Changes to small RNA expression in macrophages in response to very low-density lipoprotein lipid hydrolysis by lipoprotein lipase and NADPH oxidase inhibition

We previously reported that HP from total lipoproteins significantly changed the transcriptome of human macrophages, including an increased representation of small nucleolar RNAs. Cellular stress within cardiomyocytes was previously reported to increase the expression of small nucleolar RNAs through an increase of reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation by NADPH oxidase (NOX).

Thus, we hypothesized that the HP induced ROS production through NOX activity, resulting in changes to small RNA transcripts. We examined changes to small RNA expression using RNA-seq in the absence or presence of HP, and whether those changes could be reversed by NOX inhibition. We identified eight differentially expressed small RNAs: three with differed expression in response to HP, and five with differed expression in response to NOX inhibition in the presence of HP.