A combinatorial approach for achieving CNS-selective RNAi.

RNA interference (RNAi) is an endogenous process that can be harnessed using chemically modified small interfering RNAs (siRNAs) to potently modulate gene expression in many tissues. The route of administration and chemical architecture are the primary drivers of oligonucleotide tissue distribution, including siRNAs. Independently of the nature and type, oligonucleotides are eliminated from the body through clearance tissues, where their unintended accumulation may result in undesired gene modulation. Divalent siRNAs (di-siRNAs) administered into the CSF induce robust gene silencing throughout the central nervous system (CNS). Upon clearance from the CSF, they are mainly filtered by the kidneys and liver, with the most functionally significant accumulation occurring in the liver. siRNA- and miRNA-induced silencing can be blocked through substrate inhibition using single-stranded, stabilized oligonucleotides called antagomirs or anti-siRNAs. Using APOE as a model target, we show that undesired di-siRNA-induced silencing in the liver can be mitigated through administration of liver targeting GalNAc-conjugated anti-siRNAs, without impacting CNS activity. Blocking unwanted hepatic APOE silencing achieves fully CNS-selective silencing, essential for potential clinical translation. While we focus on CNS/liver selectivity, coadministration of differentially targeting siRNA and anti-siRNAs can be adapted as a strategy to achieve tissue selectivity in different organ combinations.

Angelol-A exerts anti-metastatic and anti-angiogenic effects on human cervical carcinoma cells by modulating the phosphorylated-ERK/miR-29a-3p that targets the MMP2/VEGFA axis.

AIMS: Angelol-A (Ang-A), a kind of coumarins, is isolated from the roots of Angelica pubescens f. biserrata. However, AA exerts antitumor effects and molecular mechanism on cervical cancer cells is unknown. MAIN METHODS: Cell viability was determined using the MTT assay, and the cell cycle phase was assessed by PI staining with flow cytometry. Ang-A-treated cells with/without Antago-miR-29a-3p (miR-29a-3p inhibitor) or U0126 (MEK inhibitor) were assessed for the expression of miR-29a-3p, in vitro migration/invasion, and angiogenesis using qRT-PCR, a chemotaxis assay, and tube formation assay, respectively. The expression of mitogen-activated protein kinases/MMP2/MMP9/VEGFA was determined by western blot analysis with applicable antibodies. KEY FINDINGS: Ang-A significantly inhibited MMP2 and VEGFA expression, cell migration, and invasive motility in human cervical cancer cells. Conditioned medium inhibited tube formation in HUVECs. Ang-A principally inhibited invasive motility and angiogenesis by upregulating the expression of miR-29a-3p that targets the VEGFA-3' UTR. The role of miR-29a-3p was confirmed using Antago-miR-29a-3p, which reversed the Ang-A-inhibited expression of MMP2 and VEGFA, invasive motility, and angiogenesis in human cervical cancer cells. The ERK pathway was implicated in mediating the metastatic and angiogenic action of Ang-A. Combined treatment with Ang-A treated and U0126 exerted a synergistic inhibitory effect on the expression of MMP2 and VEGFA and the metastatic and angiogenic properties of human cervical cancer cells. SIGNIFICANCE: These findings are the first to indicate that in human cervical cancer cells, Ang-A exerts anti-metastatic and anti-angiogenic effects via targeting the miR-29a-3p/MMP2/VEGFA axis, mediated through the ERK pathway.

Reexamining assumptions about miRNA-guided gene silencing.

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are short endogenously expressed RNAs that have the potential to regulate the expression of any RNA. This potential has led to the publication of several thousand papers each year connecting miRNAs to many different genes and human diseases. By contrast, relatively few papers appear that investigate the molecular mechanism used by miRNAs. There is a disconnect between rigorous understanding of mechanism and the extraordinary diversity of reported roles for miRNAs. Consequences of this disconnect include confusion about the assumptions underlying the basic science of human miRNAs and slow development of therapeutics that target miRNAs. Here, we present an overview of investigations into miRNAs and their impact on gene expression. Progress in our understanding of miRNAs would be aided by a greater focus on the mechanism of miRNAs and a higher burden of evidence on researchers who seek to link expression of a particular miRNA to a biological phenotype.

