Urinary miRNA-29a-3p levels are associated with metabolic parameters via regulation of IGF1 in patients with metabolic syndrome

MicroRNA-29a-3p Regulates SH-SY5Y Cell Proliferation and Neurite Growth through Interaction with PTEN-PI3K/AKT/mTOR Signaling Pathway

The effects of microRNA-29a-3p in the proliferation process of nerve cells are unclear. The purpose of this study is to delve into the regulatory role of microRNA-29a-3p, via interaction with phosphatase and tension homolog (PTEN), in the SH-SY5Y cell proliferation process. Different expressions of microRNA-29a-3p in the SH-SY5Y cells were constructed by transfected miRNA-29a-3p mimic and inhibitor. The effects of cell transfection and the mRNA expressions of PTEN, Akt, and mTOR were detected by qPCR. The expressions of PTEN, Akt, and mTOR protein and the phosphorylation levels of Akt and mTOR were examined using Western blotting. Nerve cell proliferation activity and neurite length of each group were measured and examined by the use of 3-(4, 5-dimethyl-2-thiazolyl)-2, 5-diphenyl-2Htetrazolium bromide (MTT), and morphological examination. We observed that the levels of PTEN mRNA and protein were distinctly decreased in the microRNA-29a-3p mimic group, but the expressions of the phosphorylated Akt and mTOR mRNA and protein were distinctly upregulated. In the transfected miRNA-29a-3p inhibitor SH-SY5Y cells, the expressions of miRNA-29a-3p were significantly suppressed; however, the expressions of PTEN gene and protein were significantly enhanced. The expressions of phosphorylated Akt and mTOR in the downregulated microRNA-29a-3p group distinctly were suppressed. The SH-SY5Y cell proliferation activity and neurite length in the upregulated microRNA-29a-3p group increased significantly. Our findings revealed that microRNA-29a-3p could enhance the proliferation activity of SH-SY5Y cells and promote neurite growth by inhibiting the expression of PTEN and regulating PI3K/Akt/mTOR signaling pathway.

Circulating miRNAs as a Predictive Biomarker of the Progression from Prediabetes to Diabetes: Outcomes of a 5-Year Prospective Observational Study

Due to a global increase in the prevalence of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), there is an urgent need for early identification of prediabetes, as these people have the highest risk of developing diabetes. Circulating miRNAs have shown potential as progression biomarkers in other diseases. This study aimed to conduct a baseline comparison of serum-circulating miRNAs in prediabetic individuals, with the distinction between those who later progressed to T2DM and those who did not. The expression levels of 798 miRNAs using NanoString technology were examined. Spearman correlation, receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis, and logistic regression modeling were performed. Gene ontology (GO) and canonical pathway analysis were used to explore the biological functions of the miRNA target genes. The study revealed that three miRNAs were upregulated in the serum samples of patients who later progressed to T2DM. Pathway analysis showed that the miRNA target genes were mainly significantly enriched in neuronal NO synthase (nNOS) signaling in neurons, amyloid processing, and hepatic cholestasis. ROC analysis demonstrated that miR-491-5p, miR-1307-3p, and miR-298 can be introduced as a diagnostic tool for the prediction of T2DM (area under the curve (AUC) = 94.0%, 88.0%, and 84.0%, respectively). Validation by real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) confirmed our findings. The results suggest that circulating miRNAs can potentially be used as predictive biomarkers of T2DM in prediabetic patients.

Serum-borne factors alter cerebrovascular endothelial microRNA expression following particulate matter exposure near an abandoned uranium mine on the Navajo Nation

Background

Commercial uranium mining on the Navajo Nation has subjected communities on tribal lands in the Southwestern United States to exposures from residual environmental contamination. Vascular health effects from these ongoing exposures are an active area of study. There is an association between residential mine-site proximity and circulating biomarkers in residents, however, the contribution of mine-site derived wind-blown dusts on vascular and other health outcomes is unknown. To assess neurovascular effects of mine-site derived dusts, we exposed mice using a novel exposure paradigm, the AirCARE1 mobile inhalation laboratory, located 2 km from an abandoned uranium mine, Claim 28 in Blue Gap Tachee, AZ. Mice were exposed to filtered air (FA) (n = 6) or concentrated ambient particulate matter (CAPs) (n = 5) for 2 wks for 4 h per day.

