Information on dysregulation of microRNA in placenta linked to preeclampsia

Mitochondrial-mediated nuclear remodeling and macrophage polarizations: A key switch from liver fibrosis to HCC progression

Liver fibrosis is a significant health burden worldwide and has emerged as the leading cause of Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) incidence. Mitochondria are the dynamic organelles that regulate the differentiation, survival, and polarization of macrophages. Nuclear-DNA-associated proteins, micro-RNAs, as well as macrophage polarization are essential for maintaining intracellular and extra-cellular homeostasis in the liver parenchyma. Dysregulated mitochondrial coding genes (ETS complexes I, II, III, IV, and V), non-coding RNAs (mitomiRs), and nuclear alteration lead to the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and inflammation which are implicated in the transition of liver fibrosis into HCC. Recent findings indicated the protecting effect of E74-like factor 3/peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γ (Elf-3/PPAR-γ). HDAR-y inhibits the deacetylation of PPAR-y and maintains the PPAR-y pathway. Elf-3 plays a tumor suppressive role through epithelial-mesenchymal transition-related gene and zinc finger E-box binding homeobox 2 (ZEB-2) domain. Additionally, the development of HCC includes the PI3K/Akt/mTOR and transforming Growth Factor β (TGF-β) pathway that promotes the Epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) through Smad/Snail/Slug signaling cascade. In contrast, the TLR2/NOX2/autophagy axis promotes M2 polarization in HCC. Thus, a thorough understanding of the mitochondrial and nuclear reciprocal relationship related to macrophage polarization could provide new research opportunities concerning diseases with a significant impact on liver parenchyma towards developing liver fibrosis or liver cancer. Moreover, this knowledge can be used to develop new therapeutic strategies to treat liver diseases.

Dysregulated miR-222-3p in plasma exosomes of preeclampsia patients and its In vitro effect on HTR8/SVneo extravillous trophoblast cells by targeting STMN1

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the diagnostic efficiency of miR-222-3p in plasma exosomes (Exos) and plasma for preeclampsia (PE) and the effect of miR-222-3p targeting STMN1 in PE.

METHODS

MiR-222-3p levels in total plasma and plasma Exos were detected in PE patients and healthy controls. A bioinformatics database and dual-luciferase reporter assay were employed to verify the targeting relationship between miR-222-3p and STMN1. Trophoblast HTR-8/Svneo cells were transfected with miR-222-3p inhibitors with/without STMN1 shRNA, followed by MTT, wound healing and Transwell invasion assays. The mRNA and protein expressions were measured by qRT‒PCR and Western blotting, respectively.

RESULTS

MiR-222-3p levels in total plasma and plasma Exos were higher in PE patients than in healthy controls, particularly in severe PE patients. In addition, miR-222-3p levels in total plasma and plasma Exos from PE patients were positively correlated with diastolic and systolic blood pressure. The area under the curve (AUC) of miR-222-3p in total plasma for PE diagnostic efficiency was 0.798, with a sensitivity of 76.67% and specificity of 71.93%, while the AUC of miR-222-3p in plasma Exos was 0.708 (sensitivity: 61.67%; specificity: 78.95%). In vitro, miR-222-3p targeted STMN1 in HTR-8/Svneo cells. Low miR-222-3p expression reversed the inhibitory effect of STMN1 shRNA on the proliferation, invasion and migration of HTR/SVneo cells.

CONCLUSION

PE patients had increased miR-222-3p expression in total plasma and plasma Exos, which both have high diagnostic efficiency for PE. MiR-222-3p can target STMN1 to promote the proliferation, invasion and migration of HTR-8/Svneo cells and is a potential therapeutic target of PE.