Exploring the mechanism by which UCHL3 alleviates diabetic foot ulcers: FOXM1/NLRP3 inflammasome-mediated angiogenesis and endothelial cell pyroptosis

Abstract Background This study investigated the role of ubiquitin C-terminal hydrolase L3 (UCHL3) in regulating endothelial cell (EC) pyroptosis and angiogenesis in diabetic foot ulcers (DFUs), with a focus on FOXM1 and NLRP3 inflammasomes. Methods Differentially expressed genes in DFUs were identif...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Xincheng Liao, Zhengying Jiang, Zhonghua Fu, Guanghua Guo
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2025-05-01
Series:Journal of Orthopaedic Surgery and Research
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1186/s13018-025-05914-w
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1850268588937576448
author Xincheng Liao
Zhengying Jiang
Zhonghua Fu
Guanghua Guo
author_facet Xincheng Liao
Zhengying Jiang
Zhonghua Fu
Guanghua Guo
author_sort Xincheng Liao
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Background This study investigated the role of ubiquitin C-terminal hydrolase L3 (UCHL3) in regulating endothelial cell (EC) pyroptosis and angiogenesis in diabetic foot ulcers (DFUs), with a focus on FOXM1 and NLRP3 inflammasomes. Methods Differentially expressed genes in DFUs were identified using the GSE134431 dataset and cross-referenced with vascular formation-related factors from GeneCard and deubiquitinases from the UbiNet 2.0 database. A rat DFU model was used to evaluate wound healing, with or without UCHL3 overexpression and FOXM1 knockdown. Histological analysis and immunohistochemistry were employed to assess tissue morphology and the expression of CD31, eNOS, UCHL3, and FOXM1. In vitro, high glucose-induced human umbilical vein ECs (HUVECs) were transfected with UCHL3 overexpression and FOXM1 knockdown constructs. Cell viability, migration, and angiogenesis were assessed. Results UCHL3 expression was significantly reduced in DFU tissues. UCHL3 overexpression promoted wound healing in a rat model, while FOXM1 knockdown impaired wound healing and vascular formation. In HUVECs, UCHL3 overexpression enhanced cell viability, migration, and angiogenesis, accompanied by reduced NLRP3 and N-GSDMD levels. FOXM1 knockdown reversed these effects, but treatment with the NLRP3 inhibitor, MCC950, alleviated this damage. Conclusion UCHL3 enhances FOXM1 deubiquitination, inhibits NLRP3 inflammasome activation, and reduces EC pyroptosis, thereby contributing to DFU healing. UCHL3 and FOXM1 are potential therapeutic targets for DFU.
format Article
id doaj-art-c8a02e39a6b847569b88ad35129bd62b
institution OA Journals
issn 1749-799X
language English
publishDate 2025-05-01
publisher BMC
record_format Article
series Journal of Orthopaedic Surgery and Research
spelling doaj-art-c8a02e39a6b847569b88ad35129bd62b2025-08-20T01:53:25ZengBMCJournal of Orthopaedic Surgery and Research1749-799X2025-05-0120111410.1186/s13018-025-05914-wExploring the mechanism by which UCHL3 alleviates diabetic foot ulcers: FOXM1/NLRP3 inflammasome-mediated angiogenesis and endothelial cell pyroptosisXincheng Liao0Zhengying Jiang1Zhonghua Fu2Guanghua Guo3Medical Center of Burn Plastic and Wound Repair, The First Affiliated Hospital, Jiangxi Medical College, Nanchang UniversityMedical Center of Burn Plastic and Wound Repair, The First Affiliated Hospital, Jiangxi Medical College, Nanchang UniversityMedical Center of Burn Plastic and Wound Repair, The First Affiliated Hospital, Jiangxi Medical College, Nanchang UniversityMedical Center of Burn Plastic and Wound Repair, The First Affiliated Hospital, Jiangxi Medical College, Nanchang UniversityAbstract