MicroRNA Regulatory Pathways in the Control of the Actin-Myosin Cytoskeleton

The Function of RhoA/ROCK Pathway and MYOCD in Airway Remodeling in Asthma

INTRODUCTION

Asthma is a common chronic respiratory disease characterized by chronic airway inflammation and abnormal airway remodeling. The RhoA/ROCK pathway and myocardin-related transcription factor A (MRTF-A) demonstrate significant associations with the proliferation of airway smooth muscle cells (ASCMs), which tightly correlates with the process of airway remodeling. MYOCD, which is homologous to MRTF-A but specifically expressed in smooth muscle cells, potentially regulates RhoA/ROCK activated cell proliferation and subsequent airway remodeling.

METHODS

The RhoA/ROCK overexpression and silencing cell lines were constructed in vitro, as well as MYOCD overexpression/silencing. The cytoskeleton alterations induced by RhoA/ROCK pathway were identified by the measuring of globular actin and filamentous actin.

RESULTS

The comparison between controls for overexpression/silencing and ROCK overexpression/silencing revealed that MYOCD presented consistent change trends with cytoskeleton and RhoA/ROCK pathway. The ROCK1 facilitates the proliferation and migration of ASCMs. The MYOCD enhanced the proliferation and migration of HASMCs.

CONCLUSION

Our study indicates that Rho/ROCK/MYOCD is a key pathway involved in the migration and proliferation of airway smooth muscle cells. Inhibition of Rho/ROCK may be an effective approach to breaking the vicious cycle of asthmatic ASCMs proliferation, providing a novel strategy in treating asthma airway remodeling.

Changes in immunophenotypes after neoadjuvant endocrine therapy for prostate cancer and their clinical significance

Background

To investigate changes in the immunophenotypes of androgen receptor (AR), prostate-specific antigen (PSA), synaptophysin (Syn), chromogranin A (CgA), p53 and Ki-67 after neoadjuvant endocrine therapy (NET) for prostate cancer (PCa) and to analyze their clinical significance.

Methods

Paired paraffin samples were collected from 40 PCa patients before and after NET, and immunohistochemistry were used to detect AR, PSA, Syn, CgA, p53 and Ki-67 expression. Based on The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA), Kaplan‒Meier survival curves were plotted for analysis of PSA and Ki-67 expression in relation to progression-free survival (PFS).

Results

After NET, the mean scores for PSA and Ki-67 expression in PCa patients were lower than those before NET (P < 0.05), while the mean scores for Syn and CgA expression were higher than those before NET (P < 0.05). The mean Gleason score and WHO/ISUP (World Health Organization/International Society of Urological Pathology) grade after NET were lower than those before NET (P < 0.05). In PCa patients who had not yet received NET, PSA expression correlated positively with Gleason score and WHO/ISUP grade and negatively with Ki-67 expression (P < 0.05); p53 expression correlated negatively with Gleason score and WHO/ISUP grade (P < 0.05). TCGA showed that PFS was lower in PCa patients with high PSA and Ki-67 expression (P < 0.05).

Conclusions

PSA and Ki-67 protein expressions decreased significantly in PCa patients after NET and can be used as biological markers for prognostic assessment of PCa patients. NETs may induce a neuroendocrine (NE) phenotype in PCa. Monitoring the immunophenotypes of PCa patients after NET may inform assessment of efficacy and prognosis.

Cuproptosis associated cytoskeletal destruction contributes to podocyte injury in chronic kidney disease

