The long non-coding RNA uc.4 influences cell differentiation through the TGF-beta signaling pathway

In a previous study, we screened thousands of long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) to assess their potential relationship with congenital heart disease (CHD). In this study, uc.4 attracted our attention because of its high level of evolutionary conservation and its antisense orientation to the CASZ1 gene, which is vital for heart development. We explored the function of uc.4 in cells and in zebrafish, and describe a potential mechanism of action. P19 cells were used to investigate the function of uc.4. We studied the effect of uc.4 overexpression on heart development in zebrafish. The overexpression of uc.4 influenced cell differentiation by inhibiting the TGF-beta signaling pathway and suppressed heart development in zebrafish, resulting in cardiac malformation. Taken together, our findings show that uc.4 is involved in heart development, thus providing a potential therapeutic target for CHD.

Effect of 1a,25(OH)2 D3 on circadian clock gene expression in cardiac myocytes / 中华实用儿科临床杂志

Objective To explore the effect of 1a,25(OH)2 D3 on circadian clock gene expressions in cardiac myocytes.Methods Cultured cardiac myocytes isolated from 7 -day -old Sprague -Dawley(SD)rats were identified by immunofluorescence.The medium including 1a,25 (OH)2 D3 (final concentrations were 0 nmol/L,1 nmol/L, 10 nmol/L,50 nmol/L and 100 nmol/L)were added to primary myocardial cells to culture for 2 h and then total RNA was extracted.Real -time polymerase chain reaction (RT -PCR)was applied to analyze myocardial cells circadian clock gene (Bmal1,Per2,Rev -erba)transcript levels to determine optimum concentration of 1a,25(OH)2 D3 .Then, the primary myocardial cells cultured for 72 h were divided into 3 groups:the control group was of serum -free culture medium;serum shock group was of DMEMcontaining 50%volume fraction of horse serum cultured 2 h;1a,25(OH)2 D3 treatment group receiving 1a,25 (OH)2 D3 at optimal concentration cultured 2 h.The cells were collected at 7 time points (0 h,4 h,8 h,12 h,16 h,20 h,24 h)and then total RNA was extracted.RT -PCR was applied to analyze circa-dian clock gene (Bmal1,Per2,Rev -erba)transcript levels in the myocardial cells.Results In the presence of 50 nmol/L 1 a,25(OH)2 D3 ,the Bmal1 mRNA expression showed the highest level,but the Per2 and Rev -erba mRNA expression levels were minimum.Compared with the control group,both 1a,25 (OH)2 D3 treatment group and serum shock group caused day -cycle rhythmic oscillation in circadian clock genes(Bmal1,Per2,Rev -erba)in the cardiac myocytes.And the expressions pattern of Bmal1 and Per2 genes were in the opposite phase.While Bmal1 gene expres-sion appeared at peak at 12 h,Per2 gene expression appeared in a trough.Expression of Rev -erba gene trend began to rise at 8 h,and the highest expression level appeared at 12 -16 h.Conclusions 1a,25(OH)2 D3 can affect Bmal1, Per2 and Rev -erba mRNA expressions of circadian clock genes in the cardiac myocytes.