Background This study investigated the role of ubiquitin C-terminal hydrolase L3 (UCHL3) in regulating endothelial cell (EC) pyroptosis and angiogenesis in diabetic foot ulcers (DFUs), with a focus on FOXM1 and NLRP3 inflammasomes. Methods Differentially expressed genes in DFUs were identified using the GSE134431 dataset and cross-referenced with vascular formation-related factors from GeneCard and deubiquitinases from the UbiNet 2.0 database. A rat DFU model was used to evaluate wound healing, with or without UCHL3 overexpression and FOXM1 knockdown. Histological analysis and immunohistochemistry were employed to assess tissue morphology and the expression of CD31, eNOS, UCHL3, and FOXM1. In vitro, high glucose-induced human umbilical vein ECs (HUVECs) were transfected with UCHL3 overexpression and FOXM1 knockdown constructs. Cell viability, migration, and angiogenesis were assessed. Results UCHL3 expression was significantly reduced in DFU tissues. UCHL3 overexpression promoted wound healing in a rat model, while FOXM1 knockdown impaired wound healing and vascular formation. In HUVECs, UCHL3 overexpression enhanced cell viability, migration, and angiogenesis, accompanied by reduced NLRP3 and N-GSDMD levels. FOXM1 knockdown reversed these effects, but treatment with the NLRP3 inhibitor, MCC950, alleviated this damage. Conclusion UCHL3 enhances FOXM1 deubiquitination, inhibits NLRP3 inflammasome activation, and reduces EC pyroptosis, thereby contributing to DFU healing. UCHL3 and FOXM1 are potential therapeutic targets for DFU.https://doi.org/10.1186/s13018-025-05914-wDiabetic foot ulcersUCHL3FOXM1NLRP3 inflammasomeEndothelial cells
spellingShingle Xincheng Liao
Zhengying Jiang
Zhonghua Fu
Guanghua Guo
Exploring the mechanism by which UCHL3 alleviates diabetic foot ulcers: FOXM1/NLRP3 inflammasome-mediated angiogenesis and endothelial cell pyroptosis
Journal of Orthopaedic Surgery and Research
Diabetic foot ulcers
UCHL3
FOXM1
NLRP3 inflammasome
Endothelial cells
title Exploring the mechanism by which UCHL3 alleviates diabetic foot ulcers: FOXM1/NLRP3 inflammasome-mediated angiogenesis and endothelial cell pyroptosis
title_full Exploring the mechanism by which UCHL3 alleviates diabetic foot ulcers: FOXM1/NLRP3 inflammasome-mediated angiogenesis and endothelial cell pyroptosis
title_fullStr Exploring the mechanism by which UCHL3 alleviates diabetic foot ulcers: FOXM1/NLRP3 inflammasome-mediated angiogenesis and endothelial cell pyroptosis
title_full_unstemmed Exploring the mechanism by which UCHL3 alleviates diabetic foot ulcers: FOXM1/NLRP3 inflammasome-mediated angiogenesis and endothelial cell pyroptosis
title_short Exploring the mechanism by which UCHL3 alleviates diabetic foot ulcers: FOXM1/NLRP3 inflammasome-mediated angiogenesis and endothelial cell pyroptosis
title_sort exploring the mechanism by which uchl3 alleviates diabetic foot ulcers foxm1 nlrp3 inflammasome mediated angiogenesis and endothelial cell pyroptosis
topic Diabetic foot ulcers
UCHL3
FOXM1
NLRP3 inflammasome
Endothelial cells
url https://doi.org/10.1186/s13018-025-05914-w
work_keys_str_mv AT xinchengliao exploringthemechanismbywhichuchl3alleviatesdiabeticfootulcersfoxm1nlrp3inflammasomemediatedangiogenesisandendothelialcellpyroptosis
AT zhengyingjiang exploringthemechanismbywhichuchl3alleviatesdiabeticfootulcersfoxm1nlrp3inflammasomemediatedangiogenesisandendothelialcellpyroptosis
AT zhonghuafu exploringthemechanismbywhichuchl3alleviatesdiabeticfootulcersfoxm1nlrp3inflammasomemediatedangiogenesisandendothelialcellpyroptosis
AT guanghuaguo exploringthemechanismbywhichuchl3alleviatesdiabeticfootulcersfoxm1nlrp3inflammasomemediatedangiogenesisandendothelialcellpyroptosis