A new player in the game: treatment with antagomiR-21a-5p significantly attenuates histological and echocardiographic effects of experimental autoimmune myocarditis.

AIMS: Myocarditis is associated with formidable symptoms and increased risk of adverse outcomes. Current approaches mostly rely on symptomatic treatments, warranting novel concepts for clinical practice. The aim of this study was to investigate the microRNA (miRNA) expression profile of Balb/c mice with experimental autoimmune myocarditis (EAM), choose a representative miRNA to antagonize after review of available literature and test its effects on myocardial inflammation in vitro and in vivo. METHODS AND RESULTS: Phase 1: EAM was induced in 12 male Balb/c mice, 10 animals served as controls. After sacrifice, next-generation sequencing (NGS) of the miRNA expression profile was performed. Based on these results, H9C2 cells and human ventricular cardiac fibroblasts exposed to lipopolysaccharide (LPS) were treated with the selected candidate antagomiR-21a-5p. Phase 2: EAM was induced in 48 animals. Thereof, 24 animals were either treated with antagomiR-21a-5p or negative control oligonucleotide in a nanoparticle formulation. Transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) was performed on Days 0, 7, 14, and 21. Histopathological examination was performed after sacrifice. Phase 1: EAM resulted in a significant up-regulation of 27 miRNAs, including miR-21a-5p (log2FC: 2.23, adj. P = 0.0026). Transfection with antagomiR-21a-5p resulted in a significant reduction of TNFα, IL-6, and collagen I in vitro. Phase 2: Treatment with antagomiR-21a-5p, formulated in polymeric nanoparticles for systemic injection, significantly attenuated myocardial inflammation (P = 0.001) and fibrosis (P = 0.013), as well as myocardial 'hypertrophy' on TTE. CONCLUSIONS: Silencing of miR-21a-5p results in a significant reduction of the expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines in vitro, as well as a significant attenuation of inflammation, fibrosis and echocardiographic effects of EAM in vivo.

Sequencing of Argonaute-bound microRNA/mRNA hybrids reveals regulation of the unfolded protein response by microRNA-320a.

MicroRNAs (miRNA) are short non-coding RNAs widely implicated in gene regulation. Most metazoan miRNAs utilize the RNase III enzymes Drosha and Dicer for biogenesis. One notable exception is the RNA polymerase II transcription start sites (TSS) miRNAs whose biogenesis does not require Drosha. The functional importance of the TSS-miRNA biogenesis is uncertain. To better understand the function of TSS-miRNAs, we applied a modified Crosslinking, Ligation, and Sequencing of Hybrids on Argonaute (AGO-qCLASH) to identify the targets for TSS-miRNAs in HCT116 colorectal cancer cells with or without DROSHA knockout. We observed that miR-320a hybrids dominate in TSS-miRNA hybrids identified by AGO-qCLASH. Targets for miR-320a are enriched for the eIF2 signaling pathway, a downstream component of the unfolded protein response. Consistently, in miR-320a mimic- and antagomir- transfected cells, differentially expressed gene products are associated with eIF2 signaling. Within the AGO-qCLASH data, we identified the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) chaperone calnexin as a direct miR-320a down-regulated target, thus connecting miR-320a to the unfolded protein response. During ER stress, but not amino acid deprivation, miR-320a up-regulates ATF4, a critical transcription factor for resolving ER stress. In summary, our study investigates the targetome of the TSS-miRNAs in colorectal cancer cells and establishes miR-320a as a regulator of unfolded protein response.

Dexamethasone Suppresses Palatal Cell Proliferation through miR-130a-3p.

