corticosteroids, chloroquine, and intravenous immunoglobulin taking the forefront. The recent therapeutic intervention has also assisted in novel strategies like repurposing existing medications and the utilization of in vitro drug screening methods to choose effective molecules against viral infections. Beyond acute management, the significance of comprehensive post-COVID-19 management strategies, like remedial measures including nutritional guidance, multidisciplinary care, and follow-up, has become increasingly evident. As the understanding of COVID-19 pathogenesis deepens, it is becoming increasingly evident that a tailored approach to therapy is imperative. This review focuses on effective treatment measures aimed at mitigating COVID-19 severity and highlights the significance of comprehensive COVID-19 management strategies that show promise in the battle against COVID-19.

MicroRNAs Modulating Neuroinflammation in Parkinson's disease

Parkinson's disease (PD) is one of the most frequent age-associated neurodegenerative disorder. Presence of α-synuclein-containing aggregates in the substantia nigra pars compacta (SNpc) and loss of dopaminergic (DA) neurons are among the characteristic of PD. One of the hallmarks of PD pathophysiology is chronic neuroinflammation. Activation of glial cells and elevated levels of pro-inflammatory factors are confirmed as frequent features of the PD brain. Chronic secretion of pro-inflammatory cytokines by activated astrocytes and microglia exacerbates DA neuron degeneration in the SNpc. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are among endogenous non-coding small RNA with the ability to perform post-transcriptional regulation in target genes. In that regard, the capability of miRNAs for modulating inflammatory signaling is the center of attention in many investigations. MiRNAs could enhance or limit inflammatory signaling, exacerbating or ameliorating the pathological consequences of extreme neuroinflammation. This review summarizes the importance of inflammation in the pathophysiology of PD. Besides, we discuss the role of miRNAs in promoting or protecting neural cell injury in the PD model by controlling the inflammatory pathway. Modifying the neuroinflammation by miRNAs could be considered a primary therapeutic strategy for PD.

Anti-Inflammatory Effects of miR-369-3p via PDE4B in Intestinal Inflammatory Response

Cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterases (PDEs) consist of a family of enzymes expressed in several types of cells, including inflammatory cells, that play a pivotal role in inflammation. Several studies have demonstrated that the inhibition of PDE4 results in a reduced inflammatory response via PKA and CREB signaling. Hence, PDE4 suppression improves the inflammatory feedback typical of several diseases, such as inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). In our previous studies, we have demonstrated that miR-369-3p regulates inflammatory responses, modulating different aspects of the inflammatory process. The aim of this study was to demonstrate an additional anti-inflammatory effect of miR-369-3p targeting PDE4B, one of the widely expressed isoforms in immune cells. We found that miR-369-3p was able to reduce the expression of PDE4B, elevating the intracellular levels of cAMP. This accumulation increased the expression of PKA and pCREB, mitigating the release of pro-inflammatory cytokines and promoting the release of anti-inflammatory cytokines. To prove that PDE4B is a good therapeutic target in IBD, we also demonstrate that the expression of PDE4B was increased in UC patients compared to healthy controls, affecting the immune infiltrate. PDE4B is considered an important player in inflammatory progression; hence, our results show the ability of miR-369-3p to ameliorate inflammation by targeting PDE4B, supporting its future application as a new therapeutic approach in IBD.

Unraveling the Impact of miR-146a in Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension Pathophysiology and Right Ventricular Function

Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is a chronic disorder characterized by excessive pulmonary vascular remodeling, leading to elevated pulmonary vascular resistance and right ventricle (RV) overload and failure. MicroRNA-146a (miR-146a) promotes vascular smooth muscle cell proliferation and vascular neointimal hyperplasia, both hallmarks of PAH. This study aimed to investigate the effects of miR-146a through pharmacological or genetic inhibition on experimental PAH and RV pressure overload animal models. Additionally, we examined the overexpression of miR-146a on human pulmonary artery smooth muscle cells (hPASMCs). Here, we showed that miR-146a genic expression was increased in the lungs of patients with PAH and the plasma of monocrotaline (MCT) rats. Interestingly, genetic ablation of miR-146a improved RV hypertrophy and systolic pressures in Sugen 5415/hypoxia (SuHx) and pulmonary arterial banding (PAB) mice. Pharmacological inhibition of miR-146a improved RV remodeling in PAB-wild type mice and MCT rats, and enhanced exercise capacity in MCT rats. However, overexpression of miR-146a did not affect proliferation, migration, and apoptosis in control-hPASMCs. Our findings show that miR-146a may play a significant role in RV function and remodeling, representing a promising therapeutic target for RV hypertrophy and, consequently, PAH.

Nucleic acid-based nanotherapeutics for treating sepsis and associated organ injuries

In recent years, gene therapy has been made possible with the success of nucleic acid drugs against sepsis and its related organ dysfunction. Therapeutics based on nucleic acids such as small interfering RNAs (siRNAs), microRNAs (miRNAs), messenger RNAs (mRNAs), and plasmid DNAs (pDNAs) guarantee to treat previously undruggable diseases. The advantage of nucleic acid-based therapy against sepsis lies in the development of nanocarriers, achieving targeted and controlled gene delivery for improved efficacy with minimal adverse effects. Entrapment into nanocarriers also ameliorates the poor cellular uptake of naked nucleic acids. In this study, we discuss the current state of the art in nanoparticles for nucleic acid delivery to treat hyperinflammation and apoptosis associated with sepsis. The optimized design of the nanoparticles through physicochemical property modification and ligand conjugation can target specific organs-such as lung, heart, kidney, and liver-to mitigate multiple sepsis-associated organ injuries. This review highlights the nanomaterials designed for fabricating the anti-sepsis nanosystems, their physicochemical characterization, the mechanisms of nucleic acid-based therapy in working against sepsis, and the potential for promoting the therapeutic efficiency of the nucleic acids. The current investigations associated with nanoparticulate nucleic acid application in sepsis management are summarized in this paper. Noteworthily, the potential application of nanotherapeutic nucleic acids allows for a novel strategy to treat sepsis. Further clinical studies are required to confirm the findings in cell- and animal-based experiments. The capability of large-scale production and reproducibility of nanoparticle products are also critical for commercialization. It is expected that numerous anti-sepsis possibilities will be investigated for nucleic acid-based nanotherapeutics in the future.

