Cardiac fibrosis is characterized by an elevated amount of extracellular matrix (ECM) within the heart. However, the persistence of cardiac fibrosis ultimately diminishes contractility and precipitates cardiac dysfunction. Circular RNAs (circRNAs) are emerging as important regulators of cardiac fibrosis. Here, we elucidate the functional role of a specific circular RNA CELF1 in cardiac fibrosis and delineate a novel feedback loop mechanism. Functionally, circ-CELF1 was involved in enhancing fibrosis-related markers' expression and promoting the proliferation of cardiac fibroblasts (CFs), thereby exacerbating cardiac fibrosis. Mechanistically, circ-CELF1 reduced the ubiquitination-degradation rate of BRPF3, leading to an elevation of BRPF3 protein levels. Additionally, BRPF3 acted as a modular scaffold for the recruitment of histone acetyltransferase KAT7 to facilitate the induction of H3K14 acetylation within the promoters of the Celf1 gene. Thus, the transcription of Celf1 was dramatically activated, thereby inhibiting the subsequent response of their downstream target gene Smad7 expression to promote cardiac fibrosis. Moreover, Celf1 further promoted Celf1 pre-mRNA transcription and back-splicing, thereby establishing a feedback loop for circ-CELF1 production. Consequently, a novel feedback loop involving CELF1/circ-CELF1/BRPF3/KAT7 was established, suggesting that circ-CELF1 may serve as a potential novel therapeutic target for cardiac fibrosis.

Objective: To explore the effects of Zhibai Dihuang Decoction (ZDD) on mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase (COX) in the spermatogenic cells of rats with ureaplasma urealyticum (UU) infection. METHODS: From forty 4－5 months old SD rats, 30 were randomly selected for the establishment of the model of testicular UU infection by inoculating the bladder with UU suspension and the other 10 injected with normal saline as controls (group A). At 7 days after inoculation, the rat models of testicular UU infection were treated orally with normal saline (group B), ZDD at 1 g per kg of the body weight per day (group C), and azithromycin at 0.105 g per kg of the body weight per day (group D), respectively, once daily for 21 days. Then all the animals were sacrificed and the epididymal and testicular tissues collected for examination of sperm motility with the color sperm dynamic detection system, measurement of the COX activity with the immunohistochemical DAB method, and determination of the mRNA expressions of COXⅠ and COXⅡ by RT-PCR. RESULTS: Compared with group A, group B showed significant decreases in such sperm parameters as grade a sperm (［1.03 ± 0.09］ vs ［0.07 ± 0.03］ %, P<0.01), grade b sperm (［2.07 ± 0.52］ vs ［0.35 ± 0.13］ %, P<0.01), straight line velocity (VSL) (［10.95 ± 0.98］ vs ［6.78 ± 1.05］ μm/s, P<0.01), curvilinear velocity (VCL) (［42.03 ± 1.35］ vs ［38.10 ± 7.65］ μm/s, P>0.05), average path velocity (VAP) (［16.22 ± 1.52］ vs ［10.05 ± 1.80］ μm/s, P<0.01), and the mRNA expressions of COX Ⅰ (［2.25 ± 0.24］ vs ［0.93 ± 0.10］ %, P<0.01) and Ⅱ (［6.72 ± 0.37］ vs ［2.95 ± 0.78］ %, P<0.01). After treatment, all the parameters were remarkably increased in groups C and D (grade a sperm: ［1.11 ± 0.30］ and ［0.60 ± 0.19］%; grade b sperm: ［2.40 ± 0.59］ and ［1.32 ± 0.27］ %; VSL: ［12.11 ± 1.62］ and ［11.47 ± 1.21］ μm/s; VCL: ［54.30 ± 2.35］ and ［45.75 ± 1.64］ μm/s; VAP ［18.40 ± 1.27］ and ［16.69 ± 1.02］ μm/s; expression of COXⅠ mRNA: ［1.86 ± 0.30］ and ［1.74 ± 0.17］ %) as compared with those in group B (P<0.05or P<0.01) except the COX activity and the expression of COX Ⅱ mRNA (P>0.05), and all the parameters were significantly higher in group C than in D (P<0.05or P<0.01). CONCLUSIONS UU infection can reduce grades a and b sperm, linear, curvilinear and mean sperm velocities, and the mRNA expressions of COX Ⅰ and Ⅱ while ZDD can improve these parameters. The improvement of sperm motility may not be associated with the activity of COX, and the COX activity may be related to the mRNA expression of COX II but not that of COXⅠ.
Animals ; Anti-Bacterial Agents ; therapeutic use ; Azithromycin ; therapeutic use ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Electron Transport Complex IV ; metabolism ; Epididymis ; drug effects ; enzymology ; Humans ; Male ; Mitochondria ; drug effects ; enzymology ; RNA, Messenger ; metabolism ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Sperm Motility ; Spermatozoa ; drug effects ; enzymology ; physiology ; Ureaplasma Infections ; drug therapy ; enzymology ; Ureaplasma urealyticum

OBJECTIVETo observe the effect of Zhibai Dihuang Decoction (ZDD) on mRNA and protein expressions of transient receptor potential family vanilloid subtype 1 (TRPV1) and transient receptor potential family vanilloid subtype 5 (TRPV5) in Ureaplasma urealyticum (UU)-infected rat semens and spermatogenic cells, and to explore the pathomechanism of UU-infected infertility and the intervention of ZDD.

