Guo-Ping Zhou

A low-frequency variant of sushi, von Willebrand factor type A, EGF, and pentraxin domain-containing protein 1 (SVEP1) is associated with the risk of coronary artery disease, as determined by a genome-wide association study. SVEP1 induces vascular smooth muscle cell proliferation and an inflammatory phenotype to promote atherosclerosis. In the present study, qRT‒PCR demonstrated that the mRNA expression of SVEP1 was significantly increased in atherosclerotic plaques compared to normal tissues. Bioinformatics revealed that EGR1 was a transcription factor for SVEP1. The results of the luciferase reporter assay, siRNA interference or overexpression assay, mutational analysis and ChIP confirmed that EGR1 positively regulated the transcriptional activity of SVEP1 by directly binding to its promoter. EGR1 promoted human coronary artery smooth muscle cell (HCASMC) proliferation and migration via SVEP1 in response to oxidized low-density lipoprotein (ox-LDL) treatment. Moreover, the expression level of EGR1 was increased in atherosclerotic plaques and showed a strong linear correlation with the expression of SVEP1. Our findings indicated that EGR1 binding to the promoter region drive SVEP1 transcription to promote HCASMC proliferation and migration.

Asthma is an inflammatory disease of the airways, characterized by lung eosinophilia, mucus hypersecretion by goblet cells and airway hyper‑responsiveness to inhaled allergens. The present study aimed to identify the function of microRNA (miR/miRNA)‑106b‑5p in TGF‑β1‑induced pulmonary fibrosis and epithelial‑mesenchymal transition (EMT) via targeting sine oculis homeobox homolog 1 (SIX1) through regulation of E2F transcription factor 1 (E2F1) in asthma. Asthmatic mouse models were induced with ovalbumin. miRNA expression was evaluated using reverse transcription‑quantitative PCR. Transfection experiments using bronchial epithelial cells were performed to determine the target genes. A luciferase reporter assay system was applied to identify the target gene of miR‑106b‑5p. The present study revealed downregulated miR‑106b‑5p expression and upregulated SIX1 expression in asthmatic mice and TGF‑β1‑induced BEAS‑2B cells. Moreover, miR‑106b‑5p overexpression inhibited TGF‑β1‑induced fibrosis and EMT in BEAS‑2B cells, while miR‑106b‑5p‑knockdown produced the opposite effects. Subsequently, miR‑106b‑5p was found to regulate SIX1 through indirect regulation of E2F1. Additionally, E2F1‑ and SIX1‑knockdown blocked TGF‑β1‑induced fibrosis and EMT in BEAS‑2B cells. In addition, miR‑106b‑5p negatively regulated SIX1 via E2F1 in BEAS‑2B cells. The present study demonstrated that the miR‑106b‑5p/E2F1/SIX1 signaling pathway may provide potential therapeutic targets for asthma.

AarF domain containing kinase 4 (ADCK4) is identified as a candidate gene associated with hereditary nephrotic syndrome (NS). Kruppel-like factor 5 (KLF5) is reported to promote podocyte survival by blocking the ERK/p38 MAPK pathways. Both ADCK4 and KLF5 are involved in the occurrence and development of podocyte disease, but their interaction remains unclear. Firstly, we found that the mRNA levels of ADCK4 and KLF5 decreased in NS patients, and both levels showed an obvious linear relationship. Secondly, we cloned the ADCK4 promoter region and examined its promoter activity in Hela, A549, and HEK 293 cell lines. Deletion analysis showed that the region − 116/− 4 relative to the transcriptional start site (TSS) was the core region of ADCK4 promoter. Thirdly, mutation analysis showed that putative binding sites for KLF5 contributed to the ADCK4 promoter activity. In HEK293 cells, we found that KLF5 upregulated the mRNA and protein levels of ADCK4. Finally, our chromatin immunoprecipitation assay found that KLF5 could bind to the specific region of ADCK4 promoter. These results showed that KLF5 can positively regulate the transcriptional activity of ADCK4.

Bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) is a severe complication of preterm infants characterized by increased alveolarization and inflammation. Premature exposure to hyperoxia is believed to be a key contributor to the pathogenesis of BPD. No effective preventive or therapeutic agents have been created. Stimulator of interferon gene (STING) is associated with inflammation and apoptosis in various lung diseases. Long non‐coding RNA MALAT1 has been reported to be involved in BPD. However, how MALAT1 regulates STING expression remains unknown. In this study, we assessed that STING and MALAT1 were up‐regulated in the lung tissue from BPD neonates, hyperoxia‐based rat models and lung epithelial cell lines. Then, using the flow cytometry and cell proliferation assay, we found that down‐regulating of STING or MALAT1 inhibited the apoptosis and promoted the proliferation of hyperoxia‐treated cells. Subsequently, qRT‐PCR, Western blotting and dual‐luciferase reporter assays showed that suppressing MALAT1 decreased the expression and promoter activity of STING. Moreover, transcription factor CREB showed its regulatory role in the transcription of STING via a chromatin immunoprecipitation. In conclusion, MALAT1 interacts with CREB to regulate STING transcription in BPD neonates. STING, CREB and MALAT1 may be promising therapeutic targets in the prevention and treatment of BPD.

Purpose: Lung cancer is the most common malignant tumor in the world, and its incidence and mortality are very high. This study focuses on the mechanism of non-small cell lung cancer to find new therapeutic targets. Methods: We used RT-PCR and Western blot to verify the linear relationship between E2F1 and IRF5 in normal lung tissue and lung cancer tissues. Secondly, we used overexpression and knock down E2F1 in cell lines to detect the expression of IRF5. The prime enzyme reporter plasmid verified that E2F1 binds to the core promoter region of IRF5; finally, CHIP experiments demonstrated that E2F1 binds directly to IRF5. Results: We verified that E2F1 and IRF5 are decreased in patient tissues, and there is a strong linear relationship between E2F1 and IRF5. Secondly, we used overexpression of E2F1 or E2F1 siRNA transfected into HCC827 cells and found that E2F1 positively regulates the activity of the IRF5 promoter and the mRNA level of IRF5. Finally, the results of a chromatin immunoprecipitation assay demonstrated that E2F1 bound to the promoter region of IRF5 in vitro. These results suggested that the E2F1 transcription factor is the primary determinant for activating the basal transcription of the IRF5. Conclusion: The transcription factor E2F1 positively regulates IRF5 in non-small cell lung cancer.