microRNA调控内耳发育及听力损失的研究进展

microRNA(miRNA)作为一类微小非编码RNA,通过RNA干扰(RNAi)信号通路来调控基因表达,在机体发育和疾病中发挥重要作用。基于此,本文一方面揭示miRNA在斑马鱼和小鼠的内耳发育过程中的表达状况和其重要作用,以此外推其在人类内耳中的功能;另一方面阐述了miRNA参与调控听力损失相关疾病表型中的最新进展,为探索如何更好地预防听力损失的发生及改善预后提供新的线索。     

Comparison of the release of microRNAs and extracellular vesicles from platelets in response to different agonists

On activation platelets release microRNAs and extracellular vesicles (EV) into circulation. The release of EV from platelets has been shown to be dependent on the agonist; in this study, we investigated whether the microRNA profile or EV released from platelets was also agonist specific.

Washed platelets from healthy subjects were maximally stimulated with agonists specific for the receptors for collagen (Glycoprotein VI (GPVI)), thrombin (PAR1/PAR4), or ADP (P2Y1/P2Y12) with/without inhibiting secondary mediators, using aspirin to block cyclooxygenase-1 and apyrase to remove ADP. The released microRNAs were profiled using TaqMan microRNA microarray cards. Platelet-derived EV (pdEV) were characterized by size (Nanoparticle Tracking Analysis, NTA), for procoagulant activity (Annexin-V binding and support of thrombin generation), and for the EV markers CD63 and HSP70.

Platelet activation triggered the release of 57–79 different microRNAs, dependent upon agonist, with a core of 46 microRNAs observed with all agonists. There was a high level of correlation between agonists (r² > 0.98; p < 0.0001 for all), and with the microRNA content of the parent platelets (r² > 0.98; p < 0.0001). The 46 microRNAs seen in all samples are predicted to have significant effects on the translation of proteins involved in endocytosis, cell cycle control, and differentiation. MiR-223-3p was the most abundant in all samples and has previously been implicated in myeloid lineage development and demonstrated to have anti-inflammatory effects. Stimulation through GPVI produced a pdEV population with significantly more procoagulant activity than the other agonists. Apyrase significantly reduced microRNA and pdEV release, while aspirin had little effect.

These data suggest that all tested agonists trigger the release of a similar microRNA profile while the procoagulant activity of the pdEV was agonist dependent. ADP was shown to play an important role in the release of both microRNAs and pdEV.     

双酚A对小鼠睾丸间质细胞毒性及miR-203-3p和PI3K/AKT/FOXO1信号通路的影响

目的研究双酚A对小鼠睾丸间质细胞的毒性作用,及对miR-203-3p和PI3K/AKT/FOXO1信号通路的影响。方法不同浓度BPA(0、2、10、50、250μmol/L)处理小鼠睾丸间质细胞24 h,CCK8法检测细胞活力,Real time PCR检测miR-203-3p和FOXO1、AKT、PI3K的相对表达水平。结果不同浓度BPA处理细胞后,细胞活力随BPA剂量的增大而减少,50、250μmol/L组与对照组比较,差异有统计学意义(P<0.001)。各处理组miR-203-3p表达量均较对照组升高,10、250μmol/L组与对照组比较,差异有统计学意义(P<0.05)。2、10μmol/L组FOXO1表达量较对照组升高,50、250μmol/L组表达量较对照组降低,2、50、250μmol/L组FOXO1相对表达量与对照组比较差异有统计学意义(P<0.001)。各处理组AKT水平均出现下降趋势,10、50、250μmol/L组与对照组比较,差异有统计学意义(P<0.001)。各处理组PI3K水平均出现下降趋势,50、250μmol/L组与对照组比较,差异有统计学意义(P<0.001)。结论双酚A致睾丸间质细胞损伤,影响miR-203-3p和FOXO信号通路相关基因的改变。     

Dysregulation of the epigenome in triple-negative breast cancers: Basal-like and claudin-low breast cancers express aberrant DNA hypermethylation