Cleft lip with or without cleft palate (CL/P) is one of the most common congenital birth defects. This study aims to identify novel pathogenic microRNAs associated with cleft palate (CP). Through data analyses of miRNA-sequencing for developing palatal shelves of C57BL/6J mice, we found that miR-449a-3p, miR-449a-5p, miR-449b, miR-449c-3p, and miR-449c-5p were significantly upregulated, and that miR-19a-3p, miR-130a-3p, miR-301a-3p, and miR-486b-5p were significantly downregulated, at embryonic day E14.5 compared to E13.5. Among them, overexpression of the miR-449 family (miR-449a-3p, miR-449a-5p, miR-449b, miR-449c-3p, and miR-449c-5p) and miR-486b-5p resulted in reduced cell proliferation in primary mouse embryonic palatal mesenchymal (MEPM) cells and mouse cranial neural crest cell line O9-1. On the other hand, inhibitors of miR-130a-3p and miR-301a-3p significantly reduced cell proliferation in MEPM and O9-1 cells. Notably, we found that treatment with dexamethasone, a glucocorticoid known to induce CP in mice, suppressed miR-130a-3p expression in both MEPM and O9-1 cells. Moreover, a miR-130a-3p mimic could ameliorate the cell proliferation defect induced by dexamethasone through normalization of Slc24a2 expression. Taken together, our results suggest that miR-130-3p plays a crucial role in dexamethasone-induced CP in mice.

BNIP3-Dependent Mitophagy via PGC1α Promotes Cartilage Degradation.

Since mitochondria are suggested to be important regulators in maintaining cartilage homeostasis, turnover of mitochondria through mitochondrial biogenesis and mitochondrial degradation may play an important role in the pathogenesis of osteoarthritis (OA). Here, we found that mitochondrial dysfunction is closely associated with OA pathogenesis and identified the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-gamma co-activator 1-alpha (PGC1α) as a potent regulator. The expression level of PGC1α was significantly decreased under OA conditions, and knockdown of PGC1α dramatically elevated the cartilage degradation by upregulating cartilage degrading enzymes and apoptotic cell death. Interestingly, the knockdown of PGC1α activated the parkin RBR E3 ubiquitin protein ligase (PRKN)-independent selective mitochondria autophagy (mitophagy) pathway through the upregulation of BCL2 and adenovirus E1B 19-kDa-interacting protein 3 (BNIP3). The overexpression of BNIP3 stimulated mitophagy and cartilage degradation by upregulating cartilage-degrading enzymes and chondrocyte death. We identified microRNA (miR)-126-5p as an upstream regulator for PGC1α and confirmed the direct binding between miR-126-5p and 3' untranslated region (UTR) of PGC1α. An in vivo OA mouse model induced by the destabilization of medial meniscus (DMM) surgery, and the delivery of antago-miR-126 via intra-articular injection significantly decreased cartilage degradation. In sum, the loss of PGC1α in chondrocytes due to upregulation of miR-126-5p during OA pathogenesis resulted in the activation of PRKN-independent mitophagy through the upregulation of BNIP3 and stimulated cartilage degradation and apoptotic death of chondrocytes. Therefore, the regulation of PGC1α:BNIP3 mitophagy axis could be of therapeutic benefit to cartilage-degrading diseases.

Generation of microRNA-378a-deficient hiPSC as a novel tool to study its role in human cardiomyocytes.

