scholarly journals MicroRNAs in Cardiac Autophagy: Small Molecules and Big Role

Cells ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 7 (8) ◽  
pp. 104 ◽  
Author(s):  
Teng Sun ◽  
Meng-Yang Li ◽  
Pei-Feng Li ◽  
Ji-Min Cao
Keyword(s):  
Cardiac Fibrosis ◽  
Heart Diseases ◽  
Critical Role ◽  
Transcriptional Gene Silencing ◽  
Close Link ◽  
Post Transcriptional Gene Silencing ◽  
Evolutionarily Conserved ◽  
Cardiac Disorders ◽  
Cellular Components

Autophagy, which is an evolutionarily conserved process according to the lysosomal degradation of cellular components, plays a critical role in maintaining cell homeostasis. Autophagy and mitochondria autophagy (mitophagy) contribute to the preservation of cardiac homeostasis in physiological settings. However, impaired or excessive autophagy is related to a variety of diseases. Recently, a close link between autophagy and cardiac disorders, including myocardial infarction, cardiac hypertrophy, cardiomyopathy, cardiac fibrosis, and heart failure, has been demonstrated. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are a class of small non-coding RNAs with a length of approximately 21–22 nucleotides (nt), which are distributed widely in viruses, plants, protists, and animals. They function in mediating the post-transcriptional gene silencing. A growing number of studies have demonstrated that miRNAs regulate cardiac autophagy by suppressing the expression of autophagy-related genes in a targeted manner, which are involved in the pathogenesis of heart diseases. This review summarizes the role of microRNAs in cardiac autophagy and related cardiac disorders. Furthermore, we mainly focused on the autophagy regulation pathways, which consisted of miRNAs and their targeted genes.

scholarly journals Viroids as a Tool to Study RNA-Directed DNA Methylation in Plants

Cells ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (5) ◽  
pp. 1187
Author(s):  
Michael Wassenegger ◽  
Athanasios Dalakouras
Keyword(s):  
Dna Methylation ◽  
Rna Interference ◽  
Gene Silencing ◽  
Plant Cells ◽  
Transcriptional Gene Silencing ◽  
Rnai Machinery ◽  
Double Stranded Rna ◽  
Post Transcriptional Gene Silencing ◽  
Cumulative Amount

Viroids are plant pathogenic, circular, non-coding, single-stranded RNAs (ssRNAs). Members of the Pospiviroidae family replicate in the nucleus of plant cells through double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) intermediates, thus triggering the host’s RNA interference (RNAi) machinery. In plants, the two RNAi pillars are Post-Transcriptional Gene Silencing (PTGS) and RNA-directed DNA Methylation (RdDM), and the latter has the potential to trigger Transcriptional Gene Silencing (TGS). Over the last three decades, the employment of viroid-based systems has immensely contributed to our understanding of both of these RNAi facets. In this review, we highlight the role of Pospiviroidae in the discovery of RdDM, expound the gradual elucidation through the years of the diverse array of RdDM’s mechanistic details and propose a revised RdDM model based on the cumulative amount of evidence from viroid and non-viroid systems.

Abstract P317: Cardiac Fibroblast GSK3α Promotes Myocardial Fibrotic Remodeling Through GSK3α-ERK-IL11 Signaling Circuit

2021 ◽  
Vol 129 (Suppl_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Prachi Umbarkar ◽  
Sultan Tousif ◽  
Anand P Singh ◽  
Joshua C Anderson ◽  
qinkun zhang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Myocardial Fibrosis ◽  
Cardiac Fibrosis ◽  
Critical Role ◽  
Flow Cytometric Analysis ◽  
Collagen Gel ◽  
Pressure Overload ◽  
Negative Regulator ◽  
Post Injury

