title: Role of long non-coding RNA-RNCR3 in atherosclerosis-related vascular dysfunction.
abstract: Atherosclerosis is one of the most common vascular disorders. Endothelial cell (EC) dysfunction and vascular smooth muscle cell (VSMC) proliferation contributes to the development of atherosclerosis. Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) have been implicated in several biological processes and human diseases. Here we show that lncRNA-RNCR3 is expressed in ECs and VSMCs. RNCR3 expression is significantly upregulated in mouse and human aortic atherosclerotic lesions, and cultured ECs and VSMCs upon ox-LDL treatment in vitro. RNCR3 knockdown accelerates the development of atherosclerosis, aggravates hypercholesterolemia and inflammatory factor releases, and decreases EC and VSMC proliferation in vivo. RNCR3 knockdown also reduces the proliferation and migration, and accelerates apoptosis development of EC and VSMC in vitro. RNCR3 acts as a ceRNA, and forms a feedback loop with Kruppel-like factor 2 and miR-185-5p to regulate cell function. This study reveals that RNCR3 has an atheroprotective role in atherosclerosis, and its intervention is a promising strategy for treating atherosclerosis-related vascular dysfunction.
authors.affiliation: Eye Hospital, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China.|The Fourth School of Clinical Medicine, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Shan
authors.affiliation: Eye Hospital, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China.
authors.forename: Q
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Jiang
authors.affiliation: The Fourth School of Clinical Medicine, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China.
authors.forename: X-Q
authors.initials: XQ
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: The Fourth School of Clinical Medicine, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China.
authors.forename: Y-N-Z
authors.initials: YN
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: The Fourth School of Clinical Medicine, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.affiliation: The Fourth School of Clinical Medicine, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China.
authors.forename: M-D
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Yao
authors.affiliation: The Fourth School of Clinical Medicine, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: Eye Hospital, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China.
authors.forename: X-M
authors.initials: XM
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Eye Hospital, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Yao
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Shanghai Tenth People's Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China.
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiac Surgery, The First School of Clinical Medicine, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China.
authors.forename: Y-Y
authors.initials: YY
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Cardiovascular Disease and Molecular Intervention, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China.
authors.forename: Yong
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: J
authors.affiliation: The Fourth School of Clinical Medicine, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China.
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Yan
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001011:Aorta / Q000473:pathology; D050197:Atherosclerosis / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D002450:Cell Communication; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D055354:Exosomes / Q000378:metabolism; D055785:Gene Knockdown Techniques; D006801:Humans; D006937:Hypercholesterolemia / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology; D018836:Inflammation Mediators / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D035683:MicroRNAs / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D009131:Muscle, Smooth, Vascular / Q000378:metabolism; D032389:Myocytes, Smooth Muscle / Q000473:pathology; D062085:RNA, Long Noncoding / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D012160:Retina / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D015854:Up-Regulation / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D018836:Inflammation Mediators; D035683:MicroRNAs; C540079:Mirn124 microRNA, mouse; D062085:RNA, Long Noncoding; C000623131:long non-coding RNA RNCR3, human