Title:Alleviation of Angiotensin II-Induced Vascular Endothelial Cell Injury
Through Long Non-coding RNA TUG1 Inhibition
Volume: 27
Issue: 10
Author(s): Lin Shi, Hui Li, Lingzhi Sun, Caijun Tian and Haitao Li*
Affiliation:
- Department of Internal Medicine-Neurology, Affiliated Hospital of Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine,
Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, No. 16369 Jing Shi Road, Li Xi District, Jinan, Shandong,
250014, China
Keywords:
lncRNA TUG1, miR-9-5p, CXCR4, vascular endothelial cell injury, hypertension, endothelial cell (EC).
Abstract:
Background: Hypertension damages endothelial cells, causing vascular remodelling.
It is caused by Ang II-induced endothelial cell (EC) destruction. The long noncoding RNA
(lncRNAs) are emerging regulators of endothelium homeostasis. Injured endothelium expresses
lncRNA taurine-upregulated gene 1 (TUG1), which may mediate endothelial cell damage, proliferation,
apoptosis, and autophagy and contribute to cardiovascular disease. However, uncertainty
surrounds the function of lncRNA TUG1, on arterial endothelium cell damage.
Objective: This research aimed to investigate the role and mechanism of lncRNA TUG1 in vascular
endothelial cell injury.
Method: A microarray analysis of lncRNA human gene expression was used to identify differentially
expressed lncRNAs in human umbilical vein endothelial cell (HUVEC) cultures. The viability,
apoptosis, and migration of Ang II-treated HUVECs were then evaluated. In order to investigate
the role of lncRNA TUG1 in hypertension, qRT-PCR, western blotting, and RNA-FISH
were used to examine the expression of TUG1 in SHR mice.
Results: Ang II-activated HUVECs and SHR rats' abdominal aortas highly express the lncRNA
TUG1. LncRNA TUG1 knockdown in HUVECs could increase cell viability, reduce apoptosis,
and produce inflammatory factors. In SHR rat abdominal aortas, lncRNA TUG1 knockdown
promoted proliferation and inhibited apoptosis. HE spotting showed that lncRNA TUG1 knockdown
improved SHR rats' abdominal aorta shape. lncRNA TUG1 knockdown promotes miR-9-
5p, which inhibits CXCR4 following transcription. The lncRNA TUG1/miR-9-5p/CXCR4 axis
and vascular cell injury were also examined. MiR-9-5p silencing or CXCR4 overexpression lowered
cell survival, apoptosis, and lncRNA TUG1-induced IL-6 and NO expression.
Conclusion: lncRNA TUG1 suppression could reduce Ang II-induced endothelial cell damage
by regulating and targeting miR-9-5p to limit CXCR4 expression and open new vascular disease
research pathways.