METHODSTotally 45 were randomly selected from 60 4-5 months old SD rats. UU testicular infected animal models were set up after bladder inoculation of UU suspension. The remaining 15 rats were simultaneously injected with normal saline as a normal control group. After a successful modeling, UU infected model rats were randomly divided into the model group, the azithromycin group, and the ZDD group, 15 in each group. Rats in the ZDD group were administered with ZDD at the daily dose of 1 g/kg by gastrogavage. Rats in the azithromycin group were administered with azithromycin suspension at the daily dose of 0. 105 mg/kg by gastrogavage. Equal volume of normal saline was administered to rats in the normal control group and the model group. All medication was performed once daily for 21 successive days. Testes and epididymis were extracted after rats were killed and UU positive rates were compared among all groups. Sperm cells were separated using a mechanical separation technique. Sperm motility parameters were detected using color sperm motion detection system. mRNA and protein expressions of TRPV1 and TRPV5 in spermatogenic cells were determined by real-time quantitative PCR and Western blot.

RESULTSThe UU positive rate was obviously higher in the model group than in the normal control group [(86.7% (13/15 cases) vs. 0] P < 0.05). It was lower in the ZDD group [33.3% (5/15 cases)] and the azithromycin group [26.7% (4/15 cases)] than in the model group (P < 0.05). Compared with the normal control group, class A and B sperms were reduced, the linear velocity and the average velocity were significantly lowered, mRNA and protein expressions of TRPV1 and TRPV5 in spermated genic cells significantly decreased in the model group (P < 0.05). Compared with the model group, class A and B sperms were increased, linear and curve velocities and the average velocity were significantly elevated, mRNA and protein expressions of TRPV1 and TRPV5 significantly increased in the ZDD group and the azithromycin group (P < 0.05, P < 0.01). Compared with azithromycin group, class A and B sperms were increased, the linear velocity and the average velocity were significantly elevated, mRNA and protein expressions of TRPV1 and TRPV5 significantly increased in the ZDD group (P < 0.05, P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONZDD could fight against UU infection and elevate semen quality, which might be associated with up-regulating mRNA and protein expressions of TRPV1 and TRPV5 in spermatogenic cells.

Animals ; Calcium Channels ; metabolism ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Infertility ; Male ; RNA, Messenger ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Semen Analysis ; Sperm Motility ; Spermatozoa ; TRPV Cation Channels ; metabolism ; Testis ; Ureaplasma Infections ; Ureaplasma urealyticum

Objective To explore the association between metabolic syndromes (MS) and carotid atherosclerosis and to estimate the predictive effects of MS under 3 different definitions.Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted in 2 community-based populations in Beijing,in 2008.1266 subjects (598 men,668 women),aged 45-69,were included in the analyses.MS was defined by the criteria of International Diabetes Federation (IDF),the revised NCEPATPm (ATP Ⅲ-R) and "The Guidelines of Dyslipidemia Control for Chinese Adult" ( "Guidelines" ) in 2007.Results The prevalence rates of MS by the 3 criteria were 39.0%,43.3% and 30.9% respectively.The Kappa value for the measure of the agreement between each pair of the 3 definitions were 0.911,0.719 and 0.730 respectively.The intima-media thickness in common carotid artery (CCA-IMT) was significantly higher (P＜0.001) in all MS groups than in non-MS groups,diagnosed with the 3 criteria independent of age,gender,LDL-C,and current smoking status.After adjustment of age,gender,LDL-C,and current smoking status,the classification of MS significantly increased the risk of prevalence of carotid atberosclerotic plaques,compared to the non-MS group.OR value were 1.499 (95% CI:1.157-1.942) for IDF,1.696 (95% CI:1.314-2.189) for NCEP-R,1.763 (95% CI:1.344-2.312) for "Guideline" respectively.Conclusion Our research findings indicated that,when MS were defined with the 3 definitions,prediction on the risk of sub-clinical atberosclerosis would work beyond some of the conventional cardiovascular risk factors such as smoking,LDL-C.There might exist some differences in gender issue on the strength of association between MS when diagnosed by different criteria and carotid plaque.