microRNA-378a (miR-378a) is one of the most highly expressed microRNAs in the heart. However, its role in the human cardiac tissue has not been fully understood. It was observed that miR-378a protects cardiomyocytes from hypertrophic growth by regulation of IGF1R and the expression of downstream kinases. Increased levels of miR-378a were reported in the serum of Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) patients and female carriers of DMD gene-associated mutations with developed cardiomyopathy. In order to shed more light on the role of miR-378a in human cardiomyocytes and its potential involvement in DMD-related cardiomyopathy, we generated two human induced pluripotent stem cell (hiPSC) models; one with deletion of miR-378a and the second one with deletion of DMD exon 50 leading to the DMD phenotype. Our results indicate that lack of miR-378a does not influence the pluripotency of hiPSC and their ability to differentiate into cardiomyocytes (hiPSC-CM). miR-378a-deficient hiPSC-CM exhibited, however, significantly bigger size compared to the isogenic control cells, indicating the role of this miRNA in the hypertrophic growth of human cardiomyocytes. In accordance, the level of NFATc3, phosphoAKT, phosphoERK and ERK was higher in these cells compared to the control counterparts. A similar effect was achieved by silencing miR-378a with antagomirs. Of note, the percentage of cells with nuclear localization of NFATc3 was higher in miR-378a-deficient hiPSC-CM. Analysis of electrophysiological properties and Ca2+ oscillations revealed the decrease in the spike slope velocity and lower frequency of calcium spikes in miR-378a-deficient hiPSC-CM. Interestingly, the level of miR-378a increased gradually during cardiac differentiation of hiPSC. Of note, it was low until day 15 in differentiating DMD-deficient hiPSC-CM and then rose to a similar level as in the isogenic control counterparts. In summary, our findings confirmed the utility of hiPSC-based models for deciphering the role of miR-378a in the control and diseased human cardiomyocytes.

miR-19a-3p inhibition alleviates sepsis-induced lung injury via enhancing USP13 expression.

Sepsis is a systemic inflammatory response syndrome caused by various pathogenic microorganisms or toxins. Lung damage is one of the causes of death in patients with sepsis. This study aimed to investigate the role of miR-19a-3p and its regulation mechanism in sepsis-induced lung injury. MH-S cells were treated with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) to establish sepsis-induced lung injury cell model. C57BL/6 mice were injected with miR-19a-3p antagomiR and LPS to construct animal model. LPS-treated and control cells were transfected with miR-19a-3p mimic, miR-19a-3p inhibitor or USP13 expression vector . The expression levels of miR-19a-3p and USP13 were examined by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) and Western blotting. The concentration of inflammatory cytokines was measured with enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The relationship of miR-19a-3p and USP13 was validated using dual-luciferase reporter assay. The lung damage was assessed with hematoxylin-eosin staining (HE). The results showed that LPS treatment increased the concentration of TNF-α, IL-6 and IL-1ß in MH-S cells. In LPS treated MH-S cells, the level of miR-19a-3p gradually increased over time. Both miR-19a-3p knockdown and USP13 overexpression in MH-S cells inhibited the LPS-induced production of TNF-α, IL-6 and IL-1ß. Moreover, miR-19a-3p negatively regulated the expression of USP13 in MH-S cells. Furthermore, miR-19a-3p inhibitor suppressed lung damage in sepsis model mice. In conclusion, miR-19a-3p knockdown could alleviate sepsis-induced lung injury through enhancing USP13 expression.

Recent Advances in Oligonucleotide Therapeutics in Oncology.

Cancer is one of the leading causes of death worldwide. Conventional therapies, including surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy have achieved increased survival rates for many types of cancer over the past decades. However, cancer recurrence and/or metastasis to distant organs remain major challenges, resulting in a large, unmet clinical need. Oligonucleotide therapeutics, which include antisense oligonucleotides, small interfering RNAs, and aptamers, show promising clinical outcomes for disease indications such as Duchenne muscular dystrophy, familial amyloid neuropathies, and macular degeneration. While no approved oligonucleotide drug currently exists for any type of cancer, results obtained in preclinical studies and clinical trials are encouraging. Here, we provide an overview of recent developments in the field of oligonucleotide therapeutics in oncology, review current clinical trials, and discuss associated challenges.

miR-31 promotes neural stem cell proliferation and restores motor function after spinal cord injury.

