Circ_CLASP2 Regulates High Glucose-Induced Dysfunction of Human Endothelial Cells Through Targeting miR-140-5p/FBXW7 Axis

Perspectives of circular RNAs in diabetic complications from biological markers to potential therapeutic targets (Review)

Chronic complications of diabetes increase mortality and disability of patients. It is crucial to find potential early biomarkers and provide novel therapeutic strategies for diabetic complications. Circular RNAs (circRNAs), covalently closed RNA molecules in eukaryotes, have high stability. Recent studies have confirmed that differentially expressed circRNAs have a vital role in diabetic complications. Certain circRNAs, such as circRNA ankyrin repeat domain 36, circRNA homeodomain‑interacting protein kinase 3 (circHIPK3) and circRNA WD repeat domain 77, are associated with inflammation, endothelial cell apoptosis and smooth muscle cell proliferation, leading to vascular endothelial dysfunction and atherosclerosis. CircRNA LDL receptor related protein 6, circRNA actin related protein 2, circ_0000064, circ‑0101383, circ_0123996, hsa_circ_0003928 and circ_0000285 mediate inflammation, apoptosis and autophagy of podocytes, mesangial cell hypertrophy and proliferation, as well as tubulointerstitial fibrosis, in diabetic nephropathy by regulating the expression of microRNAs and proteins. Circ_0005015, circRNA PWWP domain containing 2A, circRNA zinc finger protein 532, circRNA zinc finger protein 609, circRNA DNA methyltransferase 3β, circRNA collagen type I α2 chain and circHIPK3 widely affect multiple biological processes of diabetic retinopathy. Furthermore, circ_000203, circ_010567, circHIPK3, hsa_circ_0076631 and circRNA cerebellar degeneration‑related protein 1 antisense are involved in the pathology of diabetic cardiomyopathy. CircHIPK3 is the most well‑studied circRNA in the field of diabetic complications and is most likely to become a biological marker and therapeutic target for diabetic complications. The applications of circRNAs may be a promising treatment strategy for human diseases at the molecular level. The relationship between circRNAs and diabetic complications is summarized in the present study. Of note, circRNA‑targeted therapy and the role of circRNAs as biomarkers may potentially be used in diabetic complications in the future.

Circular RNA as Therapeutic Targets in Atherosclerosis: Are We Running in Circles?

Much attention has been paid lately to harnessing the diagnostic and therapeutic potential of non-coding circular ribonucleic acids (circRNAs) and micro-RNAs (miRNAs) for the prevention and treatment of cardiovascular diseases. The genetic environment that contributes to atherosclerosis pathophysiology is immensely complex. Any potential therapeutic application of circRNAs must be assessed for risks, benefits, and off-target effects in both the short and long term. A search of the online PubMed database for publications related to circRNA and atherosclerosis from 2016 to 2022 was conducted. These studies were reviewed for their design, including methods for developing atherosclerosis and the effects of the corresponding atherosclerotic environment on circRNA expression. Investigated mechanisms were recorded, including associated miRNA, genes, and ultimate effects on cell mechanics, and inflammatory markers. The most investigated circRNAs were then further analyzed for redundant, disparate, and/or contradictory findings. Many disparate, opposing, and contradictory effects were observed across experiments. These include levels of the expression of a particular circRNA in atherosclerotic environments, attempted ascertainment of the in toto effects of circRNA or miRNA silencing on atherosclerosis progression, and off-target, cell-specific, and disease-specific effects. The high potential for detrimental and unpredictable off-target effects downstream of circRNA manipulation will likely render the practice of therapeutic targeting of circRNA or miRNA molecules not only complicated but perilous.

Hyperglycemia-induced endothelial exosomes trigger trophoblast dysregulation and abnormal placentation through PUM2-mediated repression of SOX2

BACKGROUND

Hyperglycemia is closely related to adverse pregnancy outcomes including pre-eclampsia (PE), a life-threatening complication with a substantial morbidity and mortality. However, the pathogenesis of abnormal placentation in gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM)-associated PE remains elusive.

METHOD

Here we isolated exosomes from the human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) treated with normal level of glucose (NG) and high levels of glucose (HG). The exosomes were added to HTR-8a/SVneo cells, a trophoblast cell line. High-throughput RNA-sequencing was performed to analyzed the changed RNAs in the exosomes and exosome-treated HTR-8a/SVneo cells. HTR-8a/SVneo cell phenotypes were evaluated from the aspects of cell proliferation, cell invasion and DNA damage.

RESULTS

After treatment with HG, the changed RNAs in exosomes was enriched in RNA stabilization and oxidative stress. The altered RNAs in the HTR-8a/SVneo cells treated with exosomes from HG-induced HUVECs were enriched in pathways related to cell adhesion, migration, DNA damage response and angiogenesis. The HG-induced exosomes impaired the proliferation and invasion of HTR-8a cells and caused the DNA damage. HG up-regulated PUM2 in the exosomes and exosome-treated HTR-8a/SVneo cells. PUM2 interacted with SOX2 mRNA, resulting in the mRNA degradation. Overexpression of SOX2 prevented the damage to HTR-8a/SVneo cells caused by the exosomes from HG-induced HUVECs.

CONCLUSIONS

We demonstrate that high glucose-induced endothelial exosomes mediate abnormal phenotypes of trophoblasts through PUM2-mediated repression of SOX2. Our results reveal a novel regulatory mechanism of hyperglycemia in development of abnormal placentation and provide potential targets for preventing adverse pregnancy outcomes.

