AlteredSOCS3DNA methylation within exon 2 is associated with increased mRNA expression in visceral adipose tissue in gestational diabetes
EPIGENETICS
Authors: Rancourt, Rebecca C.; Ott, Raffael; Schellong, Karen; Ziska, Thomas; Melchior, Kerstin; Henrich, Wolfgang; Plagemann, Andreas
Abstract
Overweight/obesity is the main risk factor for gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM). In our cohort of pregnant women with GDM, n = 19, and without, n = 22, we previously reported a significant increase inSOCS3mRNA expression (+62%) in visceral adipose tissue (VAT) according to GDM, without altered promoter DNA-methylation. Here, we examined methylation status of additionalSOCS3exon 2 regions in VAT and maternal blood. We found significantly altered methylation at specific CpG sites corresponding to aberrant mRNA expression levels ofSOCS3in VAT. We propose a potential regulatory element/region within exon 2; however, this region does not appear to be a good blood-marker representing VAT.
MicroRNA-19a-3p promotes rheumatoid arthritis fibroblast-like synoviocytes via targeting SOCS3
JOURNAL OF CELLULAR BIOCHEMISTRY
Authors: Chen, Yiyue; Wang, Wanchun; Chen, You; Tang, Qi; Zhu, Weihong; Li, Ding; Liao, Lele
Abstract
Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a common chronic autoimmune disease and effective treatment for RA is still lacking. In this study, the regulatory role of miR-19a-3p in RA was investigated. Quantitative polymerase chain reaction analysis of human blood samples showed that the level of miR-19a-3p was significantly lower in the RA patients compared with that in healthy patients (P<0.05). In RA fibroblast-like synoviocytes (RAFLS), miR-19a-3p and suppressor of cytokine signaling 3 (SOCS3) were also downregulated and upregulated, respectively, compared with those of normal FLS. Transfection of miR-19a-3p mimic in RAFLS inhibited cell proliferation and promoted cell apoptosis. TargetScan identified SOCS3 as a target of miR-19a-3p, which was confirmed by dual-luciferase assay. Western blot indicated that SOCS3 protein level was significantly decreased after miR-19a-3p overexpression. Moreover, SOCS3 silencing through siRNA transfection also enhanced cell proliferation, meanwhile inhibiting RAFLS apoptosis. In addition, SOCS3 overexpression abrogated the effects of miR-19a-3p overexpression on cell proliferation and apoptosis, corroborating that SOCS3 acts as a downstream effector in the miR-19a-3p-mediated function of RAFLS. These findings suggest that miR-19a-3p plays an important role in RA, and the miR-19a-3p/SOCS3 axis may become a potential therapeutic target for RA.