Comprehensive assessment of circulatory miRNAs as potential diagnostic markers in HCV recurrence post liver transplantation

HCV recurrence after liver transplantation is one of the causal agents for graft rejection. This study aims to profile non-invasive biomarkers in patients with HCC who had liver transplants. One hundred participants were categorized into three groups (20 control, 32 recurrent HCV (RHCV), and 48 non-RHCV). The expression of six miRNAs (hsa-miR-124-3p, hsa-miR-155-5p, hsa-miR-205-5p, hsa-miR-499a-5p, hsa-miR-574-3p, and hsa-miR-103a-3p) and two mRNAs IL-1β, STAT1 were quantified. RHCV group has higher levels of hsa-miR-574-3p and hsa-miR-155-5p and lesser levels of hsa-miR-499a-5p than control groups (p = 0.024, 0.0001, 0.002; respectively). RHCV and non-RHCV groups revealed a significant reduction in levels of IL-1β and STAT1 mRNA compared to the control (p = 0.011, 0.014; respectively). According to ROC analysis, miR-155-5p can differentiate among the patients' groups, while miR-574-3p, IL-1β, and STAT1 mRNA can discriminate between RHCV and control groups. In conclusion, RHCV patients have dysregulated expression of five transcripts compared to non-RHCV and control groups.

The science of exosomes: Understanding their formation, capture, and role in cellular communication

Extracellular vesicles (EVs) serve as a crucial method for transferring information among cells, which is vital in multicellular organisms. Among these vesicles, exosomes are notable for their small size, ranging from 20 to 150 nm, and their role in cell-to-cell communication. They carry lipids, proteins, and nucleic acids between cells. The creation of exosomes begins with the inward budding of the cell membrane, which then encapsulates various macromolecules as cargo. Once filled, exosomes are released into the extracellular space and taken up by target cells via endocytosis and similar processes. The composition of exosomal cargo varies, encompassing diverse macromolecules with specific functions. Because of their significant roles, exosomes have been isolated from various cell types, including cancer cells, endothelial cells, macrophages, and mesenchymal cells, with the aim of harnessing them for therapeutic applications. Exosomes influence cellular metabolism, and regulate lipid, glucose, and glutamine pathways. Their role in pathogenesis is determined by their cargo, which can manipulate processes such as apoptosis, proliferation, inflammation, migration, and other molecular pathways in recipient cells. Non-coding RNA transcripts, a common type of cargo, play a pivotal role in regulating disease progression. Exosomes are implicated in numerous biological and pathological processes, including inflammation, cancer, cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, wound healing, and ischemic-reperfusion injury. As a result, they hold significant potential in the treatment of both cancerous and non-cancerous conditions.

Recent Advances of Engineered Cell Membrane-Based Nanotherapeutics to Combat Inflammatory Diseases

An immune reaction known as inflammation serves as a shield from external danger signals, but an overactive immune system may additionally lead to tissue damage and even a variety of inflammatory disorders. By inheriting biological functionalities and serving as both a therapeutic medication and a drug carrier, cell membrane-based nanotherapeutics offer the potential to treat inflammatory disorders. To further strengthen the anti-inflammatory benefits of natural cell membranes, researchers alter and optimize the membranes using engineering methods. This review focuses on engineered cell membrane-based nanotherapeutics (ECMNs) and their application in treating inflammation-related diseases. Specifically, this article discusses the methods of engineering cell membranes for inflammatory diseases and examines the progress of ECMNs in inflammation-targeted therapy, inflammation-neutralizing therapy, and inflammation-immunomodulatory therapy. Additionally, the article looks into the perspectives and challenges of ECMNs in inflammatory treatment and offers suggestions as well as guidance to encourage further investigations and implementations in this area.

A point-of-care electrochemical biosensor for the rapid and sensitive detection of biomarkers in murine models with LPS-induced sepsis

Sepsis is a life-threatening condition, which is irreversible if diagnosis and intervention are delayed. The response of the immune cells towards an infection triggers widespread inflammation through the production of cytokines, which may result in multiple organ dysfunction and eventual death. Conventional detection techniques fail to provide a rapid diagnosis because of their limited sensitivity and tedious protocol. This study proposes a point-of-care (POC) electrochemical biosensor that overcomes the limitations of current biosensing technologies in the clinical setting by its integration with electrokinetics, enhancing the sensitivity to picogram level compared with the nanogram limit of current diagnostic technologies. This biosensor promotes the use of a microelectrode strip to address the limitations of conventional photolithographic fabrication methods. Tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), interleukin-6 (IL-6), and microRNA-155 (miR-155) were monitored in a lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced septic mouse model. The optimum target hybridization time in a high conductivity medium was observed to be 60 s leading to the completion of the whole operation within 5 min compared with the 4-h detection time of the traditional enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The limit of detection (LOD) was calculated to be 0.84, 0.18, and 0.0014 pg mL-1, respectively. This novel sensor may have potential for the early diagnosis of sepsis in the clinical setting.

RNA therapeutics in targeting G protein-coupled receptors: Recent advances and challenges

G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) are the major targets of existing drugs for a plethora of human diseases and dominate the pharmaceutical market. However, over 50% of the GPCRs remain undruggable. To pursue a breakthrough and overcome this situation, there is significant clinical research for developing RNA-based drugs specifically targeting GPCRs, but none has been approved so far. RNA therapeutics represent a unique and promising approach to selectively targeting previously undruggable targets, including undruggable GPCRs. However, the development of RNA therapeutics faces significant challenges in areas of RNA stability and efficient in vivo delivery. This review presents an overview of the advances in RNA therapeutics and the diverse types of nanoparticle RNA delivery systems. It also describes the potential applications of GPCR-targeted RNA drugs for various human diseases.

