FAM3A belongs to a novel cytokine-like gene family, and its physiological role remains largely unknown. In our study, we found a marked reduction of FAM3A expression in the livers of db/db and high-fat diet (HFD)-induced diabetic mice. Hepatic overexpression of FAM3A markedly attenuated hyperglycemia, insulin resistance, and fatty liver with increased Akt (pAkt) signaling and repressed gluconeogenesis and lipogenesis in the livers of those mice. In contrast, small interfering RNA (siRNA)-mediated knockdown of hepatic FAM3A resulted in hyperglycemia with reduced pAkt levels and increased gluconeogenesis and lipogenesis in the livers of C57BL/6 mice. In vitro study revealed that FAM3A was mainly localized in the mitochondria, where it increases adenosine triphosphate (ATP) production and secretion in cultured hepatocytes. FAM3A activated Akt through the p110a catalytic subunit of PI3K in an insulin-independent manner. Blockade of P2 ATP receptors or downstream phospholipase C (PLC) and IP3R and removal of medium calcium all significantly reduced FAM3A-induced increase in cytosolic free Ca 21 levels and attenuated FAM3A-mediated PI3K/Akt activation. Moreover, FAM3A-induced Akt activation was completely abolished by the inhibition of calmodulin (CaM). Conclusion: FAM3A plays crucial roles in the regulation of glucose and lipid metabolism in the liver, where it activates the PI3K-Akt signaling pathway by way of a Ca 21 /CaM-dependent mechanism. Up-regulating hepatic FAM3A expression may represent an attractive means for the treatment of insulin resistance, type 2 diabetes, and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). (HEPATOLOGY 2014;59:1779-1790 T ype 2 diabetes has become one of the most prevalent and debilitating chronic diseases, with a global prevalence 6.4%, affecting about 285 million adults in the year 2010.1 Hepatic insulin resistance and fatty liver play a crucial role in the development and progression of type 2 diabetes. Liver is the key tissue regulating release of glucose into circulation during the fasting state, and hepatic insulin resistance is a decisive factor causing fasting hyperglycemia and type 2 diabetes. The liver is also one of the major organs regulating triglyceride (TG) and cholesterol (CHO) metabolism.2 Hepatic insulin resistance is mainly described as the failure of insulin to repress the expression of gluconeogenic genes through the PI3K/ Akt signaling pathway and is closely associated with the dysregulation of glucose and lipid metabolism in the liver.2 Although the underlying mechanisms remain largely unknown, increasing evidence points to

Hypoplastic left heart syndrome (HLHS) is a complex congenital heart disease characterized by abnormalities in the left ventricle, associated valves, and ascending aorta. Studies have shown intrinsic myocardial defects but do not sufficiently explain developmental defects in the endocardial-derived cardiac valve, septum, and vasculature. Here, we identify a developmentally impaired endocardial population in HLHS through single-cell RNA profiling of hiPSC-derived endocardium and human fetal heart tissue with an underdeveloped left ventricle. Intrinsic endocardial defects contribute to abnormal endothelial-to-mesenchymal transition, NOTCH signaling, and extracellular matrix organization, key factors in valve formation. Endocardial abnormalities cause reduced cardiomyocyte proliferation and maturation by disrupting fibronectin-integrin signaling, consistent with recently described de novo HLHS mutations associated with abnormal endocardial gene and fibronectin regulation. Together, these results reveal a critical role for endocardium in HLHS etiology and provide a rationale for considering endocardial function in regenerative strategies.

The optimal expression of endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS), the hallmark of endothelial homeostasis, is vital to vascular function. Dynamically regulated by various stimuli, eNOS expression is modulated at transcriptional, post-transcriptional, and post-translational levels. However, epigenetic modulations of eNOS, particularly through long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) and chromatin remodeling, remain to be explored. Here we identify an enhancer-associated lncRNA that enhances eNOS expression (LEENE). Combining RNA-sequencing and chromatin conformation capture methods, we demonstrate that LEENE is co-regulated with eNOS and that its enhancer resides in proximity to eNOS promoter in endothelial cells (ECs). Gain- and Loss-of-function of LEENE differentially regulate eNOS expression and EC function. Mechanistically, LEENE facilitates the recruitment of RNA Pol II to the eNOS promoter to enhance eNOS nascent RNA transcription. Our findings unravel a new layer in eNOS regulation and provide novel insights into cardiovascular regulation involving endothelial function.

CKD is an independent risk factor for cardiovascular disease (CVD). The accumulation of uremic toxins in CKD induces oxidative stress and endothelial dysfunction. MicroRNA-92a (miR-92a) is induced by oxidative stress in endothelial cells (ECs) and involved in angiogenesis and atherosclerosis. We investigated a role for oxidative stress-responsive miR-92a in CKD. Our study of patients at three clinical sites showed increased serum miR-92a level with decreased kidney function. In cultured ECs, human CKD serum or uremic toxins (such as indoxyl sulfate), compared with non-CKD serum, induced the levels of miR-92a and suppressed the expression of miR-92a targets, including key endothelial-protective molecules. The antioxidant -acetylcysteine inhibited these vasculopathic properties. In rats, adenine-induced CKD associated with increased levels of miR-92a in aortas, serum, and CD144 endothelial microparticles. Furthermore, CD144 microparticles from human uremic serum contained more miR-92a than those from control serum. Additional analysis showed a positive correlation between serum levels of miR-92a and indoxyl sulfate in a cohort of patients with ESRD undergoing hemodialysis. Collectively, our findings suggest that the uremic toxins accumulated in CKD can upregulate miR-92a in ECs, which impairs EC function and predisposes patients to CVD.