MicroRNA expression profiles and networks in CXCL12‑stimulated human endometrial stromal cells

Non-coding RNAs and angiogenesis in cardiovascular diseases: a comprehensive review

Non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) have key roles in the etiology of many illnesses, including heart failure, myocardial infarction, stroke, and in physiological processes like angiogenesis. In transcriptional regulatory circuits that control heart growth, signaling, and stress response, as well as remodeling in cardiac disease, ncRNAs have become important players. Studies on ncRNAs and cardiovascular disease have made great progress recently. Here, we go through the functions of non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) like circular RNAs (circRNAs), and microRNAs (miRNAs) as well as long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) in modulating cardiovascular disorders.

Autoimmune Disease-Related Hub Genes are Potential Biomarkers and Associated with Immune Microenvironment in Endometriosis

Background

Endometriosis, a common gynecological condition, can cause symptoms such as dysmenorrhea, infertility, and abnormal bleeding, which can negatively affect a woman's quality of life. In the current study, the pathophysiological mechanisms of endometriosis are unknown, but this study suggests that endometriosis is associated with dysregulation of the autoimmune system. This study identify hub genes involved in the prevalence, identification and diagnostic value of endometriosis and autoimmune diseases, and explore the central genes and immune infiltrates, the diagnosis of endometriosis provides a new sight of thinking about diagnosis and treatment.

Methods and Results

The relevant datasets for endometriosis GSE141549, GSE7305 and autoimmune disease-related genes (AIDGs) were downloaded from online database. Using the "limma" package and WGCNA to screen out the autoimmune disease related genes and endometriosis related genes, the autoimmune disease gene-related differential genes (AID-DEGs) progressive GO, KEGG enrichment analysis, and then using the protein interaction network and Cytoscape software to select hub genes (CXCL12, PECAM1, NGF, CTGF, WNT5A), using the "pROC" package to analyze the hub genes for the diagnostic value of endometriosis. The difference in the importance of hub genes for the diagnosis of endometriosis was analyzed by machine learning random forest, and the combined diagnostic value of hub genes was analyzed by using the Support Vector Machine (SVM) algorithm. The eutopic (EU) and ectopic endometrium (EC) immune microenvironment of endometriosis was evaluated using CIBERSORT, the correlation of hub genes to the immune microenvironment was analyzed.

Conclusion

The hub genes associated with AIDGs are differentially expressed in EC and EU of endometriosis and possess important value for the diagnosis of endometriosis. The hub genes have a very important impact on the immune microenvironment of endometriosis, which is important for exploring the connection between endometriosis and autoimmune diseases and provides a new insight for the subsequent study of immunotherapy and diagnosis of endometriosis.

Upregulating microRNA-874-3p inhibits CXCL12 expression to promote angiogenesis and suppress inflammatory response in ischemic stroke

Identification of specific biomarkers for ischemic stroke is necessary due to their abilities to improve treatment outcomes. Many studies have demonstrated the involvement of microRNAs (miRNAs) in the pathogenesis and complications of ischemic stroke and patient outcomes. We found that the expression of miR-874-3p was downregulated in clinical samples of ischemic stroke. Thus the present study explored the potential role of miR-874-3p in ischemic stroke and related mechanisms. A mouse model of ischemic stroke was constructed by middle cerebral artery occlusion. The relationship among miR-874-3p, C-X-C motif chemokine ligand 12 (CXCL12), and the Wnt/β-catenin pathway was explored by dual luciferase reporter assay and Western blot analysis. Angiogenesis and brain tissue apoptosis were evaluated by immunofluorescence staining and TUNEL staining, respectively. ELISA was introduced to measure levels of inflammatory factors, including tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin (IL)-1, IL-6, IL-8, and IL-10 in brain tissues. Primary hippocampal neuronal cells were isolated from the mouse model of ischemic stroke and incubated with human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) for HUVEC tube formation. High expression of CXCL12 and low expression of miR-874-3p were confirmed in ischemic stroke. In addition, miR-874-3p was found to target and downregulate CXCL12, thus reducing TNF-α, IL-1, IL-6, and IL-8 levels, but enhancing IL-10 level. Collectively, upregulating miR-874-3p inhibits CXCL12 expression to promote angiogenesis and inhibit inflammation in ischemic stroke mice by activating the Wnt/β-catenin pathway, which may provide a new direction of ischemic stroke treatment.

SH3BGRL2 inhibits growth and metastasis in clear cell renal cell carcinoma via activating hippo/TEAD1-Twist1 pathway

Background

Clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC) is one of the most prevalent malignancies in the world, and tumor metastasis is still the main reason for disease progression. Accumulating evidence shows that SH3BGRL2 may play a key role in tumor progression and metastasis. However, the role of SH3BGRL2 in ccRCC has not been systematically investigated and remains elusive.

Methods

The clinical significance of SH3BGRL2 was evaluated by bioinformatic analysis and tissue microarray (TMA) samples. SH3BGRL2 expression was determined by RT-PCR, western blot and immunohistochemistry staining. Tumor suppressive effect of SH3BGRL2 was determined by both in vitro and in vivo studies. Western blot, chromatin immunoprecipitation assay and luciferase report assay were applied for mechanism dissection.

