Circular RNA PARG adjusts miR-140-3p to influence progression in sepsis

Area of Science:

• Molecular Biology
• Cell Biology
• Immunology

Background:

• Sepsis is a life-threatening condition with high mortality, often complicated in intensive care units (ICUs).
• Understanding the molecular mechanisms underlying sepsis pathogenesis is crucial for developing effective treatments.
• Circular RNAs (circRNAs) are emerging as key regulators in various biological processes, including inflammatory diseases.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the expression and function of circRNA PARG in sepsis.
• To elucidate the role of circRNA PARG in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced human pulmonary microvascular endothelial cell (HPMEC) apoptosis and inflammation.
• To determine the relationship between circRNA PARG and miR-140-3p in the context of sepsis.

Main Methods:

• Quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) to measure circRNA PARG expression in sepsis patients and HPMECs.
• RNA-Fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) to localize circRNA PARG and miR-140-3p.
• LPS stimulation of HPMECs to mimic sepsis conditions.
• Dual-luciferase reporter assay to confirm the interaction between circRNA PARG and miR-140-3p.

Main Results:

• CircRNA PARG exhibited aberrant expression in sepsis.
• Downregulation of circRNA PARG significantly alleviated LPS-induced HPMEC apoptosis by inhibiting inflammatory and apoptosis-related genes.
• CircRNA PARG positively modulated miR-140-3p levels, and its upregulation reversed LPS-induced cell damage after miR-140-3p mimic transfection.

Conclusions:

• CircRNA PARG is implicated in the pathogenesis of sepsis.
• CircRNA PARG influences LPS-induced endothelial cell apoptosis and inflammation, partly through its interaction with miR-140-3p.
• CircRNA PARG represents a potential therapeutic target for sepsis management.