A novel circular RNA circNLRP3 alleviated ricin toxin-induced TNF-α production through sponging miR-221-5p

Toxicon. 2023 Mar 1:224:107046. doi: 10.1016/j.toxicon.2023.107046. Epub 2023 Jan 23.

Abstract

Acting as microRNA (miRNA) sponges, circular RNAs (circRNAs) have been discovered to be critical modulators of inflammatory processes. Ricin Toxin (RT) is highly toxic to mammalian cells and low doses of RT can induce acute inflammation. However, current researches on the underlying mechanism and function of circRNA/miRNA network in RT-induced inflammation are limited. Previously, we found miR-221-5p was aberrant and associated with the inflammation of RT induction. In this study, based on the circRNA high-throughput sequencing (circRNA-seq), we obtained a novel circRNA termed circNLRP3 and revealed that circNLRP3 can sponge miR-221-5p, release its target mRNA A20, and further suppress NF-κB signaling pathway to alleviated RT-induced TNF-α production. Our findings elucidated a possible mechanistic link between the circNLRP3/miR-221-5p/A20 axis and RT-induced inflammatory response, which may broaden our understanding of RT poisoning.

Keywords: CircNLRP3; MiR-221–5p; Ricin toxin; TNF-α.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Inflammation
  • Mammals / genetics
  • Mammals / metabolism
  • MicroRNAs* / genetics
  • RNA, Circular
  • Ricin*
  • Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha

Substances

  • RNA, Circular
  • Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha
  • Ricin
  • MicroRNAs