CircFOXO3 protects against osteoarthritis by targeting its parental gene FOXO3 and activating PI3K/AKT-mediated autophagy
Abstract Osteoarthritis (OA) is a degenerative joint disorder causing pain and functional disability. Emerging evidence reveals that circular RNAs (circRNAs) play essential roles in OA progression and development. This study aimed to investigate the role of a novel circRNA factor, circFOXO3, in the...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Nature Publishing Group
2022-11-01
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| Series: | Cell Death and Disease |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41419-022-05390-8 |
| _version_ | 1797988486670712832 |
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| author | Chen Zhao Xiaodong Li Guantong Sun Pengcheng Liu Keyu Kong Xuzhuo Chen Fei Yang Xiaoqing Wang |
| author_facet | Chen Zhao Xiaodong Li Guantong Sun Pengcheng Liu Keyu Kong Xuzhuo Chen Fei Yang Xiaoqing Wang |
| author_sort | Chen Zhao |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Osteoarthritis (OA) is a degenerative joint disorder causing pain and functional disability. Emerging evidence reveals that circular RNAs (circRNAs) play essential roles in OA progression and development. This study aimed to investigate the role of a novel circRNA factor, circFOXO3, in the progression of OA and elucidate its underlying molecular mechanism. The function of circFOXO3 in OA and interaction between circFOXO3 and its downstream mRNA target, forkhead box O3 (FOXO3), were evaluated by western blot (WB), immunofluorescence (IF), RNA immunoprecipitation, reverse transcription-quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR), and fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH). Upregulation of circFOXO3 and autophagic flux were detected both in vivo and in vitro by WB, transmission electron microscopy (TEM), IF, and immunohistochemistry (IHC). A mouse model of OA was also used to confirm the role of circFOXO3 in OA pathogenesis in vivo. Decreased expression of circFOXO3 in OA cartilage tissues was directly associated with excessive apoptosis and imbalance between anabolic and catabolic factors of the extracellular matrix (ECM). Mechanistically, circFOXO3 functioned in cartilage by targeting its parental gene FOXO3 and activating autophagy. Intra-articular injection of lentivirus-circFOXO3 alleviated OA in the mouse model. In conclusion, our results reveal the key role played by circFOXO3 in OA progression; circFOXO3 overexpression may alleviate apoptosis of chondrocytes and promote anabolism of the ECM via activation of FOXO3 and autophagy, providing a potentially effective novel therapeutic strategy for OA. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-11T08:04:47Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-626f9681e1ab4993a69e82a25f00ebca |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2041-4889 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-11T08:04:47Z |
| publishDate | 2022-11-01 |
| publisher | Nature Publishing Group |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Cell Death and Disease |
| spelling | doaj.art-626f9681e1ab4993a69e82a25f00ebca2022-12-22T04:35:36ZengNature Publishing GroupCell Death and Disease2041-48892022-11-01131111510.1038/s41419-022-05390-8CircFOXO3 protects against osteoarthritis by targeting its parental gene FOXO3 and activating PI3K/AKT-mediated autophagyChen Zhao0Xiaodong Li1Guantong Sun2Pengcheng Liu3Keyu Kong4Xuzhuo Chen5Fei Yang6Xiaoqing Wang7Department of Orthopedics, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Orthopedic Implant, Shanghai Ninth People’s Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of MedicineDepartment of Orthopedics, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Orthopedic Implant, Shanghai Ninth People’s Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of MedicineDepartment of Orthopedics, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Orthopedic Implant, Shanghai Ninth People’s Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of MedicineDepartment of Orthopedics, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Orthopedic Implant, Shanghai Ninth People’s Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of MedicineDepartment of Orthopedics, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Orthopedic Implant, Shanghai Ninth People’s Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of MedicineDepartment of Oral Surgery, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Stomatology & Shanghai Research Institute of Stomatology, National Clinical Research Center for Oral Diseases, Shanghai Ninth People’s Hospital, College of Stomatology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of MedicineDepartment of Orthopedics, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Orthopedic Implant, Shanghai Ninth People’s Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of MedicineDepartment of Orthopedics, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Orthopedic Implant, Shanghai Ninth People’s Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of MedicineAbstract Osteoarthritis (OA) is a degenerative joint disorder causing pain and functional disability. Emerging evidence reveals that circular RNAs (circRNAs) play essential roles in OA progression and development. This study aimed to investigate the role of a novel circRNA factor, circFOXO3, in the progression of OA and elucidate its underlying molecular mechanism. The function of circFOXO3 in OA and interaction between circFOXO3 and its downstream mRNA target, forkhead box O3 (FOXO3), were evaluated by western blot (WB), immunofluorescence (IF), RNA immunoprecipitation, reverse transcription-quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR), and fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH). Upregulation of circFOXO3 and autophagic flux were detected both in vivo and in vitro by WB, transmission electron microscopy (TEM), IF, and immunohistochemistry (IHC). A mouse model of OA was also used to confirm the role of circFOXO3 in OA pathogenesis in vivo. Decreased expression of circFOXO3 in OA cartilage tissues was directly associated with excessive apoptosis and imbalance between anabolic and catabolic factors of the extracellular matrix (ECM). Mechanistically, circFOXO3 functioned in cartilage by targeting its parental gene FOXO3 and activating autophagy. Intra-articular injection of lentivirus-circFOXO3 alleviated OA in the mouse model. In conclusion, our results reveal the key role played by circFOXO3 in OA progression; circFOXO3 overexpression may alleviate apoptosis of chondrocytes and promote anabolism of the ECM via activation of FOXO3 and autophagy, providing a potentially effective novel therapeutic strategy for OA.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41419-022-05390-8 |
| spellingShingle | Chen Zhao Xiaodong Li Guantong Sun Pengcheng Liu Keyu Kong Xuzhuo Chen Fei Yang Xiaoqing Wang CircFOXO3 protects against osteoarthritis by targeting its parental gene FOXO3 and activating PI3K/AKT-mediated autophagy Cell Death and Disease |
| title | CircFOXO3 protects against osteoarthritis by targeting its parental gene FOXO3 and activating PI3K/AKT-mediated autophagy |
| title_full | CircFOXO3 protects against osteoarthritis by targeting its parental gene FOXO3 and activating PI3K/AKT-mediated autophagy |
| title_fullStr | CircFOXO3 protects against osteoarthritis by targeting its parental gene FOXO3 and activating PI3K/AKT-mediated autophagy |
| title_full_unstemmed | CircFOXO3 protects against osteoarthritis by targeting its parental gene FOXO3 and activating PI3K/AKT-mediated autophagy |
| title_short | CircFOXO3 protects against osteoarthritis by targeting its parental gene FOXO3 and activating PI3K/AKT-mediated autophagy |
| title_sort | circfoxo3 protects against osteoarthritis by targeting its parental gene foxo3 and activating pi3k akt mediated autophagy |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41419-022-05390-8 |
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