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Liu W, Zeng Y, Huang L, Zhang X, Bi L, Fan W, Wu G. RHOJ as a novel mechanosensitive modulator of endothelial inflammation. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 2023; 670:36-46. [PMID: 37271038 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2023.05.099] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/22/2023] [Accepted: 05/25/2023] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
Physiological high shear stress (HSS), a frictional force generated by flowing blood, is essential for endothelial homeostasis under normal physiological conditions. HSS suppresses atherosclerosis by inhibiting endothelial inflammation. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying this process have not been fully elucidated. Here, we report that HSS downregulated the mRNA and protein levels of ras homolog family member J (RHOJ) in endothelial cells (ECs). Silencing endogenous RHOJ expression decreased the mRNA and protein levels of proinflammatory vascular cell adhesion molecule 1 (VCAM-1) and intercellular cell adhesion molecule 1 (ICAM-1) in ECs, leading to a reduction in monocyte adhesion to ECs. Conversely, the overexpression of RHOJ had the opposite effect. RNA-sequencing analysis uncovered several differentially expressed genes (such as yes-associated protein 1 (YAP1),heme oxygenase-1 (HO1), and monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP1)) and pathways (such as nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB), fluid shear stress and atherosclerosis, and cell adhesion pathways) as RHOJ targets. Additionally, HSS was observed to alleviate endothelial inflammation by inhibiting RHOJ expression. Finally, methylated RNA immunoprecipitation sequencing (MeRIP-seq) illustrated that fluid shear stress regulates RHOJ expression in an N6-methyladenosine (m6A)-dependent manner. Mechanistically, the RNA m6A writer, methyltransferase 3 (METTL3), and the RNA m6A readers, YTH N6-methyladenosine RNA-binding protein F 3 (YTHDF3) and YTH N6-methyladenosine RNA-binding protein C 1/2 (YTHDC1/2), are involved in this process. Taken together, our data demonstrate that HSS-induced downregulation of RHOJ contributes to endothelial homeostasis by suppressing endothelial inflammation and that RHOJ inhibition in ECs is a promising therapeutic strategy for endothelial dysfunction.
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Affiliation(s)
- WenQiang Liu
- Department of Cardiology, The Eighth Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Shenzhen, 518033, Guangdong, PR China; NHC Key Laboratory of Assisted Circulation (Sun Yat-sen University), PR China
| | - Yue Zeng
- Department of Cardiology, The Eighth Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Shenzhen, 518033, Guangdong, PR China; NHC Key Laboratory of Assisted Circulation (Sun Yat-sen University), PR China
| | - LiHan Huang
- Department of Cardiology, The Eighth Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Shenzhen, 518033, Guangdong, PR China; NHC Key Laboratory of Assisted Circulation (Sun Yat-sen University), PR China
| | - XiaoZhe Zhang
- Department of Cardiology, The Eighth Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Shenzhen, 518033, Guangdong, PR China; NHC Key Laboratory of Assisted Circulation (Sun Yat-sen University), PR China
| | - LianRu Bi
- Department of Cardiology, The Eighth Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Shenzhen, 518033, Guangdong, PR China; NHC Key Laboratory of Assisted Circulation (Sun Yat-sen University), PR China
| | - WenDong Fan
- Department of Cardiology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510080, Guangdong, PR China; NHC Key Laboratory of Assisted Circulation (Sun Yat-sen University), PR China.
| | - GuiFu Wu
- Department of Cardiology, The Eighth Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Shenzhen, 518033, Guangdong, PR China; NHC Key Laboratory of Assisted Circulation (Sun Yat-sen University), PR China; Guangdong Innovative Engineering and Technology Research Center for Assisted Circulation, PR China.
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