CircCBFB-mediated miR-28-5p facilitates abdominal aortic aneurysm via LYPD3 and GRIA4
LIFE SCIENCES
Authors: Yue, Jianing; Zhu, Ting; Yang, Jue; Si, Yi; Xu, Xin; Fang, Yuan; Fu, Weiguo
Abstract
Heading aims: Abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) is featured by the growth impediment and apoptosis surge of VSMCs (vascular smooth muscle cells). MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are suggested to affect cellular behaviors including cell growth and apoptosis. This study concentrated on unraveling the emerging role of miR-28-5p in abdominal aortic aneurysm. Materials and methods: Previously, miR-28-5p was reported to be highly expressed in AAA. Functional assays were utilized to determine the role of miR-28-5p in VSMC apoptosis. To narrow down the downstream mRNAs, bioinformatics methods were utilized. The interaction between miR-28-5p and GRIA4 (glutamate ionotropic receptor AMPA type subunit 4) or LYPD3 (LY6/PLAUR domain containing 3) was explored. Candidate circRNAs (circular RNAs) of miR-28-5p were identified. Rescue analyses validated function of circCBFB (core-binding factor subunit beta)/miR-28-5p/GRIA4/LYPD3 axis in VSMC apoptosis and growth. Key findings: MiR-28-5p acted as an apoptosis driver while circCBFB, GRIA4 and LYPD3 exerted anti-apoptosis effects in VSMCs. Mechanically, GRIA4 and LYPD3 were suppressed by miR-28-5p. Moreover, circCBFB served as a sponge of miR-28-5p, releasing GRIA4 and LYPD3 from miR-28-5p suppression. Functionally, GRIA4, LYPD3 and miR-28-5p were required in circCBFB-mediated VSMC apoptosis. Significance: This work unveiled an innovative axis of circCBFB/miR-28-5p/GRIA4/LYPD3 in VSMC apoptosis, exerting its potential in providing new thoughts in AAA management.
Genome-wide compound heterozygosity analysis highlighted 4 novel susceptibility loci for congenital heart disease in Chinese population
CLINICAL GENETICS
Authors: Jiang, T.; Huang, M.; Jiang, T.; Gu, Y.; Wang, Y.; Wu, Y.; Ma, H.; Jin, G.; Dai, J.; Hu, Z.
Abstract
Genome-wide association studies (GWASs) have achieved great success in deciphering the genetic cause of congenital heart disease (CHD). However, the heritability of CHD remains to be clarified, and numerous genetic factors responsible for occurrence of CHD are yet unclear. In this study, we performed a genome-wide search for relaxed forms of compound heterozygosity (CH) in association with CHD using our existing GWAS data including 2265 individuals (957 CHD cases and 1308 controls). CollapsABEL was used to iteratively test the association between the CH genotype and the CHD phenotype in a sliding window manner. We highlighted 17 genetic loci showing suggestive CH-like associations with CHD (P<5x10(-8)), among which 4 genetic loci had expression quantitative trait loci (eQTL) effects in blood (P-eQTL<0.01). After conditional association analysis, each loci had only 1 independently effective signal reaching the significance threshold (rs2071477/rs3129299 at 6p21.32, P=2.47x10(-10); rs10773097/rs2880921 at 12q24.31, P=3.30x10(-8); rs73032040/rs7259476 at 19q13.11, P=1.14x10(-8); rs10416386/rs4239517 at 19q13.31, P=1.15x10(-9)), together explained 7.83% of the CHD variance. Among these 4 associated loci, outstanding candidates for CHD-associated genes included UBC, CFM2, ZNF302, LYPD3 and CADM4. Although replication studies with larger sample size are warranted, the first CH GWAS of CHD may extend our current knowledge of the genetic contributions to CHD in the Han Chinese population.