Journal article

Authors list: Fouani, Y; Kirchhof, L; Stanicek, L; Luxán, G; Heumüller, AW; Knau, A; Fischer, A; Devraj, K; John, D; Neumann, P; Bindereif, A; Boon, RA; Liebner, S; Wittig, I; Mogler, C; Karimova, M; Dimmeler, S; Jaé, N

Publication year: 2022

Journal: EMBO Reports

Volume number: 23

Issue number: 6

ISSN: 1469-221X

Open access status: Hybrid

DOI Link: https://doi.org/10.15252/embr.202154157

Publisher: Springer

Abstract: 
Vascular integrity is essential for organ homeostasis to prevent edema formation and infiltration of inflammatory cells. Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) are important regulators of gene expression and often expressed in a cell type-specific manner. By screening for endothelial-enriched lncRNAs, we identified the undescribed lncRNA NTRAS to control endothelial cell functions. Silencing of NTRAS induces endothelial cell dysfunction in vitro and increases vascular permeability and lethality in mice. Biochemical analysis revealed that NTRAS, through its CA-dinucleotide repeat motif, sequesters the splicing regulator hnRNPL to control alternative splicing of tight junction protein 1 (TJP1; also named zona occludens 1, ZO-1) pre-mRNA. Deletion of the hnRNPL binding motif in mice (Ntras( increment CA/ increment CA)) significantly repressed TJP1 exon 20 usage, favoring expression of the TJP1 alpha- isoform, which augments permeability of the endothelial monolayer. Ntras( increment CA/ increment CA) mice further showed reduced retinal vessel growth and increased vascular permeability and myocarditis. In summary, this study demonstrates that NTRAS is an essential gatekeeper of vascular integrity.

Harvard Citation style: Fouani, Y., Kirchhof, L., Stanicek, L., Luxán, G., Heumüller, A., Knau, A., et al. (2022) The splicing-regulatory lncRNA NTRAS sustains vascular integrity, EMBO Reports, 23(6), Article e54157. https://doi.org/10.15252/embr.202154157

APA Citation style: Fouani, Y., Kirchhof, L., Stanicek, L., Luxán, G., Heumüller, A., Knau, A., Fischer, A., Devraj, K., John, D., Neumann, P., Bindereif, A., Boon, R., Liebner, S., Wittig, I., Mogler, C., Karimova, M., Dimmeler, S., & Jaé, N. (2022). The splicing-regulatory lncRNA NTRAS sustains vascular integrity. EMBO Reports. 23(6), Article e54157. https://doi.org/10.15252/embr.202154157