This study aims to examine whether miR-31 promotes endogenous NSC proliferation and be used for spinal cord injury management. In the present study, the morpholino knockdown of miR-31 induced abnormal neuronal apoptosis in zebrafish, resulting in impaired development of the tail. miR-31 agomir transfection in NSCs increased Nestin expression and decreased ChAT and GFAP expression levels. miR-31 induced the proliferation of mouse NSCs by upregulating the Notch signaling pathway, and more NSCs entered G1; Notch was inhibited by miR-31 inactivation. Injection of a miR-31 agomir into mouse models of spinal cord injury could effectively restore motor functions after spinal cord injury, which was achieved by promoting the proliferation of endogenous NSCs. After the injection of a miR-31 agomir in spinal cord injury mice, the expression of Nestin and GFAP increased, while GFAP expression decreased. In conclusion, the zebrafish experiments prove that a lack of miR-31 will block nervous system development. In spinal cord injury mouse models, miR-31 overexpression might promote spinal cord injury repair.

Systemic delivery of antagomirs during blood-brain barrier disruption is disease-modifying in experimental epilepsy.

Oligonucleotide therapies offer precision treatments for a variety of neurological diseases, including epilepsy, but their deployment is hampered by the blood-brain barrier (BBB). Previous studies showed that intracerebroventricular injection of an antisense oligonucleotide (antagomir) targeting microRNA-134 (Ant-134) reduced evoked and spontaneous seizures in animal models of epilepsy. In this study, we used assays of serum protein and tracer extravasation to determine that BBB disruption occurring after status epilepticus in mice was sufficient to permit passage of systemically injected Ant-134 into the brain parenchyma. Intraperitoneal and intravenous injection of Ant-134 reached the hippocampus and blocked seizure-induced upregulation of miR-134. A single intraperitoneal injection of Ant-134 at 2 h after status epilepticus in mice resulted in potent suppression of spontaneous recurrent seizures, reaching a 99.5% reduction during recordings at 3 months. The duration of spontaneous seizures, when they occurred, was also reduced in Ant-134-treated mice. In vivo knockdown of LIM kinase-1 (Limk-1) increased seizure frequency in Ant-134-treated mice, implicating de-repression of Limk-1 in the antagomir mechanism. These studies indicate that systemic delivery of Ant-134 reaches the brain and produces long-lasting seizure-suppressive effects after systemic injection in mice when timed with BBB disruption and may be a clinically viable approach for this and other disease-modifying microRNA therapies.

Promotive role of microRNA­150 in hippocampal neurons apoptosis in vascular dementia model rats.

Cognitive impairment is one of the primary features of vascular dementia (VD). However, the specific mechanism underlying the regulation of cognition function in VD is not completely understood. The present study aimed to explore the effects of microRNA (miR)­150 on VD. To determine the effects of miR­150 on cognitive function and hippocampal neurons in VD model rats, rats were subjected to intracerebroventricular injections of miR­150 antagomiR. The Morris water maze test results demonstrated that spatial learning ability was impaired in VD model rats compared with control rats. Moreover, compared with antagomiR negative control (NC), miR­150 antagomiR alleviated cognitive impairment and enhanced memory ability in VD model rats. The triphenyltetrazolium chloride, Nissl staining and immunohistochemistry results further demonstrated that miR­150 knockdown improved the activity of hippocampal neurons in VD model rats compared with the antagomiR NC group. To validate the role of miR­150 in neurons in vitro, the PC12 cell line was used. The flow cytometry and Hoechst 33342/PI double staining results indicated that miR­150 overexpression significantly increased cell apoptosis compared with the mimic NC group. Moreover, the dual­luciferase reporter gene assay results indicated that miR­150 targeted HOXA1 and negatively regulated HOXA1 expression. Therefore, the present study indicated that miR­150 knockdown ameliorated VD symptoms by upregulating HOXA1 expression in vivo and in vitro.

MicroRNA-30a-5p silencing polarizes macrophages toward M2 phenotype to alleviate cardiac injury following viral myocarditis by targeting SOCS1.

