Mitochondria are composed of many small proteins that control protein synthesis, complex assembly, metabolism, and ion and reactive oxygen species (ROS) handling. We show that a skeletal muscle- and heart-enriched long non-coding RNA, LINC00116, encodes a highly conserved 56-amino-acid microprotein that we named mitoregulin (Mtln). Mtln localizes to the inner mitochondrial membrane, where it binds cardiolipin and influences protein complex assembly. In cultured cells, Mtln overexpression increases mitochondrial membrane potential, respiration rates, and Ca2+ retention capacity while decreasing mitochondrial ROS and matrix-free Ca2+. Mtln-knockout mice display perturbations in mitochondrial respiratory (super)complex formation and activity, fatty acid oxidation, tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle enzymes, and Ca2+ retention capacity. Blue-native gel electrophoresis revealed that Mtln co-migrates alongside several complexes, including the complex I assembly module, complex V, and supercomplexes. Under denaturing conditions, Mtln remains in high-molecular-weight complexes, supporting its role as a sticky molecular tether that enhances respiratory efficiency by bolstering protein complex assembly and/or stability.

Therapies that exploit RNA interference (RNAi) hold great potential for improving disease outcomes. However, there are several challenges that limit the application of RNAi therapeutics. One of the most important challenges is effective delivery of oligonucleotides to target cells and reduced delivery to non-target cells. We have previously developed a functionalized cationic lipopolyamine (Star:Star-mPEG-550) for in vivo delivery of siRNA to pulmonary vascular cells. This optimized lipid formulation enhances the retention of siRNA in mouse lungs and achieves significant knockdown of target gene expression for at least 10 days following a single intravenous injection. Although this suggests great potential for developing lung-directed RNAi-based therapies, the application of Star:Star-mPEG mediated delivery of RNAi based therapies for pulmonary vascular diseases such as pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) remains unknown. We identified differential expression of several microRNAs known to regulate cell proliferation, cell survival and cell fate that are associated with development of PAH, including increased expression of microRNA-145 (miR-145). Here we test the hypothesis that Star:Star-mPEG mediated delivery of an antisense oligonucleotide against miR-145 (antimiR-145) will improve established PAH in rats. We performed a series of experiments testing the in vivo distribution, toxicity, and efficacy of Star:Star-mPEG mediated delivery of antimiR-145 in rats with Sugen-5416/Hypoxia induced PAH. We showed that after subchronic therapy of three intravenous injections over 5 weeks at 2 mg/kg, antimiR-145 accumulated in rat lung tissue and reduced expression of endogenous miR-145. Using a novel in situ hybridization approach, we demonstrated substantial distribution of antimiR-145 in lungs as well as liver, kidney, and spleen. We assessed toxic effects of Star:Star-mPEG/antimiR-145 with serial complete blood counts of leukocytes and serum metabolic panels, gross pathology, and histopathology and did not detect significant off-target effects. AntimiR-145 reduced the degree of pulmonary arteriopathy, reduced the severity of pulmonary hypertension, and reduced the degree of cardiac dysfunction. The results establish effective and low toxicity of lung delivery of a miRNA-145 inhibitor using functionalized cationic lipopolyamine nanoparticles to repair pulmonary arteriopathy and improve cardiac function in rats with severe PAH.

MicroRNAs (miRs) have emerged as key biological effectors in human health and disease. These small noncoding RNAs are incorporated into Argonaute (Ago) proteins, where they direct post-transcriptional gene silencing via base-pairing with target transcripts. Although miRs have become intriguing biological entities and attractive therapeutic targets, the translational impacts of miR research remain limited by a paucity of empirical miR targeting data, particularly in human primary tissues. Here, to improve our understanding of the diverse roles miRs play in cardiovascular function and disease, we applied high-throughput methods to globally profile miR:target interactions in human heart tissues. We deciphered Ago2:RNA interactions using crosslinking immunoprecipitation coupled with high-throughput sequencing (HITS-CLIP) to generate the first transcriptome-wide map of miR targeting events in human myocardium, detecting 4000 cardiac Ago2 binding sites across >2200 target transcripts. Our initial exploration of this interactome revealed an abundance of miR target sites in gene coding regions, including several sites pointing to new miR-29 functions in regulating cardiomyocyte calcium, growth and metabolism. Also, we uncovered several clinically-relevant interactions involving common genetic variants that alter miR targeting events in cardiomyopathy-associated genes. Overall, these data provide a critical resource for bolstering translational miR research in heart, and likely beyond.

Despite several advances in the pathobiology of pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH), its pathogenesis is not completely understood. Current therapy improves symptoms but has disappointing effects on survival. Sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P) is a lysophospholipid synthesized by sphingosine kinase 1 (SphK1) and SphK2. Considering the regulatory roles of S1P in several tissues leading to vasoconstriction, inflammation, proliferation, and fibrosis, we investigated whether S1P plays a role in the pathogenesis of PAH. To test this hypothesis, we used plasma samples and lung tissue from patients with idiopathic PAH (IPAH) and the Sugen5416/hypoxia/normoxia rat model of occlusive PAH. Our study revealed an increase in the plasma concentration of S1P in patients with IPAH and in early and late stages of PAH in rats. We observed increased expression of both SphK1 and SphK2 in the remodeled pulmonary arteries of patients with IPAH and PAH rats. Exogenous S1P stimulated the proliferation of cultured rat pulmonary arterial endothelial and smooth-muscle cells. We also found that 3 weeks of treatment of late-stage PAH rats with an SphK1 inhibitor reduced the increased plasma levels of S1P and the occlusive pulmonary arteriopathy. Although inhibition of SphK1 improved cardiac index and the total pulmonary artery resistance index, it did not reduce right ventricular systolic pressure or right ventricular hypertrophy. Our study supports that S1P is involved in the pathogenesis of occlusive arteriopathy in PAH and provides further evidence that S1P signaling may be a novel therapeutic target.Keywords: occlusive lesions, S1P, pulmonary, cardiac. Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) remains debilitating and deadly despite advanced and expensive medical treatment. 1 Its pathogenic mechanisms have not been fully identified and therapeutically targeted. A limitation in the current treatment of patients with PAH is the inability of prostanoids, endothelin receptor blockers, phosphodiesterase inhibitors, or their various combinations to reverse the pulmonary arteriopathy. 2,3 An effective strategy in the development of more efficacious therapy would be to identify the molecular determinants of the arterial wall remodeling.Sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P) is a biologically active lipid synthesized intracellularly by sphingosine kinase 1 (SphK1) and SphK2 and degraded by S1P lyase and various phosphatases. It is released by endothelial cells, red blood cells, activated platelets, and monocytes and has regulatory roles in several physiological and pathological processes. 4,5 Physiological levels of circulating S1P are vasculoprotective, whereas abnormal activation of SphK/S1P signaling is associated with diseases such as cancer, fibrosis, diabetes, and hypertension. [6][7][8][9][10] At high cellular or tissue levels, S1P is a proproliferative, antiapoptotic, promigratory, profibrotic, and proinflammatory signaling molecule. 11 SphK activity and S1P production are stimulated by numerous signals, including growth factors, cytokines, m...