Abstract
Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) primarily engage with mRNA, DNA, proteins, and microRNAs (miRNAs), thereby regulating gene expression; however, its specific role in diabetic erectile dysfunction (DED) has not been studied. This study aims to investigate the effects and mechanisms of LncRNA CRYM-AS1 in DED. The differential target gene LncRNA CRYM-AS1 was identified in the penile tissues of rats with DED through bioinformatics analyses. A KEGG signaling pathway enrichment analysis suggested a potential association between LncRNA CRYM-AS1 and the Hippo-YAP1 pathway. Real-time fluorescent quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR) results indicated a significantly lower expression of LncRNA CRYM-AS1 in the penile tissue of DED rats compared to the control group. Western Blot and immunohistochemistry (IHC) staining results demonstrated significantly elevated protein expression levels of YAP1, Caspase3, BAX, and Bcl-2, with a decreased Bcl-2/BAX ratio. CCK8 cell viability results showed a significant decrease in cell viability in the high glucose group at 4 days of modeling, and compared with the normal glucose group, RT-qPCR results showed that the expression of LncRNA CRYM-AS1 in the high glucose group in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) was significantly reduced; Western Blot results showed that the protein expression of YAP1, Cleaved-caspase3 and BAX was significantly up-regulated, and the protein expression of Bcl-2 was significantly down-regulated in the high glucose group. Compared with the empty vector group, RT-qPCR results after transfection of siLncRNA CRYM-AS1 showed that the expression of LncRNA CRYM-AS1 was down-regulated, the mRNA and protein expression of YAP1, Caspase3, Cleaved-caspase3, BAX, and Bcl-2 were significantly up-regulated, and the Bcl-2/BAX ratio decreased. Flow cytometry results showed that the apoptosis rate of HUVECs increased after interference. Low expression of LncRNA CRYM-AS1 may activate the Hippo-YAP1 signaling pathway to regulate apoptosis in HUVECs, leading to ED development, and the discovery of new target genes may provide new therapeutic targets to regulate diabetic erectile disfunction.