Genetic and epigenetic modulations in toxicity: The two-sided roles of heavy metals and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons from the environment

This study emphasizes the importance of considering the metabolic and toxicity mechanisms of environmental concern chemicals in real-life exposure scenarios. Furthermore, environmental chemicals may require metabolic activation to become toxic, and competition for binding sites on receptors can affect the severity of toxicity. The multicomplex process of chemical toxicity is reflected in the activation of multiple pathways during toxicity of which AhR activation is major. Real-life exposure to a mixture of concern chemicals is common, and the composition of these chemicals determines the severity of toxicity. Nutritional essential elements can mitigate the toxicity of toxic heavy metals, while the types and ratio of composition of PAH can either increase or decrease toxicity. The epigenetic mechanisms of heavy metals and PAH toxicity involves either down-regulation or up-regulation of some non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) whereas specific small RNAs (sRNAs) may have dual role depending on the tissue and circumstance of expression. Similarly, decrease DNA methylation and histone modification are major players in heavy metals and PAH mediated toxicity and FLT1 hypermethylation is a major process in PAH induced carcinogenesis. Overall, this review provides the understanding of the metabolism of environmental concern chemicals, emphasizing the importance of considering mixed compositions and real-life exposure scenarios in assessing their potential effects on human health and diseases development as well as the dual mechanism of toxicity via genetic or epigenetic axis.

Anti-Inflammatory Therapeutic Mechanisms of Isothiocyanates: Insights from Sulforaphane

Isothiocyanates (ITCs) belong to a group of natural products that possess a highly reactive electrophilic -N=C=S functional group. They are stored in plants as precursor molecules, glucosinolates, which are processed by the tyrosinase enzyme upon plant tissue damage to release ITCs, along with other products. Isolated from broccoli, sulforaphane is by far the most studied antioxidant ITC, acting primarily through the induction of a transcription factor, the nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2), which upregulates downstream antioxidant genes/proteins. Paradoxically, sulforaphane, as a pro-oxidant compound, can also increase the levels of reactive oxygen species, a mechanism which is attributed to its anticancer effect. Beyond highlighting the common pro-oxidant and antioxidant effects of sulforaphane, the present paper was designed to assess the diverse anti-inflammatory mechanisms reported to date using a variety of in vitro and in vivo experimental models. Sulforaphane downregulates the expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines, chemokines, adhesion molecules, cycloxyhenase-2, and inducible nitric oxide synthase. The signalling pathways of nuclear factor κB, activator protein 1, sirtuins 1, silent information regulator sirtuin 1 and 3, and microRNAs are among those affected by sulforaphane. These anti-inflammatory actions are sometimes due to direct action via interaction with the sulfhydryl structural moiety of cysteine residues in enzymes/proteins. The following are among the topics discussed in this paper: paradoxical signalling pathways such as the immunosuppressant or immunostimulant mechanisms; crosstalk between the oxidative and inflammatory pathways; and effects dependent on health and disease states.

miRNAs dysregulation in ankylosing spondylitis: A review of implications for disease mechanisms, and diagnostic markers

Epigenetic processes, including non-coding RNA, histone modifications, and DNA methylation, play a vital role in connecting the environment to the development of a disorder, especially when there is a favorable genetic background. Ankylosing Spondylitis (AS) is a chronic type of spinal arthritis that highlights the significance of epigenetics in diseases related to autoimmunity and inflammation. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small non-coding RNAs that are involved in both normal and aberrant pathological and physiological gene expression. This study focuses on the pathophysiological pathways to clarify the role of miRNAs in AS. We have conducted a thorough investigation of the involvement of miRNAs in several processes, including inflammation, the production of new bone, T-cell activity, and the regulation of pathways such as BMP, Wnt, and TGFβ signaling. Undoubtedly, miRNAs play a crucial role in enhancing our comprehension of the pathophysiology of AS, and their promise as a therapeutic strategy is quickly expanding.

Lessons learned from bovine subclinical endometritis: A systematic review exploring its potential relevance to chronic endometritis in women

Chronic endometritis (CE) in humans is asymptomatic inflammation of the endometrium, associated with poor reproductive outcomes. Similarly asymptomatic endometrial inflammation in cows, termed subclinical endometritis (SCE), is associated with adverse reproductive outcomes. While the pathophysiology and treatment options for CE in humans remains poorly defined, the financial implications of SCE in dairy cows mean it has been intensively researched. We performed a systematic review with an emergent theme thematic analysis of studies of SCE in cows, to determine potential areas of interest in human CE research. A literature search for studies of subclinical endometritis in cows published between 1990 and November 2021 was performed across Embase, Medline, Scopus and CINAHL. Studies of symptomatic or clinical endometritis were excluded. Thematic analysis across two broad themes were explored: diagnostic methods and pathophysiology of SCE. In total, 44 bovine studies were included. 12 studies reported on diagnostic methodology. The primary emergent theme was the use of cytology for the diagnosis of SCE. This method has a lower sensitivity than histopathology but is less invasive and more specific than alternative techniques of ultrasound, vaginoscopy, or metabolic markers. The subthemes related to pathophysiology were identified as type of endometritis, metabolic stress, artificial insemination, infective causes, and altered cellular pathways. Despite the lack of symptoms, cellular pathways of inflammation including NFkB, MAPK, and inflammasomes were found to be activated. The key themes related to the diagnosis and pathophysiology of SCE in cows identified in this systematic review highlight potential areas for future research into human CE.

Genetically Engineered Microorganisms and Their Impact on Human Health

The emergence of antibiotic-resistant strains, the decreased effectiveness of conventional therapies, and the side effects have led researchers to seek a safer, more cost-effective, patient-friendly, and effective method that does not develop antibiotic resistance. With progress in synthetic biology and genetic engineering, genetically engineered microorganisms effective in treatment, prophylaxis, drug delivery, and diagnosis have been developed. The present study reviews the types of genetically engineered bacteria and phages, their impacts on diseases, cancer, and metabolic and inflammatory disorders, the biosynthesis of these modified strains, the route of administration, and their effects on the environment. We conclude that genetically engineered microorganisms can be considered promising candidates for adjunctive treatment of diseases and cancers.