Background: Myocardial fibrosis contributes significantly to heart failure (HF). Fibroblasts are among the predominant cell type in the heart and are primary drivers of fibrosis. To identify the kinases involved in fibrosis, we analyzed the kinome of mouse cardiac fibroblasts (CF) isolated from normal and failing hearts. This unbiased screening revealed the critical role of the GSK-3 family-centric pathways in fibrosis. Previously we have shown that among two isoforms of GSK3, CF-GSK3β acts as a negative regulator of fibrosis in the injured heart. However, the role of CF-GSK3α in the pathogenesis of cardiac diseases is completely unknown. Methods and Results: To define the role of CF-GSK3α in HF, we employed two novel fibroblast-specific KO mouse models. Specifically, GSK3α was deleted from fibroblasts or myofibroblasts with tamoxifen-inducible Tcf21- or periostin- promoter-driven Cre recombinase. In both models, GSK3α deletion restricted pressure overload-induced cardiac fibrosis and preserved cardiac function. We examined the effect of GSK3α deletion on myofibroblast transformation and pro-fibrotic TGFβ1-SMAD3 signaling in vitro . A significant reduction in cell migration, collagen gel contraction, and α-SMA expression in TGFβ1-treated KO CFs confirmed that GSK3α is required for myofibroblast transformation. Surprisingly, GSK3α deletion did not affect SMAD3 activation, indicating the pro-fibrotic role of GSK3α is SMAD3 independent. To further delineate the underlying mechanisms, proteins were isolated from CFs of WT and KO mice at 4 weeks post-injury, and kinome profiling was performed. The kinome analysis identified the downregulation of RAF family kinase activity in KO CFs. Moreover, mapping of significantly altered kinases against literature annotated interactions generated ERK-centric networks. Consistently, flow cytometric analysis of CFs confirmed significantly low levels of pERK in KO mice. Additionally, our in vitro studies demonstrated that GSK3α deletion prevents TGFβ1-induced ERK activation. Interestingly, IL-11, a pro-fibrotic downstream effector of TGFβ1, was remarkably reduced in KO CFs and ERK inhibition further decreased IL-11 expression. Taken together, herein, we discovered the GSK3α-ERK-IL-11 signaling as a critical pro-fibrotic pathway in the heart. Strategies to inhibit this pro-fibrotic network could prevent adverse fibrosis and HF. Conclusion: CF-GSK3α plays a causal role in myocardial fibrosis that could be therapeutically targeted for future clinical applications.

scholarly journals Comparative reactions of recombinant papaya ringspot viruses with chimeric coat protein (CP) genes and wild-type viruses on CP-transgenic papaya

2001 ◽  
Vol 82 (11) ◽  
pp. 2827-2836 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chu-Hui Chiang ◽  
Ju-Jung Wang ◽  
Fuh-Jyh Jan ◽  
Shyi-Dong Yeh ◽  
Dennis Gonsalves
Keyword(s):  
Coat Protein ◽  
Sequence Similarity ◽  
Transcriptional Gene Silencing ◽  
Papaya Ringspot Virus ◽  
Wild Type ◽  
Coding Region ◽  
Transgenic Papaya ◽  
Cp Gene ◽  
Post Transcriptional Gene Silencing

Transgenic papaya cultivars SunUp and Rainbow express the coat protein (CP) gene of the mild mutant of papaya ringspot virus (PRSV) HA. Both cultivars are resistant to PRSV HA and other Hawaii isolates through homology-dependent resistance via post-transcriptional gene silencing. However, Rainbow, which is hemizygous for the CP gene, is susceptible to PRSV isolates from outside Hawaii, while the CP-homozygous SunUp is resistant to most isolates but susceptible to the YK isolate from Taiwan. To investigate the role of CP sequence similarity in overcoming the resistance of Rainbow, PRSV HA recombinants with various CP segments of the YK isolate were constructed and evaluated on Rainbow, SunUp and non-transgenic papaya. Non-transgenic papaya were severely infected by all recombinants, but Rainbow plants developed a variety of symptoms. On Rainbow, a recombinant with the entire CP gene of YK caused severe symptoms, while recombinants with only partial YK CP sequences produced a range of milder symptoms. Interestingly, a recombinant with a YK segment from the 5′ region of the CP gene caused very mild, transient symptoms, whereas recombinants with YK segments from the middle and 3′ parts of the CP gene caused prominent and lasting symptoms. SunUp was resistant to all but two recombinants, which contained the entire CP gene or the central and 3′-end regions of the CP gene and the 3′ non-coding region of YK, and the resulting symptoms were mild. It is concluded that the position of the heterologous sequences in the recombinants influences their pathogenicity on Rainbow.

scholarly journals Single-Cell Transcriptomic Analysis Revealed a Critical Role of SPP1/CD44-Mediated Crosstalk Between Macrophages and Cancer Cells in Glioma

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 ◽  
Author(s):  
Cong He ◽  
Luoyan Sheng ◽  
Deshen Pan ◽  
Shuai Jiang ◽  
Li Ding ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Single Cell ◽  
Tumor Heterogeneity ◽  
Molecular Mechanisms ◽  
Critical Role ◽  
Cell Communication ◽  
High Grade Glioma ◽  
Sequencing Analysis ◽  
High Grade ◽  
Cellular Components