Viral myocarditis (VMC) is a life-threatening disease characterized by severe cardiac inflammation generally caused by coxsackievirus B3 (CVB3) infection. Several microRNAs (miRNAs or miRs) are known to play crucial roles in the pathogenesis of VMC. The study aimed to decipher the role of miR-30a-5p in the underlying mechanisms of VMC pathogenesis. We first quantified miR-30a-5p expression in a CVB3-induced mouse VMC model. The physiological characteristics of mouse cardiac tissues were then detected by hematoxylin and eosin (HE) and Picrosirius red staining. We established the correlation between miR-30a-5p and SOCS1, using dual-luciferase gene assay and Pearson's correlation coefficient. The expression of inflammatory factors (IFN-γ, IL-6, IL-10, and IL-13), M1 polarization markers [TNF-α, inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS)], M2 polarization markers (Arg-1, IL-10), and myocardial hypertrophy markers [atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) and brain natriuretic peptide (BNP)] was detected by RT-qPCR and Western blot analysis. miR-30a-5p was found to be highly expressed in VMC mice. Silencing of miR-30a-5p improved the cardiac function index and reduced heart weight-to-body weight ratio, myocardial tissue pathological changes and fibrosis degree, serological indexes, as well as proinflammatory factor levels, while enhancing anti-inflammatory factor levels in VMC mice. Furthermore, silencing of miR-30a-5p inhibited M1 polarization of macrophages while promoting M2 polarization in vivo and in vitro. SOCS1 was a target gene of miR-30a-5p, and the aforementioned cardioprotective effects of miR-30a-5p silencing were reversed upon silencing of SOCS1. Overall, this study shows that silencing of miR-30a-5p may promote M2 polarization of macrophages and improve cardiac injury following VMC via SOCS1 upregulation, constituting a potential therapeutic target for VMC treatment.NEW & NOTEWORTHY We found in this study that microRNA (miR)-30a-5p inhibition might improve cardiac injury following viral myocarditis (VMC) by accelerating M2 polarization of macrophages via SOCS1 upregulation. Furthermore, the anti-inflammatory mechanisms of miR-30a-5p inhibition may contribute to the development of new therapeutic strategies for VMC.

MiR-222-3p downregulation prompted the migration, invasion and recruitment of endothelial progenitor cells via ADIPOR1 expression increase-induced AMKP activation.

BACKGROUND: Clinical data show that aneurysm rupture causes high mortality in aged men. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) were reported to regulate endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) which play a vital role in repairing endothelial damage and maintaining vascular integrity. This study identified a novel miRNA regulator for the functions of EPCs in aneurysm repair. METHODS: Abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) model was established on Sprague-Dawley rats which later underwent antagomiR-222 treatment. The histopathological changes of AAA rats were examined by hematoxylin-eosin staining. Flow cytometry was performed to quantify EPCs in peripheral blood and identify EPCs isolated from the rat femur. The potential target of miR-222-3p was predicted by TargetScan v7.2 and validated by Dual-luciferase reporter assay. The effects of miR-222-3p and ADIPOR1 on the migration, invasion and tube formation of EPCs were evaluated by wound healing, Transwell and tube formation assays. The expressions of miR-222-3p and ADIPOR1 in aortic aneurysm tissues and EPCs were assessed by qRT-PCR or Western blot. RESULTS: AAA exhibited histopathological abnormality, a decreased number of EPCs in the peripheral blood and an increased miR-222-3p expression. AntagomiR-222 injection reversed all these phenomena in AAA rats. Upregulating miR-222-3p expression inhibited the migration, invasion, and tube formation of EPCs, and the expressions of ADIPOR1 and phosphorylated-AMKP, while downregulating miR-222-3p expression exerted opposite effects in EPCs. ADIPOR1 was identified as a target gene of miR-222-3p. Overexpressing ADIPOR1 abrogated the effects of miR-222-3p upregulation on EPCs. CONCLUSION: Downregulated miR-222-3p prompted the migration, invasion and recruitment of EPCs by targeting ADIPOR1-induced AMKP activation.

Circular RNA 100146 Promotes Colorectal Cancer Progression by the MicroRNA 149/HMGA2 Axis.