Metabolic disorders affecting the liver and heart: Therapeutic efficacy of miRNA-based therapies?

Liver and heart disease are major causes of death worldwide. It is known that metabolic alteration causing type 2 diabetes (T2D) and Nonalcoholic fatty liver (NAFLD) coupled with a derangement in lipid homeostasis, may exacerbate hepatic and cardiovascular diseases. Some pharmacological treatments can mitigate organ dysfunctions but the important side effects limit their efficacy leading often to deterioration of the tissues. It needs to develop new personalized treatment approaches and recent progresses of engineered RNA molecules are becoming increasingly viable as alternative treatments. This review outlines the current use of antisense oligonucleotides (ASOs), RNA interference (RNAi) and RNA genome editing as treatment for rare metabolic disorders. However, the potential for small non-coding RNAs to serve as therapeutic agents for liver and heart diseases is yet to be fully explored. Although miRNAs are recognized as biomarkers for many diseases, they are also capable of serving as drugs for medical intervention; several clinical trials are testing miRNAs as therapeutics for type 2 diabetes, nonalcoholic fatty liver as well as cardiac diseases. Recent advances in RNA-based therapeutics may potentially facilitate a novel application of miRNAs as agents and as druggable targets. In this work, we sought to summarize the advancement and advantages of miRNA selective therapy when compared to conventional drugs. In particular, we sought to emphasise druggable miRNAs, over ASOs or other RNA therapeutics or conventional drugs. Finally, we sought to address research questions related to efficacy, side-effects, and range of use of RNA therapeutics. Additionally, we covered hurdles and examined recent advances in the use of miRNA-based RNA therapy in metabolic disorders such as diabetes, liver, and heart diseases.

Molecular underpinnings of programming by early-life stress and the protective effects of early dietary ω6/ω3 ratio, basally and in response to LPS: Integrated mRNA-miRNAs approach

Early-life stress (ELS) exposure increases the risk for mental disorders, including cognitive impairments later in life. We have previously demonstrated that an early diet with low ω6/ω3 polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) ratio protects against ELS-induced cognitive impairments. Several studies have implicated the neuroimmune system in the ELS and diet mediated effects, but currently the molecular pathways via which ELS and early diet exert their long-term impact are not yet fully understood. Here we study the effects of ELS and dietary PUFA ratio on hippocampal mRNA and miRNA expression in adulthood, both under basal as well as inflammatory conditions. Male mice were exposed to chronic ELS by the limiting bedding and nesting material paradigm from postnatal day(P)2 to P9, and provided with a diet containing a standard (high (15:1.1)) or protective (low (1.1:1)) ω6 linoleic acid to ω3 alpha-linolenic acid ratio from P2 to P42. At P120, memory was assessed using the object location task. Subsequently, a single lipopolysaccharide (LPS) injection was given and 24 h later hippocampal genome-wide mRNA and microRNA (miRNA) expression was measured using microarray. Spatial learning deficits induced by ELS in mice fed the standard (high ω6/ω3) diet were reversed by the early-life protective (low ω6/ω3) diet. An integrated miRNA - mRNA analysis revealed that ELS and early diet induced miRNA driven mRNA expression changes into adulthood. Under basal conditions both ELS and the diet affected molecular pathways related to hippocampal plasticity, with the protective (low ω6/ω3 ratio) diet leading to activation of molecular pathways associated with improved hippocampal plasticity and learning and memory in mice previously exposed to ELS (e.g., CREB signaling and endocannabinoid neuronal synapse pathway). LPS induced miRNA and mRNA expression was strongly dependent on both ELS and early diet. In mice fed the standard (high ω6/ω3) diet, LPS increased miRNA expression leading to activation of inflammatory pathways. In contrast, in mice fed the protective diet, LPS reduced miRNA expression and altered target mRNA expression inhibiting inflammatory signaling pathways and pathways associated with hippocampal plasticity, which was especially apparent in mice previously exposed to ELS. This data provides molecular insights into how the protective (low ω6/ω3) diet during development could exert its long-lasting beneficial effects on hippocampal plasticity and learning and memory especially in a vulnerable population exposed to stress early in life, providing the basis for the development of intervention strategies.

Expression of Circulating let-7e and miR-126 May Predict Clinical Remission in Patients With Crohn's Disease Treated With Anti-TNF-α Biologics

BACKGROUND

The identification of new biomarkers predictive of response to antitumor necrosis factor alpha (anti-TNF-α) monoclonal antibodies remains an unmet medical need in Crohn's disease (CD) because a high percentage of patients show no clinical improvement after treatment or can lose response over time. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) can regulate inflammatory and immunological responses and were found to play a role in CD.

METHODS

Baseline serum samples from 37 CD patients previously treated with infliximab or adalimumab, as per clinical practice, were obtained from the serum library at the Gastroenterology Unit of the University Hospital of Pisa, Italy. Patients were categorized as responders or nonresponders based on the following treatment outcomes: clinical remission at weeks 14 and 54 and endoscopic remission at week 54. The expression levels of a panel of selected miRNAs were analyzed by real-time polymerase chain reaction. Comparisons of miRNA expression between responders and nonresponders and statistical analyses were performed by MedCalc and GraphPad Prism software. Receiver operating characteristic curve analyses were calculated to evaluate the predictive performance of potential biomarkers.

RESULTS

Patients in clinical remission at week 14 had a lower let-7e expression, whereas those in clinical remission at week 54 had lower levels of circulating miR-126 than nonresponders. The receiver operating characteristic curve analysis identified optimal cutoff values with assay sensitivity and specificity of 92.9% and 61.1%, for let-7e, and 62.5% and 83.3%, for miR-126, respectively.

CONCLUSION

These results provide evidence that expression levels of circulating let-7e and miR-126 at baseline may predict clinical remission in CD patients treated with anti-TNF-α biologics.