High-grade glioma is one of the most lethal human cancers characterized by extensive tumor heterogeneity. In order to identify cellular and molecular mechanisms that drive tumor heterogeneity of this lethal disease, we performed single-cell RNA sequencing analysis of one high-grade glioma. Accordingly, we analyzed the individual cellular components in the ecosystem of this tumor. We found that tumor-associated macrophages are predominant in the immune microenvironment. Furthermore, we identified five distinct subpopulations of tumor cells, including one cycling, two OPC/NPC-like and two MES-like cell subpopulations. Moreover, we revealed the evolutionary transition from the cycling to OPC/NPC-like and MES-like cells by trajectory analysis. Importantly, we found that SPP1/CD44 interaction plays a critical role in macrophage-mediated activation of MES-like cells by exploring the cell-cell communication among all cellular components in the tumor ecosystem. Finally, we showed that high expression levels of both SPP1 and CD44 correlate with an increased infiltration of macrophages and poor prognosis of glioma patients. Taken together, this study provided a single-cell atlas of one high-grade glioma and revealed a critical role of macrophage-mediated SPP1/CD44 signaling in glioma progression, indicating that the SPP1/CD44 axis is a potential target for glioma treatment.

Role of inverted DNA repeats in transcriptional and post-transcriptional gene silencing

2000 ◽  
pp. 123-140 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mariëlle W. M. Muskens ◽  
Adriënne P. A. Vissers ◽  
Joseph N. M. Mol ◽  
Jan M. Kooter
Keyword(s):  
Gene Silencing ◽  
Transcriptional Gene Silencing ◽  
Dna Repeats ◽  
Post Transcriptional Gene Silencing

scholarly journals MicroRNAs as Emerging Regulators of Signaling in the Tumor Microenvironment

Cancers ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (4) ◽  
pp. 911 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shahzad Nawaz Syed ◽  
Bernhard Brüne
Keyword(s):  
Tumor Microenvironment ◽  
Signaling Pathways ◽  
Target Identification ◽  
Cancer Therapeutics ◽  
Protein Translation ◽  
Transcriptional Gene Silencing ◽  
Post Transcriptional Gene Silencing ◽  
Cancer Initiation ◽  
Regulate Protein

A myriad of signaling molecules in a heuristic network of the tumor microenvironment (TME) pose a challenge and an opportunity for novel therapeutic target identification in human cancers. MicroRNAs (miRs), due to their ability to affect signaling pathways at various levels, take a prominent space in the quest of novel cancer therapeutics. The role of miRs in cancer initiation, progression, as well as in chemoresistance, is being increasingly investigated. The canonical function of miRs is to target mRNAs for post-transcriptional gene silencing, which has a great implication in first-order regulation of signaling pathways. However, several reports suggest that miRs also perform non-canonical functions, partly due to their characteristic non-coding small RNA nature. Examples emerge when they act as ligands for toll-like receptors or perform second-order functions, e.g., to regulate protein translation and interactions. This review is a compendium of recent advancements in understanding the role of miRs in cancer signaling and focuses on the role of miRs as novel regulators of the signaling pathway in the TME.

scholarly journals The potential role of epigenetic modifications in the heritability of multiple sclerosis

2014 ◽  
Vol 20 (2) ◽  
pp. 135-140 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yuan Zhou ◽  
Steve Simpson ◽  
Adele F Holloway ◽  
Jac Charlesworth ◽  
Ingrid van der Mei ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Multiple Sclerosis ◽  
Potential Role ◽  
Transcriptional Gene Silencing ◽  
Epigenetic Changes ◽  
Missing Heritability ◽  
Significant Component ◽  
Post Transcriptional Gene Silencing ◽  
Genetic And Environmental Factors ◽  
Ms Pathogenesis

It is now well established that both genetic and environmental factors contribute to and interact in the development of multiple sclerosis (MS). However, the currently described causal genetic variants do not explain the majority of the heritability of MS, resulting in ‘missing heritability’. Epigenetic mechanisms, which principally include DNA methylation, histone modifications and microRNA-mediated post-transcriptional gene silencing, may contribute a significant component of this missing heritability. As the development of MS is a dynamic process potentially starting with inflammation, then demyelination, remyelination and neurodegeneration, we have reviewed the dynamic epigenetic changes in these aspects of MS pathogenesis and describe how environmental risk factors may interact with epigenetic changes to manifest in disease.

scholarly journals Caenorhabditis elegans DYF-2, an Orthologue of Human WDR19, Is a Component of the Intraflagellar Transport Machinery in Sensory Cilia

2006 ◽  
Vol 17 (11) ◽  
pp. 4801-4811 ◽  
Author(s):  
Evgeni Efimenko ◽  
Oliver E. Blacque ◽  
Guangshuo Ou ◽  
Courtney J. Haycraft ◽  
Bradley K. Yoder ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Caenorhabditis Elegans ◽  
Aspartic Acid ◽  
Critical Role ◽  
Intraflagellar Transport ◽  
Bardet Biedl Syndrome ◽  
Evolutionarily Conserved ◽  
Sensory Cilia ◽  
Mutant Phenotypes ◽  
And Function

