TRIM22 protein expression increases in HUVECs after DENV-2 infection
DENV-2 at a concentration of 105 TCID50/mL was used to infect HUVECs for 36 h. The expression of HUVEC TRIM22 protein was determined by western blot analysis. Compared with the control group, TRIM22 protein expression in the DENV-2-infected group significantly increased (P < 0.001).
qRT-PCR analysis of interference targets of TRIM22
The qRT-PCR results indicated that compared with the shCtrl group, the TRIM22 gene knockdown efficiency in the shTRIM22-1, SHTRIM22-2, and SHTRIM22-3 groups were 30.6% (P < 0.05), 52.5% (P < 0.01), and 98.1% (P < 0.01), respectively. Therefore, the shTRIM22-3 group was used to conduct subsequent experiments.
Knockdown efficiency detection
The qRT-PCR results indicated that, compared with the shCtrl group, the knockdown efficiency of shTRIM22 on HUVECs was 90.43% (P < 0.05). Western blot analysis confirmed that, compared with the shCtrl group, the expression of TRIM22 protein in the shTRIM22 group significantly decreased (P < 0.001), indicating that TRIM22 knockdown was successful.
Lentivirus infects HUVECs
Significant green fluorescence was observed by microscopy after a 72-h infection of HUVECs with lentivirus in the shCtrl or shTRIM22 groups. The results indicated that the infection efficiency was >80% and the cell morphology was normal.
Effect of shTRIM22 on cell proliferation
The TRIM22 gene was used to construct a TRIM22 knockdown lentivirus vector, which was transfected into HUVECs. The CCK8 method was used to assess changes in cell viability over five consecutive days. The cell proliferation results are shown in Figure 5. After lentivirus infection, compared with the shCtrl group, the OD value of the shTRIM22 group was smaller at the same time point, indicating that the proliferation rate of the HUVECs in the shTRIM22 group was slower. The difference was statistically significant (P < 0.001), indicating that TRIM22 affects HUVEC proliferation.
Ultrastructure of HUVEC autophagosomes after TRIM22 knockdown using TEM
Figure 6 shows scattered vacuoles observed in both the shCtrl and shTRIM22 groups, which were surrounded by a membrane. The nuclear fragments and organelles were evident in the small body. However, compared with the shCtrl group, the ultrastructure of HUVEC autophagosomes following TRIM22 knockdown showed increased autophagolysosomes and reduced autophagy, indicating that TRIM22 knockdown significantly affects autophagy in HUVECs.
TRIM22 knockdown affects the expression of HUVEC autophagy and AMPK pathway-related genes
The qRT-PCR results indicated that, compared with the shCtrl group, the expression of ATG7, ATG5, Beclin1, ERK, and mTOR genes in HUVECs with TRIM22 knockdown (P < 0.01) as well as the expression of TRIM22 genes (P < 0.001) were downregulated. In contrast, the mRNA expression of AMPK (P < 0.05) and P62 (P < 0.001) genes was upregulated. These results indicate that TRIM22 upregulates the expression of autophagy and AMPK signaling pathway-related genes in HUVECs.
TRIM22 knockdown affects the expression of autophagy-related proteins in HUVECs
Compared with the shCtrl group, the expression of ATG5, ATG7, Beclin1, and LC3B-II protein in HUVECs with TRIM22 knockdown decreased (P < 0.001), whereas P62 protein expression was increased (P < 0.01). This indicates that autophagy was inhibited following TRIM22 knockdown and shows that TRIM22 induces autophagy.
TRIM22 knockdown affects the expression of AMPK pathway-related proteins
Compared with the shCtrl group, the expression of p-AMPK and p-ERK decreased in HUVECs with TRIM22 knockdown (P < 0.001), whereas p-mTOR expression increased (P < 0.01), indicating that TRIM22 may have a positive regulatory effect on the AMPK/ERK/mTOR pathway.
Effect of TRIM22 knockdown on the cell cycle
Intracellular DNA content was stained with PI and subjected to FCM for cell cycle analysis. Figure 10 shows that the proportion of HUVECs in the G1/G0 phase decreased (P < 0.05) and that in the S phase decreased (P < 0.05) compared with the shCtrl group 36 h after DENV-2 treatment of HUVECs with TRIM22 knockdown. An increased cell number in the G2/M phase was also observed (28.53%/34.36%, P < 0.001). TRIM22 knockdown blocked the DNA synthesis phase (S phase) and promoted the late DNA synthesis phase (G2/M phase).