MicroRNA-mediated epigenetic regulation of inflammasomes in inflammatory responses and immunopathologies

Inflammation represents the first-line defense mechanism of the host against pathogens and cellular stress. One of the most critical inflammatory responses is characterized by the activation of inflammasomes, intracellular multiprotein complexes that induce inflammatory signaling pathways in response to various pathogen-associated molecular patterns or danger-associated molecular patterns under physiological and pathological conditions. Inflammasomes are tightly regulated in normal cells, and dysregulation of these complexes is observed in various pathological conditions, especially inflammatory diseases and cancers. Epigenetic regulation has been suggested as a key mechanism in modulating inflammasome activity, and microRNAs (miRNAs) have been implicated in the post-transcriptional regulation of inflammasomes. Therefore, miRNA-mediated epigenetic regulation of inflammasomes in pathological conditions has received considerable attention, and current strategies for targeting inflammasomes have been shown to be effective in the treatment of diseases associated with inflammasome activation. This review summarizes recent studies suggesting the roles of miRNAs in the epigenetic control of inflammasomes and highlights the potential of miRNAs as a therapeutic tool for treating human diseases.

Investigation of the miRNA levels changes to acceptable daily intake dose pesticide mixture exposure on rat mesentery and pancreas

Consumers are constantly exposed to a variety of chemical mixtures as part of their everyday activities and lifestyle. Food, water and commercial products are only some examples of the possible ways people get exposed to these mixtures. However, following federal and local guidelines for risk assessment related to chemical exposure, risk analysis focuses on a single substance exposure scenario and not on a mixture, as in real life. Realizing the pronounced gap of this methodology, the real-life risk simulation scenario approach tries to address this problem by investigating the possible effect of long-term exposure to chemical mixtures closely resembling the actual circumstances of modern life. As part of this effort, this study aimed to identify the cumulative effects of pesticides belonging to different classes and commonly used commercial products on long-term exposure with realistic doses. Sprague Dawley rats were given a pesticide mix of active ingredients and formulation chemicals in a daily acceptable dose (ADI) and 10xADI for 90 days. Following thorough everyday documentation of possible side-effects, after 90 days all animals were sacrificed and their organs were examined. Exposure to pesticides particularly affects the miRNA levels at that point will provide us with more information about whether they can be potential biomarkers.

Nonspecific Orbital Inflammation (NSOI): Unraveling the Molecular Pathogenesis, Diagnostic Modalities, and Therapeutic Interventions

Nonspecific orbital inflammation (NSOI), colloquially known as orbital pseudotumor, sometimes presents a diagnostic and therapeutic challenge in ophthalmology. This review aims to dissect NSOI through a molecular lens, offering a comprehensive overview of its pathogenesis, clinical presentation, diagnostic methods, and management strategies. The article delves into the underpinnings of NSOI, examining immunological and environmental factors alongside intricate molecular mechanisms involving signaling pathways, cytokines, and mediators. Special emphasis is placed on emerging molecular discoveries and approaches, highlighting the significance of understanding molecular mechanisms in NSOI for the development of novel diagnostic and therapeutic tools. Various diagnostic modalities are scrutinized for their utility and limitations. Therapeutic interventions encompass medical treatments with corticosteroids and immunomodulatory agents, all discussed in light of current molecular understanding. More importantly, this review offers a novel molecular perspective on NSOI, dissecting its pathogenesis and management with an emphasis on the latest molecular discoveries. It introduces an integrated approach combining advanced molecular diagnostics with current clinical assessments and explores emerging targeted therapies. By synthesizing these facets, the review aims to inform clinicians and researchers alike, paving the way for molecularly informed, precision-based strategies for managing NSOI.

Integrative role of small non-coding RNAs in viral immune response: a systematic review

Various viruses cause viral infection, and these viruses have different microscopic sizes, genetic material, and morphological forms. Due to a viral infection, the host body induces defense mechanisms that activate the innate and adaptive immune system. sncRNAs are involved in various biological processes and play an essential role in antiviral response in viruses including ZIKV, HCV, DENV, SARS-CoV, and West Nile virus, and regulate the complex interactions between the viruses and host cells. This review discusses the role of miRNAs, siRNAs, piRNAs, and tiRNAs in antiviral response. Cellular miRNAs bind with virus mRNA and perform their antiviral response in multiple viruses. However, the chemical modifications of miRNA necessary to avoid nuclease attack, which is then involved with intracellular processing, have proven challenging for therapeutic replacement of miRNAs. siRNAs have significant antiviral responses by targeting any gene of interest along the correct nucleotide of targeting mRNA. Due to this ability, siRNAs have valuable characteristics in antiviral response for therapeutic purposes. Additionally, the researchers noted the involvement of piRNAs and tiRNAs in the antiviral response, yet their findings were deemed insignificant.

MicroRNAs modulate immunological and inflammatory responses in Holstein cattle naturally infected with Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) regulate the post-transcriptional expression of genes by binding to their target mRNAs. In this study, whole miRNA sequencing was used to compare the expression of miRNAs in ileocecal valve (ICV) and peripheral blood (PB) samples of cows with focal or diffuse paratuberculosis (PTB)-associated lesions in gut tissues versus (vs) control cows without lesions. Among the eight miRNAs differentially expressed in the PB samples from cows with diffuse lesions vs controls, three (miR-19a, miR-144, miR32) were also down-regulated in cows with diffuse vs focal lesions. In the ICV samples, we identified a total of 4, 5, and 18 miRNAs differentially expressed in cows with focal lesions vs controls, diffuse lesions vs controls, and diffuse vs focal lesions, respectively. The differential expression of five microRNAs (miR-19a, miR-144, miR-2425-3p, miR-139, miR-101) was confirmed by RT-qPCR. Next, mRNA target prediction was performed for each differentially expressed miRNA. A functional analysis using the predicted gene targets revealed a significant enrichment of the RNA polymerase and MAPK signaling pathways in the comparison of cows with focal vs no lesions and with diffuse vs focal lesions, respectively. The identified miRNAs could be used for the development of novel diagnostic and therapeutical tools for PTB control.

