GLI family zinc finger protein 2 promotes skin fibroblast proliferation and DNA damage repair by targeting the miR-200/ataxia telangiectasia mutated axis in diabetic wound healing

Kaohsiung J Med Sci. 2024 May;40(5):422-434. doi: 10.1002/kjm2.12813. Epub 2024 Feb 22.

Abstract

Diabetic foot ulcer (DFU) is a serious complication of diabetic patients which negatively affects their foot health. This study aimed to estimate the role and mechanism of the miR-200 family in DNA damage of diabetic wound healing. Human foreskin fibroblasts (HFF-1 cells) were stimulated with high glucose (HG). Db/db mice were utilized to conduct the DFU in vivo model. Cell viability was evaluated using 3-(4,5-dimethyl-2-thiazolyl)-2,5-diphenyl-2-H-tetrazolium bromide assays. Superoxide dismutase activity was determined using detection kits. Reactive oxygen species determination was conducted via dichlorodihydrofluorescein-diacetate assays. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was used to evaluate 8-oxo-7,8-dihydro-2'deoxyguanosine levels. Genes and protein expression were analyzed by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction, western blotting, or immunohistochemical analyses. Luciferase reporter gene and RNA immunoprecipitation assays determined the interaction with miR-200a/b/c-3p and GLI family zinc finger protein 2 (GLI2) or ataxia telangiectasia mutated (ATM) kinase. HG repressed cell proliferation and DNA damage repair, promoted miR-200a/b/c-3p expression, and suppressed ATM and GLI2. MiR-200a/b/c-3p inhibition ameliorated HG-induced cell proliferation and DNA damage repair repression. MiR-200a/b/c-3p targeted ATM. Then, the silenced ATM reversed the miR-200a/b/c-3p inhibition-mediated alleviative effects under HG. Next, GLI2 overexpression alleviated the HG-induced cell proliferation and DNA damage repair inhibition via miR-200a/b/c-3p. MiR-200a/b/c-3p inhibition significantly promoted DNA damage repair and wound healing in DFU mice. GLI2 promoted cell proliferation and DNA damage repair by regulating the miR-200/ATM axis to enhance diabetic wound healing in DFU.

Keywords: ATM; DFU; DNA damage repair; GLI2; miR‐200 family.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Ataxia Telangiectasia Mutated Proteins* / genetics
  • Ataxia Telangiectasia Mutated Proteins* / metabolism
  • Cell Proliferation*
  • DNA Damage*
  • DNA Repair*
  • Diabetic Foot / genetics
  • Diabetic Foot / metabolism
  • Diabetic Foot / pathology
  • Fibroblasts* / metabolism
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Mice
  • MicroRNAs* / genetics
  • MicroRNAs* / metabolism
  • Signal Transduction
  • Skin / metabolism
  • Skin / pathology
  • Wound Healing* / genetics

Substances

  • MicroRNAs
  • MIRN200 microRNA, human
  • Ataxia Telangiectasia Mutated Proteins
  • Mirn200 microRNA, mouse
  • ATM protein, human