PIWI-Interacting RNA HAAPIR Regulates Cardiomyocyte Death After Myocardial Infarction by Promoting NAT10-Mediated ac4C Acetylation of Tfec mRNA

Abstract

PIWI-interacting RNAs (piRNAs) are abundantly expressed in heart. However, their functions and molecular mechanisms during myocardial infarction remain unknown. Here, a heart-apoptosis-associated piRNA (HAAPIR), which regulates cardiomyocyte apoptosis by targeting N-acetyltransferase 10 (NAT10)-mediated N4-acetylcytidine (ac4C) acetylation of transcription factor EC (Tfec) mRNA transcript, is identified. HAAPIR deletion attenuates ischemia/reperfusion induced myocardial infarction and ameliorate cardiac function compared to WT mice. Mechanistically, HAAPIR directly interacts with NAT10 and enhances ac4C acetylation of Tfec mRNA transcript, which increases Tfec expression. TFEC can further upregulate the transcription of BCL2-interacting killer (Bik), a pro-apoptotic factor, which results in the accumulation of Bik and progression of cardiomyocyte apoptosis. The findings reveal that piRNA-mediated ac4C acetylation mechanism is involved in the regulation of cardiomyocyte apoptosis. HAAPIR-NAT10-TFEC-BIK signaling axis can be potential target for the reduction of myocardial injury caused by cardiomyocyte apoptosis in ischemia heart diseases.