PIWI‐interacting RNA MIABEPIR regulates cerebral endothelial cell function via DAPK2 pathway in offspring following maternal immune activation

Abstract Maternal immune activation (MIA) is recognised as a risk factor in the neurodevelopmental disorders. However, the precise molecular pathways through which MIA disrupts neurovascular function remain largely unexplored. Here, we identify a novel MIA‐associated brain endothelial piRNA (MIABEPI...

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Main Authors: Shan‐Shan Li, Miao Guo, Yao Long, Yuang Cai, Ying Zhao, Shaoyuan Huang, Houzhi Yang, Yonggang Fan, Xu Chen, Xin Jin
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2025-03-01
Series:Clinical and Translational Medicine
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1002/ctm2.70260
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author Shan‐Shan Li
Miao Guo
Yao Long
Yuang Cai
Ying Zhao
Shaoyuan Huang
Houzhi Yang
Yonggang Fan
Xu Chen
Xin Jin
author_facet Shan‐Shan Li
Miao Guo
Yao Long
Yuang Cai
Ying Zhao
Shaoyuan Huang
Houzhi Yang
Yonggang Fan
Xu Chen
Xin Jin
author_sort Shan‐Shan Li
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Maternal immune activation (MIA) is recognised as a risk factor in the neurodevelopmental disorders. However, the precise molecular pathways through which MIA disrupts neurovascular function remain largely unexplored. Here, we identify a novel MIA‐associated brain endothelial piRNA (MIABEPIR) involved in regulating BMEC function and BBB integrity. RNA microarray analysis of foetal brain tissue from MIA‐exposed mice revealed significant changes in piRNA expression, including a marked upregulation of MIABEPIR upregulated piRNAs. Immunofluorescence and FISH confirmed that MIABEPIR is localised in the microvascular endothelial cells of the brain. MIABEPIR overexpression enhances BMEC proliferation and angiogenesis but disrupts BBB integrity. In vivo, intracranial administration of lentiviral MIABEPIR in foetal mice resulted in marked BBB disruption. Mechanistically, we identified DAPK2 as a downstream target of MIABEPIR, leading to its downregulation. This suppression of DAPK2 inhibits autophagy in BMECs, suggesting that MIABEPIR modulates endothelial cell autophagy through the DAPK2 pathway. Our findings reveal a novel piRNA‐mediated regulatory mechanism in neurovascular function during MIA and highlight MIABEPIR's role in MIA‐induced neurodevelopmental abnormalities. Targeting the MIABEPIR‐DAPK2 axis represents a potential therapeutic strategy for addressing neurovascular dysfunction in neurodevelopmental disorders associated with maternal immune stress.
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spelling doaj-art-434ba2f66b524cafa3ee73145f9011eb2025-08-20T01:52:18ZengWileyClinical and Translational Medicine2001-13262025-03-01153n/an/a10.1002/ctm2.70260PIWI‐interacting RNA MIABEPIR regulates cerebral endothelial cell function via DAPK2 pathway in offspring following maternal immune activationShan‐Shan Li0Miao Guo1Yao Long2Yuang Cai3Ying Zhao4Shaoyuan Huang5Houzhi Yang6Yonggang Fan7Xu Chen8Xin Jin9School of Medicine Nankai University Tianjin ChinaSchool of Medicine Nankai University Tianjin ChinaSchool of Medicine Nankai University Tianjin ChinaSchool of Medicine Nankai University Tianjin ChinaSchool of Medicine Nankai University Tianjin ChinaSchool of Medicine Nankai University Tianjin ChinaTianjin Medical University Tianjin ChinaSchool of Medicine Nankai University Tianjin ChinaSchool of Medicine Nankai University Tianjin ChinaSchool of Medicine Nankai University Tianjin ChinaAbstract Maternal immune activation (MIA) is recognised as a risk factor in the neurodevelopmental disorders. However, the precise molecular pathways through which MIA disrupts neurovascular function remain largely unexplored. Here, we identify a novel MIA‐associated brain endothelial piRNA (MIABEPIR) involved in regulating BMEC function and BBB integrity. RNA microarray analysis of foetal brain tissue from MIA‐exposed mice revealed significant changes in piRNA expression, including a marked upregulation of MIABEPIR upregulated piRNAs. Immunofluorescence and FISH confirmed that MIABEPIR is localised in the microvascular endothelial cells of the brain. MIABEPIR overexpression enhances BMEC proliferation and angiogenesis but disrupts BBB integrity. In vivo, intracranial administration of lentiviral MIABEPIR in foetal mice resulted in marked BBB disruption. Mechanistically, we identified DAPK2 as a downstream target of MIABEPIR, leading to its downregulation. This suppression of DAPK2 inhibits autophagy in BMECs, suggesting that MIABEPIR modulates endothelial cell autophagy through the DAPK2 pathway. Our findings reveal a novel piRNA‐mediated regulatory mechanism in neurovascular function during MIA and highlight MIABEPIR's role in MIA‐induced neurodevelopmental abnormalities. Targeting the MIABEPIR‐DAPK2 axis represents a potential therapeutic strategy for addressing neurovascular dysfunction in neurodevelopmental disorders associated with maternal immune stress.https://doi.org/10.1002/ctm2.70260autophagyblood–brain barrierbrain microvascular endothelial cellmaternal immune activationPIWI‐interacting RNA
spellingShingle Shan‐Shan Li
Miao Guo
Yao Long
Yuang Cai
Ying Zhao
Shaoyuan Huang
Houzhi Yang
Yonggang Fan
Xu Chen
Xin Jin
PIWI‐interacting RNA MIABEPIR regulates cerebral endothelial cell function via DAPK2 pathway in offspring following maternal immune activation
Clinical and Translational Medicine
autophagy
blood–brain barrier
brain microvascular endothelial cell
maternal immune activation
PIWI‐interacting RNA
title PIWI‐interacting RNA MIABEPIR regulates cerebral endothelial cell function via DAPK2 pathway in offspring following maternal immune activation
title_full PIWI‐interacting RNA MIABEPIR regulates cerebral endothelial cell function via DAPK2 pathway in offspring following maternal immune activation
title_fullStr PIWI‐interacting RNA MIABEPIR regulates cerebral endothelial cell function via DAPK2 pathway in offspring following maternal immune activation
title_full_unstemmed PIWI‐interacting RNA MIABEPIR regulates cerebral endothelial cell function via DAPK2 pathway in offspring following maternal immune activation
title_short PIWI‐interacting RNA MIABEPIR regulates cerebral endothelial cell function via DAPK2 pathway in offspring following maternal immune activation
title_sort piwi interacting rna miabepir regulates cerebral endothelial cell function via dapk2 pathway in offspring following maternal immune activation
topic autophagy
blood–brain barrier
brain microvascular endothelial cell
maternal immune activation
PIWI‐interacting RNA
url https://doi.org/10.1002/ctm2.70260
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