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Updated: Jul 22, 2025
10:27
In Silico Identification and Characterization of circRNAs During Host-Pathogen Interactions
Published on: October 21, 2022
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Circular RNA circPLOD2 regulates pericyte function by targeting the transcription factor KLF4
Simone Franziska Glaser1, Andre Brezski2, Nina Baumgarten1
1Institute of Cardiovascular Regeneration, Center of Molecular Medicine, Goethe University, 60590 Frankfurt, Germany; German Center for Cardiovascular Research DZHK, Partner Site Frankfurt Rhine-Main, Frankfurt, Germany; Cardiopulmonary Institute, Goethe University Frankfurt, 60590 Frankfurt, Germany.
Cell Reports
|July 23, 2023
Summary
Hypoxia induces circular RNA of procollagen-lysine,2-oxoglutarate 5-dioxygenase-2 (circPLOD2) in pericytes. circPLOD2 regulates pericyte proliferation and capillary formation by controlling krüppel-like factor 4 (KLF4).
Area of Science:
- Molecular Biology
- Cell Biology
- Vascular Biology
Background:
- Circular RNAs (circRNAs) are key regulators of cellular signaling and phenotypes.
- Pericytes are crucial for blood vessel formation, maintenance, and capillary stabilization.
Purpose of the Study:
- To characterize hypoxia-regulated circRNAs in human pericytes.
- To investigate the role of circPLOD2 in pericyte function and angiogenesis.
Main Methods:
- Hypoxia induction in human pericytes.
- circRNA silencing and overexpression studies.
- Transcriptional and epigenomic profiling.
- Endothelial cell migration and network formation assays.
Main Results:
- Hypoxia induces circPLOD2 in human pericytes.
- circPLOD2 silencing enhances pericyte proliferation, migration, and angiogenic protein secretion.
- circPLOD2 depletion increases endothelial migration and network formation.
- circPLOD2 regulates KLF4, a key transcription factor mediating hypoxia response.
Conclusions:
- circPLOD2 is a critical regulator of pericyte proliferation and capillary formation.
- The circPLOD2-KLF4 axis plays a significant role in the cellular response to hypoxia.
- circPLOD2 represents a potential therapeutic target for angiogenesis-related disorders.
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