Results

To assess miRNA differential expression in cultured mouse cerebrovascular cells following particulate matter (PM) exposure (average: 96.6 ± 60.4 μg/m³ for all 4 h exposures), the serum cumulative inflammatory potential (SCIP) assay was employed. MiRNA sequencing was then performed in cultured mouse cerebrovascular endothelial cells (mCECs) to evaluate transcriptional changes. Results indicated 27 highly differentially expressed (p < 0.01) murine miRNAs, as measured in the SCIP assay. Gene ontology (GO) pathway analysis revealed notable alterations in GO enrichment related to the cytoplasm, protein binding and the cytosol, while significant KEGG pathways involved pathways in cancer, axon guidance and Wnt signaling. Expression of these 27 identified, differentially expressed murine miRNAs were then evaluated in the serum. Nine of these miRNAs (~ 30%) were significantly altered in the serum and 8 of those miRNAs demonstrated the same directional change (either upregulation or downregulation) as cellular miRNAs, as measured in the SCIP assay. Significantly upregulated miRNAs in the CAPs exposure group included miRNAs in the let-7a family. Overexpression of mmu-let-7a via transfection experiments, suggested that this miRNA may mediate mCEC barrier integrity following dust exposure.

Conclusions

Our data suggest that mCEC miRNAs as measured in the SCIP assay show similarity to serum-borne miRNAs, as approximately 30% of highly differentially expressed cellular miRNAs in the SCIP assay were also found in the serum. While translocation of miRNAs via exosomes or an alternative mechanism is certainly possible, other yet-to-be-identified factors in the serum may be responsible for significant miRNA differential expression in endothelium following inhaled exposures. Additionally, the most highly upregulated murine miRNAs in the CAPs exposure group were in the let-7a family. These miRNAs play a prominent role in cell growth and differentiation and based on our transfection experiments, mmu-let-7a may contribute to cerebrovascular mCEC alterations following inhaled dust exposure.

Assessment of Cell-Free Long Non-Coding RNA-H19 and miRNA-29a, miRNA-29b Expression and Severity of Diabetes

BACKGROUND

Type 2 diabetes mellitus [T2DM] has been one of the common diseases and is characterized by increased blood glucose levels and suggested that cell-free non-coding RNAs and microRNAs (miRNAs) have been demonstrated to serve as important diagnostic/prognostic biomarkers in diabetes.

MATERIALS/METHODS

The present study included clinically confirmed newly diagnosed 200 cases of T2DM and 200 healthy subjects, and all the parameters were taken care in diagnosis. Blood samples collected in plain vials were used for cell-free total RNA extraction and after that 100ng of total RNA was used to synthesize the cDNA for cell-free lncRNA H19, miRNA-29a, and miRNA-29b expression using quantitative real-time PCR method. Serum Biochemical parameters were analyzed after collection of the sample to observe the changes among T2DM cases and healthy controls.

RESULTS

It was observed that type 2 diabetic patients had decreased [0.59 fold] lncRNA H19 expression while increased miRNA-29a [5.62 fold] and miRNA-29b [5.58 fold] expression. Decreased expression of lncRNA H19 was observed to be associated with gender [p=0.004], hypertension [p<0.0001], weight loss [p=0.02] and fatigue [p=0.02]. Increased miRNA29a expression was linked with hypertension [p<0.0001], alcoholism [p=0.04], and smoking [p<0.0001] as well as miRNA-29b expression was associated with hypertension [p=0.0001], weight loss [p=0.002], smoking [p=0.0002], alcoholism [p<0.0001]. Low [≤1 fold] and high [>1 fold] expression of lncRNA H19 expression was linked with miRNA-29a [p=0.005] and miRNA-29b [p<0.0001] expression. lncRNA H19 expression showed negative correlation with miRNA-29a expression [r= -27, p<0.0001] and miRNA-29b [r= -47, p<0.0001].

CONCLUSION

The present study concluded that lower lncRNA H19 expression, and increased miRNA-29b, a miRNA-29b expression associated with the severity of T2DM patients. Decreased lncRNA H19 expression, and increased miRNA-29b, miRNA-29b expression observed to be interrelated with clinicopathological findings of T2DM patients could involve in pathogenesis disease.