Circular RNAs in diabetes and its complications: Current knowledge and future prospects

A novel class of non-coding RNA transcripts called circular RNAs (circRNAs) have been the subject of significant recent studies. Accumulating evidence points that circRNAs play an important role in the cellular processes, inflammatory expression, and immune responses through sponging miRNA, binding, or translating in proteins. Studies have found that circRNAs are involved in the physiologic and pathologic processes of diabetes. There has been an increased focus on the relevance of between abnormal circRNA expression and the development and progression of various types of diabetes and diabetes-related diseases. These circRNAs not only serve as promising diagnostic and prognostic molecular biomarkers, but also have important biological roles in islet cells, diabetes, and its complications. In addition, many circRNA signaling pathways have been found to regulate the occurrence and development of diabetes. Here we comprehensively review and discuss recent advances in our understanding of the physiologic function and regulatory mechanisms of circRNAs on pancreatic islet cells, different subtypes in diabetes, and diabetic complications.

The mechanisms of glycolipid metabolism disorder on vascular injury in type 2 diabetes

Patients with diabetes have severe vascular complications, such as diabetic nephropathy, diabetic retinopathy, cardiovascular disease, and neuropathy. Devastating vascular complications lead to increased mortality, blindness, kidney failure, and decreased overall quality of life in people with type 2 diabetes (T2D). Glycolipid metabolism disorder plays a vital role in the vascular complications of T2D. However, the specific mechanism of action remains to be elucidated. In T2D patients, vascular damage begins to develop before insulin resistance and clinical diagnosis. Endothelial dysregulation is a significant cause of vascular complications and the early event of vascular injury. Hyperglycemia and hyperlipidemia can trigger inflammation and oxidative stress, which impair endothelial function. Furthermore, during the pathogenesis of T2D, epigenetic modifications are aberrant and activate various biological processes, resulting in endothelial dysregulation. In the present review, we provide an overview and discussion of the roles of hyperglycemia- and hyperlipidemia-induced endothelial dysfunction, inflammatory response, oxidative stress, and epigenetic modification in the pathogenesis of T2D. Understanding the connections of glucotoxicity and lipotoxicity with vascular injury may reveal a novel potential therapeutic target for diabetic vascular complications.

Recent Insight on Regulations of FBXW7 and Its Role in Immunotherapy

SCF^FBXW7 E3 ubiquitin ligase complex is a crucial enzyme of the ubiquitin proteasome system that participates in variant activities of cell process, and its component FBXW7 (F-box and WD repeat domain–containing 7) is responsible for recognizing and binding to substrates. The expression of FBXW7 is controlled by multiple pathways at different levels. FBXW7 facilitates the maturity and function maintenance of immune cells via functioning as a mediator of ubiquitination-dependent degradation of substrate proteins. FBXW7 deficiency or mutation results in the growth disturbance and dysfunction of immune cell, leads to the resistance against immunotherapy, and participates in multiple illnesses. It is likely that FBXW7 coordinating with its regulators and substrates could offer potential targets to improve the sensitivity and effects of immunotherapy. Here, we review the mechanisms of the regulation on FBXW7 and its tumor suppression role in immune filed among various diseases (mostly cancers) to explore novel immune targets and treatments.

CircRNA-miRNA interactions in atherogenesis

Atherosclerosis is the major cause of coronary artery disease (CAD) which includes unstable angina, myocardial infarction, and heart failure. The onset of atherogenesis, a process of atherosclerotic lesion formation in the intima of arteries, is driven by lipid accumulation, a vicious cycle of reactive oxygen species (ROS)-induced oxidative stress and inflammatory reactions leading to endothelial cell (EC) dysfunction, vascular smooth muscle cell (VSMC) activation, and foam cell formation which further fuel plaque formation and destabilization. In recent years, there is a surge in the number of publications reporting the involvement of circular RNAs (circRNAs) in the pathogenesis of cardiovascular diseases, cancers, and metabolic syndromes. These studies have advanced our understanding on the biological functions of circRNAs. One of the most common mechanism of action of circRNAs reported is the sponging of microRNAs (miRNAs) by binding to the miRNAs response element (MRE), thereby indirectly increases the transcription of their target messenger RNAs (mRNAs). Individual networks of circRNA-miRNA-mRNA associated with atherogenesis have been extensively reported, however, there is a need to connect these findings for a complete overview. This review aims to provide an update on atherogenesis-related circRNAs and analyze the circRNA-miRNA-mRNA interactions in atherogenesis. The atherogenic mechanisms and clinical relevance of each atherogenesis-related circRNA were systematically discussed for better understanding of the knowledge gap in this area.

Non-coding RNAs in Kawasaki disease: Molecular mechanisms and clinical implications

Kawasaki disease (KD) is an acute self-limiting vasculitis with coronary complications, usually occurring in children. The incidence of KD in children is increasing year by year, mainly in East Asian countries, but relatively stably in Europe and America. Although studies on KD have been reported, the pathogenesis of KD is unknown. With the development of high-throughput sequencing technology, growing number of regulatory noncoding RNAs (ncRNAs) including microRNA (miRNA), long noncoding RNA (lncRNA), and circular RNA (circRNA) have been identified to involved in KD. However, the role of ncRNAs in KD has not been comprehensively elucidated. Therefore, it is significative to study the regulatory role of ncRNA in KD, which might help to uncover new and effective therapeutic strategies for KD. In this review, we summarize recent studies on ncRNA in KD from the perspectives of immune disorders, inflammatory disorders, and endothelial dysfunction, and highlight the potential of ncRNAs as therapeutic targets for KD.