Vitamin D (1,25-(OH)2D3) regulates the gene expression through competing endogenous RNAs networks in high glucose-treated endothelial progenitor cells

J Steroid Biochem Mol Biol. 2019 Oct:193:105425. doi: 10.1016/j.jsbmb.2019.105425. Epub 2019 Jul 11.

Abstract

Vitamin D (vit-D) supplementation can improve endothelial cell function in type 2 diabetes mellitus patients with vit-D insufficiency or deficiency. In the present study, we aimed to compare the expression profiles of circRNAs, lncRNAs, miRNAs, and mRNAs between 1,25-(OH)2D3-treated endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) and control cells, and to further construct the 1,25-(OH)2D3-regulated ceRNA networks in EPCs. RNA sequencing was performed on the 1,25-(OH)2D3-treated EPCs and control cells derived from the bone marrow (BM). Bioinformatics analyses were performed to identify differentially expressed (DE) microRNAs (miRNAs), circular RNAs (circRNAs), mRNAs, and long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs). Then Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) enrichment analyses were conducted to predict the function of genes. Competing endogenous RNA (ceRNA) networks were constructed with Cytoscape software. 1,25-(OH)2D3 application induced changes in the expression profiles of 1791 mRNAs, 2726 lncRNAs, 205 circRNAs, and 45 miRNAs in EPCs treated with high levels of glucose. These DE RNAs were associated with MMP and GTPase activities, specific signaling pathways, and components of actin, extracellular matrix, or adherens junction. DE circRNAs, which functioned independently of their linear host genes, interacted with miRNAs to serve as miRNA sponges in complex ceRNA networks. The data indicated that circRNAs and lncRNAs comprised ceRNAs to sponge effects of miRNAs on the expressions of mRNAs following 1,25-(OH)2D3 application in EPCs. 1,25-(OH)2D3 improved the function of EPCs via associated ceRNA interaction networks in diabetes patients.

Keywords: 1,25-(OH)(2)D(3); Competing endogenous RNA network; Endothelial progenitor cell; circRNAs; miRNAs.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Endothelial Progenitor Cells / drug effects*
  • Endothelial Progenitor Cells / metabolism
  • Gene Expression Regulation / drug effects*
  • Gene Ontology
  • Glucose / pharmacology*
  • Male
  • RNA / metabolism*
  • Rats, Sprague-Dawley
  • Sequence Analysis, RNA
  • Vitamin D / pharmacology*
  • Vitamins / pharmacology*

Substances

  • Vitamins
  • Vitamin D
  • RNA
  • Glucose