The podocyte cytoskeleton determines the stability of podocyte structure and function, and their imbalance plays a pathogenic role in podocyte diseases. However, the underlying mechanism of podocyte cytoskeleton damage is not fully understood. Here, we investigate the specific role of cuproptosis in inducing podocyte cytoskeleton injury. In in vitro and in vivo studies, exposure to high levels of copper and adriamycin (ADR) caused significant increases in copper concentration in intracellular and renal tissue. Moreover, excessive accumulation of copper induced cuproptosis, resulting in the destruction of the podocyte cytoskeleton. However, inhibition of copper accumulation to reduce cuproptosis also significantly alleviated the damage of podocyte cytoskeleton. In addition, inhibition of cuproptosis mitigated ADR-induced mitochondrial damage as well as the production of reactive oxygen species and depolarization of mitochondrial membrane potential, and restored adenosine triphosphate (ATP) synthesis. Among the transcriptome sequencing data, the difference of CXCL5 (C-X-C motif chemokine ligand 5) was the most significant. Both high copper and ADR exposure can cause upregulation of CXCL5, and CXCL5 deletion inhibits the occurrence of cuproptosis, thereby alleviating the podocyte cytoskeleton damage. This suggests that CXCL5 may act upstream of cuproptosis that mediates podocyte cytoskeleton damage. In conclusion, cuproptosis induced by excessive copper accumulation may induce podocyte cytoskeleton damage by promoting mitochondrial dysfunction, thereby causing podocyte injury. This indicates that cuproptosis plays an important role in the pathogenesis of podocyte injury and provides a basis for seeking potential targets for the treatment of chronic kidney disease.NEW & NOTEWORTHY Cuproptosis induced by excessive copper accumulation leads to podocyte cytoskeleton damage by promoting mitochondrial dysfunction, and CXCL5 acts as an upstream signal mediating the occurrence of cuproptosis.

Role of WAVE3 as an of actin binding protein in the pathology of triple negative breast cancer

Breast cancer, a prevalent global health concern, has sparked extensive research efforts, particularly focusing on triple negative breast cancer (TNBC), a subtype lacking estrogen receptor (ER), progesterone receptor, and epidermal growth factor receptor. TNBC's aggressive nature and resistance to hormone-based therapies heightens the risk of tumor progression and recurrence. Actin-binding proteins, specifically WAVE3 from the Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome protein (WASP) family, have emerged as major drivers in understanding TNBC biology. This review delves into the intricate molecular makeup of TNBC, shedding light on actin's fundamental role in cellular processes. Actin, a structural element in the cytoskeleton, regulates various cellular pathways essential for homeostasis. Its dynamic nature enables functions such as cell migration, motility, intracellular transport, cell division, and signal transduction. Actin-binding proteins, including WAVE3, play pivotal roles in these processes. WAVE3, a member of the WASP family, remains the focus of this review due to its potential involvement in TNBC progression. While actin-binding proteins are studied for their roles in healthy cellular cycles, their significance in TNBC remains underexplored. This review aims to discuss WAVE3's impact on TNBC, exploring its molecular makeup, functions, and significance in tumor progression. The intricate structure of WAVE3, featuring elements like the verprolin-cofilin-acidic domain and regulatory elements, plays a crucial role in regulating actin dynamics. Dysregulation of WAVE3 in TNBC has been linked to enhanced cell migration, invasion, extracellular matrix remodeling, epithelial-mesenchymal transition, tumor proliferation, and therapeutic resistance. Understanding the role of actin-binding proteins in cancer biology has potential clinical implications, making them potential prognostic biomarkers and promising therapeutic targets. The review emphasizes the need for further research into actin-binding proteins' clinical applications, diagnostic value, and therapeutic interventions. In conclusion, this comprehensive review explores the complex interplay between actin and actin-binding proteins, with special emphasis on WAVE3, in the context of TNBC. By unraveling the molecular intricacies, structural characteristics, and functional significance, the review paves the way for future research directions, clinical applications, and potential therapeutic strategies in the challenging landscape of TNBC.

Mechanistic of AMPK/ACC2 regulating myoblast differentiation by fatty acid oxidation of goat

Myoblast differentiation depends on fatty acid oxidation (FAO)，and its rate-limiting enzyme acetyl-CoA carboxylase 2 (ACC2) participate in the regulation skeletal muscle development. However, the precise regulatory mechanism is still unknown. Using previous RNA-sequencing data from our laboratory, we explored the effect of ACC2 on myoblast differentiation, as a candidate gene, since its expression is higher in myoblasts of lamb (first day of age) than that of the fetus (75th day of pregnancy). Our findings show that siACC2 inhibited myoblast proliferation, promoted differentiation, and boosted mitochondrial and fatty acid oxidation activities. The effect of ACC2 on goat muscle cell differentiation was modulated by Etomoxir, a CPT1A inhibitor. Notably, the AMPK/ACC2 pathway was found to regulate fatty acid oxidation and goat muscle cell differentiation. Inhibiting the AMPK/ACC2 pathway significantly reduced CPT1A expression. These findings indicate that AMPK/ACC2 regulate goat myoblast differentiation via fatty acid oxidation, contributing to understanding the mechanism of goat skeletal muscle development.

