Targeting QKI-7 in vivo restores endothelial cell function in diabetes

Nat Commun. 2020 Jul 30;11(1):3812. doi: 10.1038/s41467-020-17468-y.

Abstract

Vascular endothelial cell (EC) dysfunction plays a key role in diabetic complications. This study discovers significant upregulation of Quaking-7 (QKI-7) in iPS cell-derived ECs when exposed to hyperglycemia, and in human iPS-ECs from diabetic patients. QKI-7 is also highly expressed in human coronary arterial ECs from diabetic donors, and on blood vessels from diabetic critical limb ischemia patients undergoing a lower-limb amputation. QKI-7 expression is tightly controlled by RNA splicing factors CUG-BP and hnRNPM through direct binding. QKI-7 upregulation is correlated with disrupted cell barrier, compromised angiogenesis and enhanced monocyte adhesion. RNA immunoprecipitation (RIP) and mRNA-decay assays reveal that QKI-7 binds and promotes mRNA degradation of downstream targets CD144, Neuroligin 1 (NLGN1), and TNF-α-stimulated gene/protein 6 (TSG-6). When hindlimb ischemia is induced in diabetic mice and QKI-7 is knocked-down in vivo in ECs, reperfusion and blood flow recovery are markedly promoted. Manipulation of QKI-7 represents a promising strategy for the treatment of diabetic vascular complications.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antigens, CD / genetics
  • Atherosclerosis / pathology
  • Cadherins / genetics
  • Cell Adhesion Molecules / genetics
  • Cell Adhesion Molecules, Neuronal / genetics
  • Cells, Cultured
  • Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental / pathology*
  • Endothelial Cells / metabolism*
  • Gene Expression Regulation / genetics
  • Humans
  • Hyperglycemia / pathology
  • Ischemia / pathology
  • Male
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • RNA Interference
  • RNA, Messenger / genetics
  • RNA, Small Interfering / genetics
  • RNA-Binding Proteins / antagonists & inhibitors*
  • RNA-Binding Proteins / genetics
  • RNA-Binding Proteins / metabolism*
  • Vascular Diseases / pathology*

Substances

  • Antigens, CD
  • Cadherins
  • Cell Adhesion Molecules
  • Cell Adhesion Molecules, Neuronal
  • Qk protein, mouse
  • RNA, Messenger
  • RNA, Small Interfering
  • RNA-Binding Proteins
  • Tnfaip6 protein, mouse
  • cadherin 5
  • neuroligin 1