Hsa_circ_0002062 Promotes the Proliferation of Pulmonary Artery Smooth Muscle Cells by Regulating the Hsa-miR-942-5p/CDK6 Signaling Pathway

Currently, new strategies for the diagnosis and treatment of hypoxia-induced pulmonary hypertension (HPH) are urgently required. The unique features of circRNAs have unveiled a novel perspective for understanding the biological mechanisms underlying HPH and the possibility for innovative strategies for treatment of HPH. CircRNAs function as competing endogenous RNAs (CeRNA) to sequester miRNAs and regulate the expression of target genes. This study aimed to explore the roles of hsa_circ_0002062 on the biological behaviors of pulmonary artery smooth muscle cells (PASMCs) in hypoxic conditions. A number of in vitro assays, such as RNA-binding protein immunoprecipitation (RIP), RNA pull-down, and dual-luciferase assays were performed to evaluate the interrelationship between hsa_circ_0002062, hsa-miR-942-5P, and CDK6. The potential physiological functions of hsa_circ_0002062, hsa-miR-942-5P, and CDK6 in hypoxic PASMCs were investigated through expression modulation. Our experiments demonstrated that hsa_circ_0002062 functions as a ceRNA, acts as a sponge for hsa-miR-942-5P, and consequently activates CDK6, which further promotes pulmonary vascular remodeling. Therefore, we speculate that hsa_circ_0002062 could serve as a candidate diagnostic biomarker and potential therapeutic target for HPH.

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Effect of Yifei Huoxue Granule (益肺活血颗粒) on the proliferation of rat pulmonary artery smooth muscle cells upon exposure to chronic hypoxic conditions in vitro

Chinese Journal of Integrative Medicine ◽

10.1007/s11655-012-1150-7 ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 18 (7) ◽

pp. 507-513

Author(s):

Ling-yun Zhang ◽

Min Ou ◽

You-zhang Huang ◽

Yuan-yuan Qiao ◽

Da-jin Zhang

Keyword(s):

Smooth Muscle ◽

Pulmonary Artery ◽

Smooth Muscle Cells ◽

Muscle Cells ◽

Hypoxic Conditions ◽

Pulmonary Artery Smooth Muscle

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Extracellular vesicle cross-talk between pulmonary artery smooth muscle cells and endothelium during excessive TGF-β signalling: implications for PAH vascular remodelling

Cell Communication and Signaling ◽

10.1186/s12964-019-0449-9 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 17 (1) ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

Fernando de la Cuesta ◽

Ilaria Passalacqua ◽

Julie Rodor ◽

Raghu Bhushan ◽

Laura Denby ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Smooth Muscle ◽

Pulmonary Artery ◽

Smooth Muscle Cells ◽

Smooth Muscle Actin ◽

Muscle Cells ◽

Protein Markers ◽

Vascular Remodelling ◽

Pulmonary Artery Smooth Muscle ◽

Tgf Β1

Abstract Background Excessive TGF-β signalling has been shown to underlie pulmonary hypertension (PAH). Human pulmonary artery smooth muscle cells (HPASMCs) can release extracellular vesicles (EVs) but their contents and significance have not yet been studied. Here, we aimed to analyse the contents and biological relevance of HPASMC-EVs and their transport to human pulmonary arterial endothelial cells (HPAECs), as well as the potential alteration of these under pathological conditions. Methods We used low-input RNA-Seq to analyse the RNA cargoes sorted into released HPASMC-EVs under basal conditions. We additionally analysed the effects of excessive TGF-β signalling, using TGF-β1 and BMP4, in the transcriptome of HPASMCs and their EVs. We then, for the first time, optimised Cre-loxP technology for its use with primary cells in vitro, directly visualising HPASMC-to-HPAEC communication and protein markers on cells taking up EVs. Furthermore we could analyse alteration of this transport with excessive TGF-β signalling, as well as by other cytokines involved in PAH: IL-1β, TNF-α and VEGFA. Results We were able to detect transcripts from 2417 genes in HPASMC-EVs. Surprisingly, among the 759 enriched in HPASMC-EVs compared to their donor cells, we found Zeb1 and 2 TGF-β superfamily ligands, GDF11 and TGF-β3. Moreover, we identified 90 genes differentially expressed in EVs from cells treated with TGF-β1 compared to EVs in basal conditions, including a subset involved in actin and ECM remodelling, among which were bHLHE40 and palladin. Finally, using Cre-loxP technology we showed cell-to-cell transfer and translation of HPASMC-EV Cre mRNA from HPASMC to HPAECs, effectively evidencing communication via EVs. Furthermore, we found increased number of smooth-muscle actin positive cells on HPAECs that took up HPASMC-EVs. The uptake and translation of mRNA was also higher in activated HPAECs, when stimulated with TGF-β1 or IL-1β. Conclusions HPASMC-EVs are enriched in RNA transcripts that encode genes that could contribute to vascular remodelling and EndoMT during development and PAH, and TGF-β1 up-regulates some that could enhance this effects. These EVs are functionally transported, increasingly taken up by activated HPAECs and contribute to EndoMT, suggesting a potential effect of HPASMC-EVs in TGF-β signalling and other related processes during PAH development.

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