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Updated: Jun 24, 2025

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The Expression of Circ-Astn1 Inhibits High Glucose Induced Endothelial Progenitor Cell Dysfunction by Activating

Shiying Huang1,2, Minjie Xu1,3, Maoquan Li1,3

  • 1Department of Interventional & Vascular Surgery, Tenth People's Hospital of Tongji University, Shanghai, China.

Endocrine Research
|June 13, 2024
PubMed
Abstract

Insights

Circular RNA circ-Astn1 protects against high glucose-induced endothelial cell damage in diabetes. It targets the miR-138-5p/SIRT5 pathway, promoting autophagy and suppressing apoptosis.

Area of Science:

  • Molecular Biology
  • Cell Biology
  • Genetics

Background:

  • Diabetes mellitus (DM) and its complications represent a significant global health challenge.
  • Circular RNAs (circRNAs) are emerging as key regulators of gene expression in various biological processes.
  • The specific roles of circRNAs in the pathogenesis of DM remain largely unexplored.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the expression and function of circRNAs in endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) under high glucose (HG) conditions relevant to DM.
  • To elucidate the molecular mechanisms underlying the role of circ-Astn1 in HG-induced endothelial cell dysfunction.

Main Methods:

  • High-throughput sequencing of circRNAs in EPCs exposed to HG.
  • Bioinformatics analysis to identify potential targets and regulatory pathways.
  • Luciferase reporter assays, angiogenic differentiation assays, flow cytometry for apoptosis, and RT-qPCR to validate findings.

Main Results:

  • circ-Astn1 expression was downregulated in EPCs under HG conditions.
  • Overexpression of circ-Astn1 protected endothelial cells from HG-induced damage, including apoptosis and impaired vascular differentiation.
  • circ-Astn1 was found to target both miR-138-5p and SIRT5, with SIRT5 upregulation and autophagy promotion observed.

Conclusions:

  • circ-Astn1 plays a protective role against high glucose-induced endothelial cell damage in diabetes.
  • The protective mechanism involves targeting the miR-138-5p/SIRT5 axis, enhancing SIRT5 expression, and promoting autophagy.
  • circ-Astn1 represents a potential therapeutic target for managing diabetic vascular complications.
Keywords:
AutophagyCirc-Astn1EPCsdiabeteshigh glucose

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