Melatonin Attenuates H2O2-Induced Oxidative Injury by Upregulating LncRNA NEAT1 in HT22 Hippocampal Cells

Melatonin enhances cadmium tolerance in rice via long non-coding RNA-mediated modulation of cell wall and photosynthesis

In plants, melatonin (MLT) is a versatile signaling molecule involved in promoting plant development and mitigating the damage caused by heavy metal exposure. Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) are essential components in the plant's response to various abiotic stress, functioning within the gene regulatory network. Here, a hydroponic experiment was performed to explore the involvement of lncRNAs in MLT-mediated amelioration of cadmium (Cd) toxicity in rice plants. The results demonstrated that applying 250 mg L-1 MLT in a solution containing 10 μM Cd leads to an effective reduction of 30.0% in shoot Cd concentration. Remarkably, the treatment resulted in a 21.2% improvement in potassium and calcium uptake, a 164.5% enhancement in net photosynthetic rate, and a 33.2% decrease in malondialdehyde accumulation, resulting increases in plant height, root length, and biomass accumulation. Moreover, a transcriptome analysis revealed 2510 differentially expressed transcripts, including the Cd transporters (-3.82-fold downregulated) and the Cd tolerance-associated genes (1.24-fold upregulated). Notably, regulatory network prediction uncovered 6 differentially expressed lncRNAs that act as competitive endogenous RNA or in RNA complex interactions. These key lncRNAs regulate the expression of target genes that are involved in pectin and cellulose metabolism, scavenging of reactive oxygen species, salicylic acid-mediated defense response, and biosynthesis of brassinosteroids, which ultimately modify the cell wall for Cd adsorption, safeguard photosynthesis, and control hormone signaling to reduce Cd toxicity. Our results unveiled a crucial lncRNA-mediated mechanism underlying MLT's role in Cd detoxification in rice plants, providing potential applications in agricultural practices and environmental remediation.

Identification and functional prediction of long non-coding RNAs related to oxidative stress in the jejunum of piglets

OBJECTIVE

Oxidative stress (OS) is a pathological process arising from the excessive production of free radicals in the body. It has the potential to alter animal gene expression and cause damage to the jejunum. However, there have been few reports of changes in the expression of long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) in the jejunum in piglets under OS. The purpose of this research was to examine how lncRNAs in piglet jejunum change under OS.

METHODS

The abdominal cavities of piglets were injected with diquat (DQ) to produce OS. Raw reads were downloaded from the SRA database. RNA-seq was utilized to study the expression of lncRNAs in piglets under OS. Additionally, six randomly selected lncRNAs were verified using quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT‒PCR) to examine the mechanism of oxidative damage.

RESULTS

A total of 79 lncRNAs were differentially expressed (DE) in the treatment group compared to the negative control group. The target genes of DE lncRNAs were enriched in gene ontology (GO) terms and Kyoto encyclopedia of genes and genomes (KEGG) signaling pathways. Chemical carcinogenesis-reactive oxygen species, the Foxo signaling pathway, colorectal cancer, and the AMPK signaling pathway were all linked to OS.

CONCLUSION

Our results demonstrated that DQ-induced OS causes differential expression of lncRNAs, laying the groundwork for future research into the processes involved in the jejunum's response to OS.

Potential roles for lncRNA Mirg/Foxp1 in an ARHL model created using C57BL/6J mice

Age-related hearing loss (ARHL) is associated with hair cell apoptosis, but the underlying mechanism of hair cell apoptosis remains unclear. Here, we investigated the expression profiles of long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) and mRNAs in an ARHL model created with C57BL/6 J mice using RNA sequencing and found that the expression of several lncRNAs was significantly correlated with apoptosis-associated mRNAs in the cochlear tissues of old mice compared to young mice. We found that lncRNA Mirg was upregulated in the cochlear tissues of old mice compared to young mice and its overexpression promoted apoptosis in House Ear Institute-Organ of Corti 1 (HEI-OC1). H2O2-induced oxidative stress increased HEI-OC1 cell apoptosis by upregulating lncRNA Mirg. Furthermore, the expression of lncRNA Mirg and Foxp1 showed the highest correlation coefficient in the cochlear tissues of old mice, and lncRNA Mirg promoted HEI-OC1 cell apoptosis by increasing Foxp1 expression. In conclusion, our findings suggest that lncRNA Mirg expression correlates with cell apoptosis-associated mRNAs in the ARHL model created using C57BL/6 J mice and that oxidative stress-induced lncRNA Mirg promotes HEI-OC1 cell apoptosis by increasing Foxp1 expression. These data suggest the potential therapeutic significance of targeting lncRNA Mirg/Foxp1 signaling in ARHL.