MicroRNAs in Aseptic Loosening of Prosthesis: Pathophysiology and Potential Therapeutic Approaches

Objectives

Aseptic loosening (AL) is one of the leading causes of total joint arthroplasty (TJA) revision. Discovering the roles of microRNAs (miRNA/miR) in ontogenesis and osteolysis has attracted more attention to diagnosing and treating bone disorders. This review aimed to summarize miRNA biogenesis and describe the involvement of miRNAs in AL of implants.

Methods

A detailed search was carried out on scientific search engines, including Google Scholar, Web of Science, and PubMed, to find appropriate papers related to subjects. The search process was performed using the following keywords: "Implant", "miRNAs", "Wear particles", "Osteoclasts", "Total joint replacement", and "Osteolytic diseases".

Results

miRNAs play an essential role in the regulation of gene expression. AL is associated with several pathologic properties, including wear particle-induced persistent inflammatory response, unbalanced osteoclastogenesis, abnormal osteoblast differentiation, and maturation. Recent researches have revealed that these pathological events are closely associated with miRNA deregulation, confirming the relationship between miRNA and AL of prostheses.

Conclusion

With the results of the new approaches to target miRNA, the essential role of miRNA is further defined. Understanding the mechanisms of miRNAs and related signaling pathways in the pathophysiology of AL will help scientists illuminate novel therapeutic strategies and specific targeted drugs.

Unraveling the role of miRNAs in the diagnosis, progression, and therapeutic intervention of Parkinson's disease

Parkinson's disease (PD) is a debilitating neurological disorder characterized by the impairment of the motor system, resulting in symptoms such as resting tremor, cogwheel rigidity, bradykinesia, difficulty with gait, and postural instability. The occurrence of striatal dopamine insufficiency can be attributed to a notable decline in dopaminergic neurons inside the substantia nigra pars compacta. Additionally, the development of Lewy bodies serves as a pathological hallmark of PD. While current therapy approaches for PD aim to preserve dopaminergic neurons or replenish dopamine levels in the brain, it is important to acknowledge that achieving complete remission of the condition remains elusive. MicroRNAs (miRNAs, miR) are a class of small, non-coding ribonucleic acids involved in regulating gene expression at the post-transcriptional level. The miRNAs play a crucial part in the underlying pathogenic mechanisms of several neurodegenerative illnesses, including PD. The aim of this review is to explore the role of miRNAs in regulating genes associated with the onset and progression of PD, investigate the potential of miRNAs as a diagnostic tool, assess the effectiveness of targeting specific miRNAs as an alternative therapeutic strategy to impede disease advancement, and discuss the utilization of newly developed nanoparticles for delivering miRNAs as neurodegenerative therapies.

Use of Olives-derived Phytochemicals for Prevention and Treatment of Atherosclerosis: An Update

Mediterranean diet is frequently associated with longevity and a lower incidence of adverse cardiovascular events because of the biological activities and health effects of olives - its key component. Olive oil, olive leaf extract, fruits and different by-products contain many bioactive components that exert anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory and anti-apoptotic activities. In this review, we focus on the recent studies exploring molecular mechanisms underlying the cardioprotective properties of different olive oils, olive leave extracts, and specific micro-constituents (such as oleuropein, tyrosol, hydroxytyrosol and others) in vitro on rodent models and in clinical trials on human subjects. Particularly, hydroxytyrosol and oleuropein were identified as the major bioactive compounds responsible for the antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-platelet aggregation and anti-atherogenic activities of olive oil. In total, the discussed results demonstrated a positive association between the consumption of olive oil and improvement in outcomes in atherosclerosis, diabetes, myocardial infarction, heart failure, hypertension and obesity.

Current Updates on the Role of MicroRNA in the Diagnosis and Treatment of Neurodegenerative Diseases

BACKGROUND

MicroRNAs (miRNA) are small noncoding RNAs that play a significant role in the regulation of gene expression. The literature has explored the key involvement of miRNAs in the diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment of various neurodegenerative diseases (NDD), such as Alzheimer's disease (AD), Parkinson's disease (PD), and Huntington's disease (HD). The miRNA regulates various signalling pathways; its dysregulation is involved in the pathogenesis of NDD.

OBJECTIVE

The present review is focused on the involvement of miRNAs in the pathogenesis of NDD and their role in the treatment or management of NDD. The literature provides comprehensive and cutting-edge knowledge for students studying neurology, researchers, clinical psychologists, practitioners, pathologists, and drug development agencies to comprehend the role of miRNAs in the NDD's pathogenesis, regulation of various genes/signalling pathways, such as α-synuclein, P53, amyloid-β, high mobility group protein (HMGB1), and IL-1β, NMDA receptor signalling, cholinergic signalling, etc. Methods: The issues associated with using anti-miRNA therapy are also summarized in this review. The data for this literature were extracted and summarized using various search engines, such as Google Scholar, Pubmed, Scopus, and NCBI using different terms, such as NDD, PD, AD, HD, nanoformulations of mRNA, and role of miRNA in diagnosis and treatment.

RESULTS

The miRNAs control various biological actions, such as neuronal differentiation, synaptic plasticity, cytoprotection, neuroinflammation, oxidative stress, apoptosis and chaperone-mediated autophagy, and neurite growth in the central nervous system and diagnosis. Various miRNAs are involved in the regulation of protein aggregation in PD and modulating β-secretase activity in AD. In HD, mutation in the huntingtin (Htt) protein interferes with Ago1 and Ago2, thus affecting the miRNA biogenesis. Currently, many anti-sense technologies are in the research phase for either inhibiting or promoting the activity of miRNA.

CONCLUSION

This review provides new therapeutic approaches and novel biomarkers for the diagnosis and prognosis of NDDs by using miRNA.