Colorectal cancer (CRC) has developed into the third leading cause of cancer-associated death worldwide. Studies have confirmed that circular RNAs (circRNAs) absorb microRNAs (miRNAs) to regulate the function of downstream genes. This study aimed to explore the underlying mechanism of circRNA 100146 in CRC. The expression of circRNA 100146, miRNA 149 (miR-149), and high mobility group AT-Hook 2 (HMGA2) was detected by quantitative real-time PCR (RT-qPCR). A series of biofunctional effects (cell viability, apoptosis, migration/invasion) were evaluated by the use of methyl thiazolyl tetrazolium (MTT), flow cytometry, and transwell assays. Protein levels were measured by Western blot assay. A xenograft model was established for in vivo experiments. The interactions among circRNA 100146, miR-149, and HMGA2 were evaluated by dual-luciferase reporter assay, RNA immunoprecipitation assays, or RNA pulldown assay. circRNA 100146 was upregulated in CRC tissues and cells. circRNA 100146 knockdown inhibited cell proliferation, promoted apoptosis, and suppressed migration and invasion in vitro and impeded tumor growth in vivo Also, miR-149 was negatively regulated by circRNA 100146 and was targeted to HMGA2 and mediated its expression. Moreover, miR-149 interference abrogated the activities of silenced circRNA 100146 in proliferation, apoptosis, migration, and invasion. Furthermore, HMGA2 overexpression abated the effects described above caused by circRNA 100146 silencing, while the mutations on miR-149 binding sites in the 3' untranslated region (3'-UTR) of HMGA2 led to its loss of this ability. circRNA 100146 knockdown repressed proliferation, enhanced apoptosis, and hindered migration and invasion in SW620 and SW480 cells through targeting the miR-149/HMGA2 axis.

Overexpressed miR-335-5p reduces atherosclerotic vulnerable plaque formation in acute coronary syndrome.

BACKGROUND: Acute coronary syndrome (ACS) may induce cardiovascular death. The correlation of mast cells related microRNAs (miRs) with risk of ACS has been investigated. We explored regulatory mechanism of miR-335-5p on macrophage innate immune response, atherosclerotic vulnerable plaque formation, and revascularization in ACS in relation to Notch signaling. METHODS: ACS-related gene microarray was collected from Gene Expression Omnibus database. After different agomir or antagomir, or inhibitor of Notch signaling treatment, IL-6, IL-1ß, TNF-α, MCP-1, ICAM-1, and VCAM-1 levels were tested in ACS mice. Additionally, Notch signaling-related genes and matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) were measured after miR-335-5p interference. Finally, mouse atherosclerosis, lipid accumulation, and the collagen/vessel area ratio of plaque were determined. RESULTS: miR-335-5p targeted JAG1 and mediated Notch signaling in ACS. miR-335-5p up-regulation and Notch signaling inhibition reduced expression of JAG1, Notch pathway-related genes, IL-6, IL-1ß, TNF-α, MCP-1, ICAM-1, VCAM-1, and MMPs, but promote TIMP1 and TIMP2 expression. Additionally, vulnerable plaques were decreased and collagen fiber contents were observed to increase after miR-335-5p overexpression and Notch signaling inhibition. CONCLUSIONS: Overexpression of miR-335-5p inhibited innate immune response of macrophage, reduced atherosclerotic vulnerable plaque formation, and promoted revascularization in ACS mice targeting JAG1 through Notch signaling.

Inhibition of Exo-miR-19a-3p derived from cardiomyocytes promotes angiogenesis and improves heart function in mice with myocardial infarction via targeting HIF-1α.