Human Placental Mesenchymal Stem Cells-Exosomes Alleviate Endothelial Barrier Dysfunction via Cytoskeletal Remodeling through hsa-miR-148a-3p/ROCK1 Pathway

Background

Endothelial barrier disruption of human pulmonary vascular endothelial cells (HPVECs) is an important pathogenic factor for acute lung injury (ALI)/acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). Mesenchymal stem cells-exosome (MSCs-Exo) represents an ideal carrier for cell-free therapy. The therapeutic implication and underlying mechanism of human placental MSCs-Exo (HPMSCs-Exo) in ALI/ARDS need to be further explored.

Materials and Methods

HPMSCs-Exo was extracted from HPMSCs and characterized. Then, the therapeutic effects of exosomes were evaluated in ALI mice and HPVECs. RNA-sequencing was applied to reveal the miRNA profile of HPMSCs-Exo and differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in HPMSCs-Exo-pretreated HPVECs. The targets of miRNAs were predicted by bioinformatics methods and correlated to DEGs. Finally, the role of hsa-miR-148a-3p/ROCK1 pathway in HPVECs has been further discussed.

Results

The results showed that HPMSCs-Exo could downregulate Rho-associated coiled-coil-containing protein kinase 1 (ROCK1), upregulate the expression of zonula occludens-1 (ZO-1) and F-actin, promote HPVECs migration and tube formation, reduce cytoskeletal disorders and cell permeability, and thus improve ALI/ARDS. RNA-sequencing revealed the DEGs were mainly enriched in cell junction, angiogenesis, inflammation, and energy metabolism. HPMSCs-Exo contains multiple miRNAs which are associated with cytoskeletal function; the expression abundance of hsa-miR-148a-3p is the highest. Bioinformatic analysis identified ROCK1 as a target of hsa-miR-148a-3p. The overexpression of hsa-miR-148a-3p in HPMSCs-Exo promoted the migration and tube formation of HPVECs and reduced ROCK1 expression. However, the overexpression of ROCK1 on HPVECs reduced the therapeutic effect of HPMSCs-Exo.

Conclusions

HPMSCs-Exo represents a protective regimen against endothelial barrier disruption of HPVECs in ALI/ARDS, and the hsa-miR-148a-3p/ROCK1 pathway plays an important role in this therapeutics implication.

Clinical Significance of MicroRNAs, Long Non-Coding RNAs, and CircRNAs in Cardiovascular Diseases

Based on recent research, the non-coding genome is essential for controlling genes and genetic programming during development, as well as for health and cardiovascular diseases (CVDs). The microRNAs (miRNAs), lncRNAs (long ncRNAs), and circRNAs (circular RNAs) with significant regulatory and structural roles make up approximately 99% of the human genome, which does not contain proteins. Non-coding RNAs (ncRNA) have been discovered to be essential novel regulators of cardiovascular risk factors and cellular processes, making them significant prospects for advanced diagnostics and prognosis evaluation. Cases of CVDs are rising due to limitations in the current therapeutic approach; most of the treatment options are based on the coding transcripts that encode proteins. Recently, various investigations have shown the role of nc-RNA in the early diagnosis and treatment of CVDs. Furthermore, the development of novel diagnoses and treatments based on miRNAs, lncRNAs, and circRNAs could be more helpful in the clinical management of patients with CVDs. CVDs are classified into various types of heart diseases, including cardiac hypertrophy (CH), heart failure (HF), rheumatic heart disease (RHD), acute coronary syndrome (ACS), myocardial infarction (MI), atherosclerosis (AS), myocardial fibrosis (MF), arrhythmia (ARR), and pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH). Here, we discuss the biological and clinical importance of miRNAs, lncRNAs, and circRNAs and their expression profiles and manipulation of non-coding transcripts in CVDs, which will deliver an in-depth knowledge of the role of ncRNAs in CVDs for progressing new clinical diagnosis and treatment.