The Discovery and Characterization of Conserved and Novel miRNAs in the Different Developmental Stages and Organs of Pikeperch (Sander lucioperca)

Micro RNAs (miRNAs) are short non-coding RNAs that act as post-transcriptional gene expression regulators. Genes regulated in vertebrates include those affecting growth and development or stress and immune response. Pikeperch (Sander lucioperca) is a species that is increasingly being considered for farming in recirculation aquaculture systems. We characterized the pikeperch miRNA repertoire to increase the knowledge of the genomic mechanisms affecting performance and health traits by applying small RNA sequencing to different developmental stages and organs. There were 234 conserved and 8 novel miRNA genes belonging to 104 families. A total of 375 unique mature miRNAs were processed from these genes. Many mature miRNAs showed high relative abundances or were significantly more expressed at early developmental stages, like the miR-10 and miR-430 family, let-7, the miRNA clusters 106-25-93, and 17-19-92. Several miRNAs associated with immune responses (e.g., slu-mir-731-5p, slu-mir-2188-5p, and slu-mir-8159-5p) were enriched in the spleen. The mature miRNAs slu-mir-203a-3p and slu-mir-205-5p were enriched in gills. These miRNAs are similarly abundant in many vertebrates, indicating that they have shared regulatory functions. There was also a significantly increased expression of the disease-associated miR-462/miR-731 cluster in response to hypoxia stress. This first pikeperch miRNAome reference resource paves the way for future functional studies to identify miRNA-associated variations that can be utilized in marker-assisted breeding programs.

Protective Mechanisms of Polyphenol-Enriched Blueberry Preparation in Preventing Inflammation in the Skin against UVB-Induced Damage in an Animal Model

UVB significantly impacts the occurrence of cutaneous disorders, ranging from inflammatory to neoplastic diseases. Polyphenols derived from plants have been found to exhibit photoprotective effects against various factors that contribute to skin cancer. During the fermentation of the polyphenol-enriched blueberry preparation (PEBP), small oligomers of polyphenols were released, thus enhancing their photoprotective effects. This study aimed to investigate the protective effects of PEBP on UVB-induced skin inflammation. Topical preparations of polyphenols were applied to the skin of dorsally shaved mice. Mice were subsequently exposed to UVB and were sacrificed 90 min after UVB exposure. This study revealed that pretreatment with PEBP significantly inhibited UVB-induced recruitment of mast and neutrophil cells and prevented the loss of skin thickness. Furthermore, the findings show that PEBP treatment resulted in the downregulation of miR-210, 146a, and 155 and the upregulation of miR-200c and miR-205 compared to the UVB-irradiated mice. Additionally, PEBP was found to reduce the expression of IL-6, IL-1β, and TNFα, inhibiting COX-2 and increasing IL-10 after UVB exposure. Moreover, DNA methylation analysis indicated that PEBP might potentially reduce the activation of inflammation-related pathways such as MAPK, Wnt, Notch, and PI3K-AKT signaling. Our finding suggests that topical application of PEBP treatment may effectively prevent UVB-induced skin damage by inhibiting inflammation.

Hepatitis B Virus Modulated Transcriptional Regulatory Map of Hepatic Cellular MicroRNAs

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) is an enveloped, hepatotropic, noncytopathic virus with a partially double-stranded DNA genome. It infects hepatocytes and is associated with progression to liver fibrosis and cirrhosis, culminating in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), accounting for 55% of total HCC cases. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) regulated by HBV play an important role in these pathologies. Mapping the miRNAs responsive to HBV and HBV-specific proteins, including HBV X protein (HBx) that harbor the majority of HBV-human protein interactions, could aid accelerate the diagnostics and therapeutics innovation against the infection and associated diseases. With this in mind, we used a unique annotation strategy whereby we first amassed 362 mature HBV responsive-human Differentially Expressed miRNAs (HBV-hDEmiRs). The core experimentally-validated messenger RNA targets of the HBV-hDEmiRs were mostly associated with viral infections and hepatic inflammation processes. Moreover, our annotation strategy enabled the characterization of HBx-dependent/independent HBV-hDEmiRs as a tool for evaluation of the impact of HBx as a therapeutic target. Bioinformatics analysis of the HBV-human protein-protein interactome revealed new insights into the transcriptional regulatory network of the HBV-hDEmiRs. We performed a comparative analysis of data on miRNAs gathered from HBV infected cell line studies and from tissue studies of fibrosis, cirrhosis, and HCC. Accordingly, we propose hsa-miR-15a-5p that is downregulated by multiple HBV proteins, including HBx, as a potential biomarker of HBV infection, and its progression to HCC. In all, this study underscores (1) the complexity of miRNA regulation in response to HBV infection and its progression into other liver pathologies and (2) provides a regulatory map of HBV-hDEmiRs and the underlying mechanisms modulating their expression through a cross talk between HBV viral proteins and human transcription factors.

MicroRNAs as novel biomarkers and potential therapeutic options for inflammatory cardiomyopathy

AIMS

Inflammation of the heart is a complex biological and pathophysiological response of the immune system to a variety of injuries leading to tissue damage and heart failure. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) emerge as pivotal players in the development of numerous diseases, suggesting their potential utility as biomarkers for inflammation and as viable candidates for therapeutic interventions. The primary aim of this investigation was to pinpoint and assess particular miRNAs in individuals afflicted by virus-negative inflammatory dilated cardiomyopathy (DCMi).

METHODS AND RESULTS

The study involved the analysis of 152 serum samples sourced from patients diagnosed with unexplained heart failure through endomyocardial biopsy. Among these samples, 38 belonged to DCMi patients, 24 to DCM patients, 44 to patients displaying inflammation alongside diverse viral infections, and 46 to patients solely affected by viral infections without concurrent inflammation. Additionally, serum samples from 10 healthy donors were included. The expression levels of 754 distinct miRNAs were evaluated using TaqMan OpenArray. MiR-1, miR-23, miR-142-5p, miR-155, miR-193, and miR-195 exhibited exclusive down-regulation solely in DCMi patients (P < 0.005). These miRNAs enabled effective differentiation between individuals with inflammation unlinked to viruses (DCMi) and all other participant groups (P < 0.005), boasting a specificity surpassing 86%.

