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A Human Ex Vivo Atherosclerotic Plaque Model to Study Lesion Biology
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Fusobacterium nucleatum exacerbates atherosclerosis progression via ceRNA network-mediated epigenetic reprogramming
Keyi Zhang1, Lin Liu2, Peiyao Wu1
1State Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases & National Center for Stomatology & National Clinical Research Center for Oral Diseases, West China Hospital of Stomatology, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, Sichuan, China; Department of Periodontics, West China Hospital of Stomatology, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China.
Genomics
|December 27, 2025
Summary
Fusobacterium nucleatum infection worsens atherosclerosis by altering non-coding RNAs. This study reveals key regulatory pathways involving circular RNAs, long non-coding RNAs, and microRNAs that impact lipid metabolism and plaque stability.
Area of Science:
- Cardiovascular Biology
- Microbiology
- Epigenetics
Background:
- Fusobacterium nucleatum is a periodontal pathogen found in atherosclerotic plaques.
- The epigenetic mechanisms by which F. nucleatum influences atherosclerosis are not well understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate how F. nucleatum alters the non-coding RNA landscape in atherosclerosis.
- To elucidate the role of F. nucleatum in driving atherosclerosis progression through epigenetic regulation.
Main Methods:
- ApoE-/- mouse model of atherosclerosis was infected with F. nucleatum.
- Whole transcriptome sequencing of arterial tissues was performed.
- A competing endogenous RNA (ceRNA) network was constructed.
Main Results:
- F. nucleatum infection significantly increased atherosclerotic lesion area and necrotic core ratio, while decreasing collagen content.
- Transcriptome sequencing revealed differential expression of mRNAs, miRNAs, circRNAs, and lncRNAs.
- Two key regulatory axes involving circRNAs, lncRNAs, miRNAs, and autophagy-related genes were identified.
Conclusions:
- F. nucleatum infection exacerbates atherosclerosis by reshaping the non-coding RNA profile.
- Specific circRNA-lncRNA-miRNA-gene axes contribute to F. nucleatum-driven atherosclerosis.
- These findings offer novel insights into the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis.
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