The intraflagellar transport (IFT) machinery required to build functional cilia consists of a multisubunit complex whose molecular composition, organization, and function are poorly understood. Here, we describe a novel tryptophan-aspartic acid (WD) repeat (WDR) containing IFT protein from Caenorhabditis elegans, DYF-2, that plays a critical role in maintaining the structural and functional integrity of the IFT machinery. We determined the identity of the dyf-2 gene by transgenic rescue of mutant phenotypes and by sequencing of mutant alleles. Loss of DYF-2 function selectively affects the assembly and motility of different IFT components and leads to defects in cilia structure and chemosensation in the nematode. Based on these observations, and the analysis of DYF-2 movement in a Bardet–Biedl syndrome mutant with partially disrupted IFT particles, we conclude that DYF-2 can associate with IFT particle complex B. At the same time, mutations in dyf-2 can interfere with the function of complex A components, suggesting an important role of this protein in the assembly of the IFT particle as a whole. Importantly, the mouse orthologue of DYF-2, WDR19, also localizes to cilia, pointing to an important evolutionarily conserved role for this WDR protein in cilia development and function.

scholarly journals Suppression of Insulin-Like3 Receptor Reveals the Role of β-Catenin and Notch Signaling in Gubernaculum Development

2011 ◽  
Vol 25 (1) ◽  
pp. 170-183 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elena M. Kaftanovskaya ◽  
Shu Feng ◽  
Zaohua Huang ◽  
Yingchun Tan ◽  
Agustin M. Barbara ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Gene Expression ◽  
Myogenic Differentiation ◽  
Critical Role ◽  
Abnormal Development ◽  
Testicular Descent ◽  
Hypomorphic Allele ◽  
Conditional Suppression ◽  
Notch Pathways ◽  
Cellular Components

During male development, the testes move from a high intraabdominal position and descend into the scrotum. The gubernaculum, an inguinoscrotal ligament connecting the testis to the lower abdomen, is believed to play a critical role in this process. The first stage of testicular descent is controlled by insulin like3 hormone (INSL3), produced in testicular Leydig cells. Deletion of Insl3 or its receptor, Rxfp2, in mice causes cryptorchidism. We produced Cre/loxP regulated shRNA transgenic mice targeting RXFP2 expression. We have shown that the transgene was able to reduce Rxfp2 gene expression and thus behaved as a hypomorphic allele of Rxfp2. Variable degrees of uni- and bilateral cryptorchidism was detected in males with the activated shRNA transgene on an Rxfp2+/− background. Conditional suppression of Rxfp2 in the gubernaculum led to cryptorchidism. Gene expression analysis of a mutant cremasteric sac using Illumina microarrays indicated abnormal expression of a significant number of genes in Wnt/β-catenin and Notch pathways. We have demonstrated profound changes in the expression pattern of β-catenin, Notch1, desmin, and androgen receptor (AR), in Rxfp2−/− male embryos, indicating the role of INSL3 in proliferation, differentiation, and survival of specific cellular components of the gubernaculum. We have shown that INSL3/RXFP2 signaling is essential for myogenic differentiation and maintenance of AR-positive cells in the gubernaculum. Males with the deletion of β-catenin or Notch1 in the gubernacular ligament demonstrated abnormal development. Our data indicates that β-catenin and Notch pathways are potential targets of INSL3 signaling during gubernacular development.

scholarly journals The Role of Cardiokines in Heart Diseases: Beneficial or Detrimental?

2018 ◽  
Vol 2018 ◽  
pp. 1-14 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ye-Shun Wu ◽  
Bin Zhu ◽  
Ai-Lin Luo ◽  
Ling Yang ◽  
Chun Yang
Keyword(s):  
Cardiovascular Disease ◽  
Heart Disease ◽  
Disease Burden ◽  
Heart Diseases ◽  
Critical Role ◽  
Physiological Role ◽  
Myocardial Damage ◽  
Promising Therapeutic Target ◽  
Potential Therapeutics

Cardiovascular disease remains the leading cause of morbidity and mortality, imposing a major disease burden worldwide. Therefore, there is an urgent need to identify new therapeutic targets. Recently, the concept that the heart acts as a secretory organ has attracted increasing attention. Proteins secreted by the heart are called cardiokines, and they play a critical physiological role in maintaining heart homeostasis or responding to myocardial damage and thereby influence the development of heart diseases. Given the critical role of cardiokines in heart disease, they might represent a promising therapeutic target. This review will focus on several cardiokines and discuss their roles in the pathogenesis of heart diseases and as potential therapeutics.

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