CONCLUSIONS

The identification of specific miRNAs offers a novel diagnostic perspective for recognizing intramyocardial inflammation within virus-negative DCMi patients. Furthermore, these miRNAs hold promise as potential candidates for tailored therapeutic strategies in the context of virus-negative DCMi.

Obefazimod: A First-in-class Drug for the Treatment of Ulcerative Colitis

Biologic agents and oral small molecules are the mainstays of inflammatory bowel disease [IBD] management. However, an unmet clinical need remains for additional agents with novel mechanism of action which are effective, safe, and disease-modifying; this is due to the substantial proportion of patients who do not respond, lose response, or develop intolerance to currently marketed products. microRNAs [miRNAs] that play a role in the modulation of signal transduction pathways implicated in the development of IBD hold the potential to be used as therapeutic targets. Recently, a novel first-in-class compound, obefazimod, originally conceived as a human immunodeficiency virus [HIV] infection drug, has shown great promise in phase II induction trials for ulcerative colitis [UC] patients. Findings from the maintenance phases of trials showed that long-term obefazimod treatment provides continued improvement in clinical symptoms of disease, with a substantial proportion of patients in clinical remission, and an overall good safety profile. With a novel mechanism of action, obefazimod is an orally available small molecule with anti-inflammatory properties through the specific and selective upregulation of miR-124 expression. The aim of this paper is to critically review the available evidence related to pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics, and to discuss the potential clinical implications of this first-in-class oral small molecule.

Peripheral blood mononuclear cells expression of miR-200c, miR-125b, miR-27b, miR-203, and miR-155 in patients with significant or insignificant coronary artery stenosis

Coronary artery disease (CAD) is one of the principal causes of death worldwide. Among several predisposing factors, inflammation and inflammatory genes play a significant role in disease pathogenesis. Inflammatory microRNAs, small noncoding RNAs involved in regulating inflammation, are promising candidates for understanding pathogenesis of CAD and developing diagnostic biomarkers. The aim of the study was to evaluate the alteration of miR-200c, miR-125b, miR-27b, miR-203 and, miR-155 in patients suffering from coronary artery stenosis and insignificant coronary artery stenosis compared to healthy subjects. In this study we compared expressions of five inflammatory miRNAs in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) of 72 patients suffering significant coronary artery stenosis (CAD), 74 individuals without coronary artery disease and 30 individuals with insignificant coronary artery stenosis (ICAD). After blood collection, PBMCs were isolated and RNA was extracted. Gene expression levels were assessed by SYBR green based real-time PCR. Statistical analysis was performed using R program. Expression levels of miR-200c, miR-203, and miR-155 were lower in subjects with ICAD than that in CAD patients and subjects of the control group. MiR-125b was downregulated in CAD and ICAD groups compared to the control group. PBMC miR-27b was upregulated in the CAD group as compared to the ICAD and control groups. Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis verified potential of three miRNAs in separating subjects with ICAD from CAD patients and healthy individuals. In conclusion, this original investigation suggested that altered expression of these five miRNAs may serve as a novel diagnostic biomarker discriminating clinical presentations of coronary artery diseases.

Preventing occludin tight-junction disruption via inhibition of microRNA-193b-5p attenuates viral load and influenza-induced lung injury

Virus-induced lung injury is associated with loss of pulmonary epithelial-endothelial tight junction integrity. While the alveolar-capillary membrane may be an indirect target of injury, viruses may interact directly and/or indirectly with miRs to augment their replication potential and evade the host antiviral defense system. Here, we expose how the influenza virus (H1N1) capitalizes on host-derived interferon-induced, microRNA (miR)-193b-5p to target occludin and compromise antiviral defenses. Lung biopsies from patients infected with H1N1 revealed increased miR-193b-5p levels, marked reduction in occludin protein, and disruption of the alveolar-capillary barrier. In C57BL/6 mice, the expression of miR-193b-5p increased, and occludin decreased, 5-6 days post-infection with influenza (PR8). Inhibition of miR-193b-5p in primary human bronchial, pulmonary microvascular, and nasal epithelial cells enhanced antiviral responses. miR-193b-deficient mice were resistant to PR8. Knockdown of occludin, both in vitro and in vivo, and overexpression of miR-193b-5p reconstituted susceptibility to viral infection. miR-193b-5p inhibitor mitigated loss of occludin, improved viral clearance, reduced lung edema, and augmented survival in infected mice. Our results elucidate how the innate immune system may be exploited by the influenza virus and how strategies that prevent loss of occludin and preserve tight junction function may limit susceptibility to virus-induced lung injury.

Potential roles of inflammasomes in the pathophysiology of Psoriasis: A comprehensive review

Psoriasis is an inflammatory skin disease whose pathophysiology is attributed to both innate and adaptive immune cells and molecules. Despite the crucial roles of the immune system in psoriasis, it cannot be categorized as an autoimmune disease because of the lack of main signs of autoimmunity, such as specific antibodies, well-defined antigens, and autoimmune genetic risk factors. The presence of some cellular and molecular properties, such as the presence of neutrophils in skin lesions and the activation of the innate immune system, attributes psoriasis to a group of diseases called autoinflammatory disorders. Autoinflammatory diseases refer to a group of inherited disorders whose main manifestations are recurrent fever, a high level of acute-phase reactant, and a tendency for inflammation of the skin, joints, and other organs like the nervous system. In most autoinflammatory disorders, it has been seen that complexes of the high-molecular-weight protein named inflammasomes have significant roles. The inflammasome complex usually is formed and activated in the stimulated immune cell cytoplasm, and its activation consequently leads to inflammatory events such as producing of active caspase-1, mature interleukin-1β (IL-1β), and IL-18 and can cause an inflammatory programmed cell death called pyroptosis. Since the identification of inflammasomes, it has been shown that there are close links between them and hereditary and acquired autoinflammatory diseases like psoriasis. In this review, we aim to focus on well-defined inflammasome and their role in the pathophysiology of psoriasis.