BACKGROUND: Myocardial infarction (MI), a common presentation for cardiovascular disease, is caused by reduction of blood flow and oxygen supply and is one of the main causes of death worldwide. MicroRNAs participate in multiple physiological and pathological processed and play crucial role in myocardial infarction. RESULTS: qRT-PCR analysis showed that expression level of miR-19a-3p was increased in serum of patient with MI. In vitro study indicated that the miR-19a-3p level was upregulated in response to H2O2 treatment and transferred by exosome, and then, uptake occurred in endothelial cells. Furthermore, western blot and immunostaining showed that treatment of exosome enriched miR-19a-3p suppressed the proliferation of endothelial cells and induced cell death, which was inhibited by AMO-19 transfection. Administration of antagomiR-19a-3p promoted angiogenesis and improved heart function of MI mice. Moreover, miR-19a-3p overexpression downregulated the protein level of HIF-1α and transfection of si-HIF-1α reversed the promotion of endothelial cells proliferation caused by AMO-19 transfection. In addition, antagomiR-19a-3p treatment accelerated angiogenesis and infection of AAV5-shHIF-1α inhibited that effect in MI mice. CONCLUSIONS: In conclusion, our finding indicated that miR-19a-3p inhibited endothelial cells proliferation and angiogenesis via targeting HIF-1α and attenuated heart function of mice after MI, and suggested a new mechanism of cell-to-cell communication between cardiomyocytes and endothelial cells.

miR-590-3p Alleviates diabetic peripheral neuropathic pain by targeting RAP1A and suppressing infiltration by the T cells.

BACKGROUND: MicroRNAs play a crucial role in diabetic peripheral neuropathic pain (DPNP). miR-590-3p is a novel miRNA and involved in multiple diseases. However, the pathological mechanism of miR-590-3p in DPNP needs to be elucidated. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The db/db mice and db/m mice were selected to mimic diabetes and control, respectively, for in vivo studies. The miR-590-3p agomir was injected into db/db mice and pain-related behavioral tests were performed. The interaction of miR-590-3p with target gene was confirmed by dual-luciferase reporter assay. The expression of target gene was determined by qRT-PCR and western blot assay. The levels of inflammatory cytokines were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). RESULTS: miR-590-3p was down-regulated in diabetic peripheral neuropathy mice. More importantly, miR-590-3p agomir alleviated pain-related behavior, reduced TNF-α, IL-1ß and IL-6 concentrations, and inhibited neural infiltration by immune cells in db/db mice. Interestingly, RAP1A was predicted to be the target of miR-590-3p by Targetscan, and was actually regulated by miR-590-3p. Finally, the rescue experiments proved that overexpression of RAP1A partially abrogated the suppressive impact of miR-590-3p on T cells proliferation and migration. CONCLUSION: miR-590-3p ameliorates DPNP via targeting RAP1A and inhibiting T cells infiltration, indicating that exogenous miR-590-3p may be a potential candidate for clinical treatment of DPNP.

MiR-149 attenuates the proliferation and migration of TGF-ß1-induced airway smooth muscle cells by targeting TRPM7 and affecting downstream MAPK signal pathway.

Asthma is considered as a general term for various chronic inflammatory diseases of the respiratory tract. Growing evidences have supported that microRNAs were involved in mediating cell proliferation, migration, and other cellular functions. MiR-149 has been found to take part in the development of various cancers. However, whether miR-149 participated in the proliferation and migration of transforming growth factor beta 1 (TGF-ß1)-induced airway smooth muscle cells was still unknown. In this study, the expression level of miR-149 in human airway smooth muscle cells (ASMCs) was decreased after TGF-ß1 treatment in vitro. Additionally, the over-expression of miR-149 obviously suppressed proliferation and migration in human ASMCs. Besides, we found that overexpression of miR-149 could inhibit the expression of transient receptor potential melastatin 7 (TRPM7) both in protein and gene levels. Furthermore, we demonstrated that miR-149 could inhibit the cell proliferation and migration in human ASMCs by targeting TRPM7 through modulating mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) signaling pathway. Taken together, we strongly supported that miR-149 might be a key inhibitor of asthma by targeting TRMP7. Therefore, our finding suggests a promising biomarker for the development of further targeted therapies for asthma.