Effect of TRIM22 knockdown on apoptosis in HUVECs infected with DENV-2
FCM was used to determine the effect of TRIM22 knockdown on apoptosis in HUVECs infected with DENV-2 (Figure 11). The results indicated that the total apoptosis rate of the shCtrl group was 4.59% (early apoptosis, 3.18%; late apoptosis, 1.41%) and that of DENV-2 + shCtrl group was 10.07% (early apoptosis, 5.42%; late apoptosis, 4.65%). The total apoptosis rate of the DENV-2 + shTRIM22 group was 40.86% (early stage, 31.39%; late stage, 9.47%). This suggests that HUVECs with TRIM22 knockdown contain more early apoptotic cells (LR) and late apoptotic cells (UR) compared with the control group. The total apoptosis rate (UR + LR) of the HUVECs with TRIM22 knockdown was also significantly higher compared with the control group (P < 0.001). These results indicated that TRIM22 knockdown promotes apoptosis of HUVECs infected with DENV-2.
Autophagy ultrastructure of DENV-2-infected HUVECs with TRIM22 knockdown using TEM
TEM results showing the ultrastructural morphology of HUVECs are shown in Figure 12. Scattered vacuoles surrounded by a membrane in each group of cells were noted, and nuclear fragments and organelles were observed in small bodies. Compared with the shCtrl group, HUVEC autolysosomes increased after TRIM22 knockdown. The results indicate that autophagy of HUVECs was inhibited following TRIM22 knockdown.
Effects of TRIM22 knockdown on DENV-2-induced autophagy and AMPK pathway-related protein expression
Whether the regulatory effect of TRIM22 on HUVEC autophagy occurs during DENV-2 infection was further explored. Thus, negative control (shCtrl), TRIM22 knockdown (shTRIM22), AMPK activator (AICAR), and TRIM22 knockdown + AMPK activator (shTRIM22 + AICAR) groups were established. All groups were infected with DENV-2 for 36 h, except for the negative control group. Western blot analysis was used to determine the effects of TRIM22 knockdown on the expression of autophagy proteins ATG1, ATG5, ATG7, Beclin1, and P62 and the activation of AMPK, ERK, and mTOR proteins of the AMPK/ERK/mTOR pathway in HUVECs. The results indicated that TRIM22 induced autophagy in HUVECs following DENV-2 infection. TRIM22 knockdown during DENV-2 infection reduced autophagy in HUVECs. These results suggest that TRIM22 promotes autophagy in HUVECs following DENV-2 infection, whereas TRIM22 knockdown reduces the induction of autophagy through the AMPK/ERK/mTOR signaling pathway.
Effect of TRIM22 knockdown on DENV-2-induced HUVEC autophagy
Compared with the shCtrl group, the shTRIM22 group exhibited reduced expression of ATG1 (P < 0.01), ATG5 (P < 0.05), ATG7 (P < 0.001), and Beclin1 (P < 0.01) following DENV-2 infection of HUVECs with TRIM22 knockdown, whereas P62 expression levels increased (P < 0.05). These results suggest that TRIM22 knockdown has an inhibitory effect on DENV-2-induced autophagy. In the AICAR group, ATG1 (P < 0.05), ATG5 (P < 0.01), ATG7 (P < 0.001), and Beclin1 (P < 0.001) expression increased, whereas P62 expression decreased (P < 0.01). These results indicate that the expression of autophagy proteins following DENV-2-infection of HUVECs was enhanced following stimulation with an AMPK activator.
In the shTRIM22 + AICAR group, compared with the shTRIM22 group, the expression levels of ATG1 (P < 0.05), ATG5 (P < 0.01), ATG7 (P < 0.001), Beclin1 (P < 0.001), and LC3II/LC3I (P < 0.05) increased, whereas P62 expression levels decreased (P < 0.01). Compared with the AICAR group, in the shTRIM22 + AICAR group, the expression levels of ATG1 (P < 0.01), ATG5 (P < 0.05), ATG7 (P < 0.001), Beclin1 (P < 0.001), and LC3II/LC3I (P < 0.001) decreased, whereas the P62 expression levels increased (P < 0.05). These results suggest that TRIM22 knockdown reduces autophagy induced by DENV-2 infection combined with an AMPK activator in HUVECs.
Effect of TRIM22 knockdown on AMPK pathway-related proteins in DENV-2-infected HUVECs
Compared with the shCtrl group, following DENV-2 infection of HUVECs with TRIM22 knockdown, the expression of p-AMPK and p-ERK in the shTRIM22 group decreased (P < 0.01), whereas p-mTOR expression increased (P < 0.05). This indicates that TRIM22 knockdown downregulates the AMPK/ERK/mTOR signaling pathway. In the AICAR group, the expression of p-AMPK and p-ERK protein increased (P < 0.001), whereas p-mTOR protein expression decreased (P < 0.001). This suggests that AMPK/ERK/mTOR signaling is upregulated following stimulation with an AMPK activator.