A subset of human breast cancer cell lines exhibits aberrant DNA hypermethylation that is characterized by hyperactivity of the DNA methyltransferase enzymes, overexpression of DNMT3b, and concurrent methylation-dependent silencing of numerous epigenetic biomarker genes. The objective of this study was to determine if this aberrant DNA hypermethylation (i) is found in primary breast cancers, (ii) is associated with specific breast cancer molecular subtypes, and (iii) influences patient outcomes. Analysis of epigenetic biomarker genes (CDH1, CEACAM6, CST6, ESR1, GNA11, MUC1, MYB, SCNN1A, and TFF3) identified a gene expression signature characterized by reduced expression levels or loss of expression among a cohort of primary breast cancers. The breast cancers that express this gene expression signature are enriched for triple-negative subtypes — basal-like and claudin-low breast cancers. Methylation analysis of primary breast cancers showed extensive promoter hypermethylation of epigenetic biomarker genes among triple-negative breast cancers, compared to other breast cancer subclasses where promoter hypermethylation events were less frequent. Furthermore, triple-negative breast cancers either did not express or expressed significantly reduced levels of protein corresponding to methylation-sensitive biomarker gene products. Together, these findings suggest strongly that loss of epigenetic biomarker gene expression is frequently associated with gene promoter hypermethylation events. We propose that aberrant DNA hypermethylation is a common characteristic of triple-negative breast cancers and may represent a fundamental biological property of basal-like and claudin-low breast cancers. Kaplan–Meier analysis of relapse-free survival revealed a survival disadvantage for patients with breast cancers that exhibit aberrant DNA hypermethylation. Identification of this distinguishing trait among triple-negative breast cancers forms the basis for development of new rational therapies that target the epigenome in patients with basal-like and claudin-low breast cancers.     

In silico mapping of polymorphic miRNA–mRNA interactions in autoimmune thyroid diseases

Abstract

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are important regulators of gene expression and translation. The genetic variants altering miRNA targets have been associated with many diseases. Here we systematically mapped the human genetic polymorphisms that may affect miRNA–mRNA interactions in the autoimmune thyroid disease (AITD) pathway. We also mapped the polymorphic miRNA target sites in the genes that have been linked to AITDs or other thyroid-related diseases/phenotypes in genome-wide association studies (GWAS). These genetic polymorphisms may potentially contribute to the pathogenesis of AITDs and other thyroid diseases. The polymorphic miRNA–mRNA interactions we mapped in the AITD pathway and the GWAS-informed thyroid disease loci may provide insights into the possible miRNA-mediated molecular mechanisms through which genetic variants assert their influences on thyroid diseases and phenotypes.     

Adoptive Transfer Murine Model of Granulomatous Experimental Autoimmune Thyroiditis

Experimental autoimmune thyroiditis (EAT) is a chronic inflammatory autoimmune disease that can be induced in genetically susceptible animals by immunization with mouse thyroglobulin (MTg) in an appropriate adjuvant or by the adoptive transfer of MTg-sensitized donor spleen cells, activated in vitro with MTg, into naive recipients. In the adoptive transfer model used in our laboratory, donor cells activated with MTg alone induce a relatively mild chronic lymphocytic form of EAT (L-EAT), in which the thyroid infiltrate consists primarily of mononuclear cells, and the thyroid inflammation persists for several months. When the same donor cells are activated with MTg together with anti-IL-2R and/or IL-12, a more severe and histologically distinct granulomatous form of EAT is induced in recipient mice. In addition to having distinct histopathologic features, granulomatous EAT (G-EAT) differs from L-EAT in that granulomatous thyroid lesions are not chronic. After reaching maximal severity 21 days after cell transfer, G-EAT thyroid lesions either resolve or the thyroids become atrophic and fibrotic by day 35. In this review, the histopathologic features of G-EAT and L-EAT are described, and our studies with the adoptive transfer G-EAT model which have focused on the mechanisms involved in induction of G-EAT in mice, and the evolution of G-EAT lesions to resolution of inflammation or fibrosis, are reviewed.     

MicroRNA‐7 negatively regulates Toll‐like receptor 4 signaling pathway through FAM177A

Toll‐like receptor (TLR) 4 signalling is critical for innate immunoinflammatory response and widely triggers the development of various types of clinical diseases. MicroRNA‐7 (miR‐7) is well documented to play an important regulatory role in various biological events. However, the exact role of miR‐7 in TLR4 signalling pathway remains to be fully elucidated. In the present study, we found that miR‐7 expression in TLR4 signalling‐activated bone marrow‐derived macrophages (BMDMs) stimulated by LPS was dramatically increased. Importantly, miR‐7 deficiency significantly enhanced the production of related inflammatory cytokines including IL‐1β, IL‐6 and IL‐12, as well as TNF‐α, on LPS‐activated BMDMs, accompanied by elevated transduction of TLR4 signalling including Myd88‐dependent and Myd88‐independent pathways, whereas miR‐7 overexpression significantly decreased the transduction of TLR4 signalling and the production of related inflammatory cytokines. Mechanistically, we identified family with sequence similarity 177, member A (FAM177A) as a novel target molecule of miR‐7. Furthermore, down‐regulation of FAM177A using RNAi could impair the transduction of TLR4 signalling. Finally, down‐regulation of FAM177A also reversed the effect of miR‐7 deficiency on TLR4 signalling transduction and production of related inflammatory cytokines on BMDMs. Therefore, we provide the new evidence that miR‐7 acts as a novel negative fine‐tuner in regulating TLR4 signalling pathways by targeting FAM177A, which might throw light on the basal understanding on the regulatory mechanism of TLR4 signalling and benefit the development of therapeutic strategies against related clinical diseases.