Findings

SH3BGRL2 was crucial for epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) progression and metastasis in ccRCC. Clinically, SH3BGRL2 was identified as an independent prognostic factor for ccRCC patients. Gain- and loss-of-function results suggested that SH3BGRL2 played a critical role in cell proliferation, migration and invasion. Mechanistically, we found that SH3BGRL2 acted as a tumor suppressor through Hippo/TEAD1 signaling, then TEAD1 altered Twist1 expression at the transcriptional level via directly binding to its promoter region.

Interpretation

Our findings established that SH3BGRL2 performed as a tumor suppressor and modulator via Hippo/TEAD1-Twist1 signaling in ccRCC, and the alteration of SH3BGRL2 could serve as a functional response biomarker of tumor progression and metastasis in ccRCC.

CXCL12-regulated miR-370-3p functions as a tumor suppressor gene by targeting HMGA2 in nonfunctional pituitary adenomas

Silencing of noncoding genes within the imprinted DLK1-MEG3 locus is exclusive to human nonfunctional pituitary adenomas (NFPAs), but the exact mechanism is still unclear. This study was designed to demonstrate the impact of CXCL12 on the expression of miRNAs within this locus and phenotypic alterations of NFPAs. Human NFPA samples were collected for screening differentially expressed miRNAs by CXCL12. Target mRNAs of the miRNAs were predicted and verified in vitro. Tumor phenotypic alterations were also tested. Another 51 NFPA samples were enrolled to examine the correlation and clinical features. The expression of miR-370 was decreased by CXCL12 treatment in NFPAs. miR-370-3p was predicted and verified to target HMGA2 as a tumor suppressor gene. Overexpression of HMGA2 inhibited its antitumor function. miR-370-3p was downregulated and HMGA2 was upregulated significantly in High grade NFPAs. In conclusion, the CXCL12/miR-370-3p/HMGA2 signaling pathway is involved in tumor growth and invasiveness of NFPAs.

CXCL12/CXCR4-Mediated Procollagen Secretion Is Coupled To Cullin-RING Ubiquitin Ligase Activation

Tissue fibrosis is mediated by the actions of multiple pro-fibrotic proteins that can induce myofibroblast phenoconversion through diverse signaling pathways coupled predominantly to Smads or MEK/Erk proteins. The TGFβ/TGFβR and CXCL12/CXCR4 axes induce myofibroblast phenoconversion independently through Smads and MEK/Erk proteins, respectively. To investigate these mechanisms at the genetic level, we have now elucidated the TGFβ/TGFβR and CXCL12/CXCR4 transcriptomes in human fibroblasts. These transcriptomes are largely convergent, and up-regulate transcripts encoding proteins known to promote myofibroblast phenoconversion. These studies also revealed a molecular signature unique to CXCL12/CXCR4 axis activation for COPII vesicle formation, ubiquitination, and Golgi/ER localization/targeting. In particular, both CUL3 and KLHL12, key members of the Cullin-RING (CRL) ubiquitin ligase family of proteins involved in procollagen transport from the ER to the Golgi, were highly up-regulated in CXCL12-, but repressed in TGFβ-, treated cells. Up-regulation of CUL3 and KLHL12 was correlated with higher procollagen secretion by CXCL12-treated cells, and this affect was ablated upon treatment with inhibitors specific for CXCR4 or CUL3 and repressed by TGFβ/TGFβR axis activation. The results of these studies show that activation of the CXCL12/CXCR4 axis uniquely facilitates procollagen I secretion through a COPII-vesicle mediated mechanism to promote production of the ECM characteristic of fibrosis.

Mesenchymal Stromal Cells Are More Immunosuppressive In Vitro If They Are Derived from Endometriotic Lesions than from Eutopic Endometrium

Endometriosis is an inflammatory disease with predominance of immunosuppressive M2 macrophages in the pelvic cavity that could be involved in the pathology through support and immune escape of ectopic lesions. Mesenchymal stromal cells (MSC) are found in ectopic lesions, and MSC from nonendometriosis sources are known to induce M2 macrophages. Therefore, MSC were hypothesized to play a role in the pathology of endometriosis. The aim was to characterize the functional phenotype of MSC in ectopic and eutopic endometrium from women with endometriosis. Stromal cells from endometriotic ovarian cysts (ESC_cyst) and endometrium (ESC_endo) were examined if they exhibited a MSC phenotype. Then, ESC were phenotypically examined for protein and gene expression of immunosuppressive and immunostimulatory molecules. Finally, ESC were functionally examined for their effects on monocyte differentiation into macrophages. ESC_cyst and ESC_endo expressed MSC markers, formed colonies, and differentiated into osteoblasts and adipocytes. Phenotypically, ESC_cyst were more immunosuppressive, with significantly higher expression of immunosuppressive molecules. Functionally, ESC_cyst induced more spindle-shaped macrophages, with significantly higher expression of CD14 and CD163, both features of M2 macrophages. The results suggest that ESC_cyst may be more immunosuppressive than ESC_endo and may promote immunosuppressive M2 macrophages that may support growth and reduce immunosurveillance of ectopic lesions.