Compared with the AICAR group, the expression of p-AMPK and p-ERK in the shTRIM22 + AICAR group decreased (P < 0.01) and p-mTOR expression increased (P < 0.05). Compared with the shTRIM22 group, the expression of p-AMPK and p-ERK in the shTRIM22 + AICAR group increased (P < 0.001), whereas p-mTOR protein expression decreased (P < 0.01). These results suggest that TRIM22 knockdown inhibits the activity of the AMPK/ERK/mTOR pathway induced by DENV-2 infection combined with an AMPK activator.
Effects of TRIM22 overexpression on DENV-2-infected HUVEC autophagy and AMPK pathway-related proteins
The Empty vector, TRIM22-OE, Dorsomorphin, and TRIM22-OE + Dorsomorphin groups were established to confirm the regulatory effect of TRIM22 on autophagy. All groups were infected with DENV-2 for 36 h, except for the shCtrl group. Western blot analysis was used to detect the HUVEC autophagy and the expression of AMPK pathway-related proteins. The results showed that TRIM22 promotes HUVEC autophagy induced by DENV-2 infection through positive regulation of the AMPK/ERK/mTOR signaling pathway.
Establishment of a TRIM22 overexpression plasmid
The vector map of a TRIM22 overexpression plasmid is shown in Figure 15B. The linearized vector was obtained by Nhe I and Age I digestion, and the target gene fragment (Figure 15A) was obtained by PCR amplification (Figure 15C). The homologous recombination sequence was added to the 5′-end of the amplicon, and the 5′- and 3′-terminal sequences of the amplified product matched the linearized clone vector. The linearized vector and target gene fragment were recombined in vitro and transformed in E. coli. PCR product identification was done (Figure 15D), and the results of positive clone sequencing were identical to the expected target sequence (see Appendix).
Detection of TRIM22 overexpression efficiency
RT-qPCR results showed that compared with the empty vector group, the TRIM22 mRNA expression level in the TRIM22-OE group significantly increased (P<0.01).
Effect of TRIM22 overexpression on autophagy-related proteins following DENV-2-infection of HUVECs
Compared with the Empty vector group, after DENV-2 infection of TRIM22-overexpressing HUVECs, the expression of ATG5 in the TRIM22-OE group increased (P < 0.01); the expression levels of ATG7, Beclin1, and LC3B-II increased (P < 0.001); and the expression of P62 decreased (P < 0.001). The expression of ATG5 (P < 0.05), ATG7 (P < 0.001), Beclin1 (P < 0.01), and LC3II/LC3I (P < 0.05) in the Dorsomorphin group decreased, whereas the P62 expression levels increased (P < 0.01). This indicates that AMPK inhibitors inhibit autophagy.
Compared with the TRIM22-OE group, the expression of ATG5 (P < 0.05), ATG7 (P<0.01), Beclin1 (P < 0.01), and LC3II/LC3I (P < 0.01) in the TRIM22-OE + Dorsomorphin group decreased, whereas P62 expression levels increased (P < 0.05). Compared with the Dorsomorphin group, the expression of ATG5 (P < 0.01), ATG7 (P < 0.001), Beclin1 (P < 0.001), and LC3II/LC3I (P < 0.001) in the TRIM22-OE + 3-MA group increased, whereas P62 expression levels decreased (P < 0.01). These results indicate that TRIM22 reduces the inhibitory effects of AMPK inhibitors on autophagy, suggesting that TRIM22 promotes autophagy induced by DENV-2 infection.
Effect of TRIM22 overexpression on AMPK-related proteins in DENV-2-infected HUVECs
Compared with the Empty vector group, after DENV-2 infection of HUVECs with TRIM22 overexpression, the expression of p-AMPK (P < 0.001) and p-ERK (P < 0.001) in the TRIM22-OE group increased, whereas p-mTOR expression levels decreased (P < 0.01). These results indicate that TRIM22 activates the AMPK/ERK/mTOR pathway. In the Dorsomorphin group, the expression levels of p-AMPK (P < 0.001) and p-ERK (P < 0.001) decreased, whereas p-mTOR expression levels increased (P < 0.01). These results indicated that Dorsomorphin inhibits the expression of the AMPK/ERK/mTOR pathway.
Compared with the TRIM22-OE group, the expression of p-AMPK (P < 0.01) and p-ERK (P < 0.01) in the TRIM22-OE + Dorsomorphin group was downregulated, whereas the p-mTOR protein expression levels were upregulated (P < 0.01). Compared with the Dorsomorphin group, the expression of p-AMPK (P < 0.001) and p-ERK (P < 0.001) in the TRIM22-OE + Dorsomorphin group was upregulated, whereas p-mTOR expression levels were downregulated (P < 0.01). These results indicate that TRIM22 overexpression reduces the inhibitory effect of AMPK inhibitors on the AMPK/ERK/mTOR pathway, suggesting that TRIM22 enhances DENV-2 infection-induced autophagy through the AMPK/ERK/mTOR signaling pathway.