The Involvement of Krüppel-like Factors in Cardiovascular Diseases

Krüppel-like factors (KLFs) are a set of DNA-binding proteins belonging to a family of zinc-finger transcription factors, which have been associated with many biological processes related to the activation or repression of genes, inducing cell growth, differentiation, and death, and the development and maintenance of tissues. In response to metabolic alterations caused by disease and stress, the heart will undergo cardiac remodeling, leading to cardiovascular diseases (CVDs). KLFs are among the transcriptional factors that take control of many physiological and, in this case, pathophysiological processes of CVD. KLFs seem to be associated with congenital heart disease-linked syndromes, malformations because of autosomal diseases, mutations that relate to protein instability, and/or loss of functions such as atheroprotective activities. Ischemic damage also relates to KLF dysregulation because of the differentiation of cardiac myofibroblasts or a modified fatty acid oxidation related to the formation of a dilated cardiomyopathy, myocardial infarctions, left ventricular hypertrophy, and diabetic cardiomyopathies. In this review, we describe the importance of KLFs in cardiovascular diseases such as atherosclerosis, myocardial infarction, left ventricle hypertrophy, stroke, diabetic cardiomyopathy, and congenital heart diseases. We further discuss microRNAs that have been involved in certain regulatory loops of KLFs as they may act as critical in CVDs.

Actin-Myosin Cytoskeleton Regulation and Function

The shape and load bearing strength of cells are determined by the complex protein network comprising the actin-myosin cytoskeleton [...].

New Insights into the Roles of lncRNAs as Modulators of Cytoskeleton Architecture and Their Implications in Cellular Homeostasis and in Tumorigenesis

The importance of the cytoskeleton not only in cell architecture but also as a pivotal element in the transduction of signals that mediate multiple biological processes has recently been highlighted. Broadly, the cytoskeleton consists of three types of structural proteins: (1) actin filaments, involved in establishing and maintaining cell shape and movement; (2) microtubules, necessary to support the different organelles and distribution of chromosomes during cell cycle; and (3) intermediate filaments, which have a mainly structural function showing specificity for the cell type where they are expressed. Interaction between these protein structures is essential for the cytoskeletal mesh to be functional. Furthermore, the cytoskeleton is subject to intense spatio-temporal regulation mediated by the assembly and disassembly of its components. Loss of cytoskeleton homeostasis and integrity of cell focal adhesion are hallmarks of several cancer types. Recently, many reports have pointed out that lncRNAs could be critical mediators in cellular homeostasis controlling dynamic structure and stability of the network formed by cytoskeletal structures, specifically in different types of carcinomas. In this review, we summarize current information available about the roles of lncRNAs as modulators of actin dependent cytoskeleton and their impact on cancer pathogenesis. Finally, we explore other examples of cytoskeletal lncRNAs currently unrelated to tumorigenesis, to illustrate knowledge about them.

Role of MicroRNAs in Neuroendocrine Prostate Cancer

Therapy-induced neuroendocrine prostate cancer (t-NEPC/NEPC) is an aggressive variant of prostate cancer (PCa) that frequently emerges in castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC) under the selective pressure of androgen receptor (AR)-targeted therapies. This variant is extremely aggressive, metastasizes to visceral organs, tissues, and bones despite low serum PSA, and is associated with poor survival rates. It arises via a reversible trans-differentiation process, referred to as ‘neuroendocrine differentiation’ (NED), wherein PCa cells undergo a lineage switch and exhibit neuroendocrine features, characterized by the expression of neuronal markers such as enolase 2 (ENO2), chromogranin A (CHGA), and synaptophysin (SYP). The molecular and cellular mechanisms underlying NED in PCa are complex and not clearly understood, which contributes to a lack of effective molecular biomarkers for diagnosis and therapy of this variant. NEPC is thought to derive from prostate adenocarcinomas by clonal evolution. A characteristic set of genetic alterations, such as dual loss of retinoblastoma (RB1) and tumor protein (TP53) tumor suppressor genes and amplifications of Aurora kinase A (AURKA), NMYC, and EZH2, has been reported to drive NEPC. Recent evidence suggests that microRNAs (miRNAs) are important epigenetic players in driving NED in advanced PCa. In this review, we highlight the role of miRNAs in NEPC. These studies emphasize the diverse role that miRNAs play as oncogenes and tumor suppressors in driving NEPC. These studies have unveiled the important role of cellular processes such as the EMT and cancer stemness in determining NED in PCa. Furthermore, miRNAs are involved in intercellular communication between tumor cells and stromal cells via extracellular vesicles/exosomes that contribute to lineage switching. Recent studies support the promising potential of miRNAs as novel diagnostic biomarkers and therapeutic targets for NEPC.

Rho Kinases in Embryonic Development and Stem Cell Research

The Rho-associated coiled-coil containing kinases (ROCKs or Rho kinases) belong to the AGC (PKA/PKG/PKC) family of serine/threonine kinases and are major downstream effectors of small GTPase RhoA, a key regulator of actin-cytoskeleton reorganization. The ROCK family contains two members, ROCK1 and ROCK2, which share 65% overall identity and 92% identity in kinase domain. ROCK1 and ROCK2 were assumed to be functionally redundant, based largely on their major common activators, their high degree kinase domain homology, and study results from overexpression with kinase constructs or chemical inhibitors. ROCK signaling research has expanded to all areas of biology and medicine since its discovery in 1996. The rapid advance is befitting ROCK’s versatile functions in modulating various cell behavior, such as contraction, adhesion, migration, proliferation, polarity, cytokinesis, and differentiation. The rapid advance is noticeably driven by an extensive linking with clinical medicine, including cardiovascular abnormalities, aberrant immune responsive, and cancer development and metastasis. The rapid advance during the past decade is further powered by novel biotechnologies including CRISPR-Cas and single cell omics. Current consensus, derived mainly from gene targeting and RNA interference approaches, is that the two ROCK isoforms have overlapping and distinct cellular, physiological and pathophysiology roles. In this review, we present an overview of the milestone discoveries in ROCK research. We then focus on the current understanding of ROCK signaling in embryonic development, current research status using knockout and knockin mouse models, and stem cell research.

Insight Into Rho Kinase Isoforms in Obesity and Energy Homeostasis

Obesity and associated complications increasingly jeopardize global health and contribute to the rapidly rising prevalence of type 2 diabetes mellitus and obesity-related diseases. Developing novel methods for the prevention and treatment of excess body adipose tissue expansion can make a significant contribution to public health. Rho kinase is a Rho-associated coiled-coil-containing protein kinase (Rho kinase or ROCK). The ROCK family including ROCK1 and ROCK2 has recently emerged as a potential therapeutic target for the treatment of metabolic disorders. Up-regulated ROCK activity has been involved in the pathogenesis of all aspects of metabolic syndrome including obesity, insulin resistance, dyslipidemia and hypertension. The RhoA/ROCK-mediated actin cytoskeleton dynamics have been implicated in both white and beige adipogenesis. Studies using ROCK pan-inhibitors in animal models of obesity, diabetes, and associated complications have demonstrated beneficial outcomes. Studies via genetically modified animal models further established isoform-specific roles of ROCK in the pathogenesis of metabolic disorders including obesity. However, most reported studies have been focused on ROCK1 activity during the past decade. Due to the progress in developing ROCK2-selective inhibitors in recent years, a growing body of evidence indicates more attention should be devoted towards understanding ROCK2 isoform function in metabolism. Hence, studying individual ROCK isoforms to reveal their specific roles and principal mechanisms in white and beige adipogenesis, insulin sensitivity, energy balancing regulation, and obesity development will facilitate significant breakthroughs for systemic treatment with isoform-selective inhibitors. In this review, we give an overview of ROCK functions in the pathogenesis of obesity and insulin resistance with a particular focus on the current understanding of ROCK isoform signaling in white and beige adipogenesis, obesity and thermogenesis in adipose tissue and other major metabolic organs involved in energy homeostasis regulation.

MicroRNA-381-A Key Transcriptional Regulator: Its Biological Function and Clinical Application Prospects in Cancer

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small non-coding RNA molecules that function by regulating messenger RNAs. Recent studies have shown that miRNAs play important roles in multiple processes of cancer development. MiR-381 is one of the most important miRNAs in cancer progression. MiR-381 is downregulated in some cancers and upregulated in other cancers, including glioma, epithelial sarcoma, and osteosarcoma. MiR-381 regulates epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), chemotherapeutic resistance, radioresistance, and immune responses. Thus, miR-381 participates in tumor initiation, progression, and metastasis. Moreover, miR-381 functions in various oncogenic pathways, including the Wnt/β-catenin, AKT, and p53 pathways. Clinical studies have shown that miR-381 could be considered a biomarker or a novel prognostic factor. Here, we summarize the present studies on the role of miR-381 in cancer development, including its biogenesis and various affected signaling pathways, and its clinical application prospects. MiR-381 expression is associated with tumor stage and survival time, making miR-381 a novel prognostic factor.