Abstract
Colitis is a chronic bowel disease characterized by damage to the lining of the large intestine, with its precise underlying causes remaining incompletely understood. In this study, we provide evidence that circular RNA circNlgn plays a pivotal role in promoting the development of colitis. Colitis patients produce significant higher levels of circNlgn. Transgenic mice expressing circNlgn exhibit heightened susceptibility to colitis development and progression, primarily attributed to the presence of the protein isoform Nlgn173 encoded by circNlgn. Nlgn173 undergoes translocation into cell nuclei, where it interacts with actin, impeding the binding of actin-related protein 2 and 3 (Arp2/3) complex to actin molecules. Consequently, this leads to a reduction in actin polymerization. Mechanistically, Nlgn173 enhances tyrosine-53 phosphorylation of nuclear actin, diminishing its capacity to interact with the Arp2/3 complex and causing a decrease in filamentous actin levels. These alterations in actin dynamics result in inhibited cell cycle progression, increased apoptosis, and decreased proliferation of colonic epithelial cells, thereby exacerbating colitis development and progression. In contrast, the silencing of circNlgn or the targeted inhibition of Nlgn173 translation and nuclear translocation leads to the promotion of nuclear actin polymerization, enhanced cell survival, and reduced apoptosis and ultimately improves the outcome of colitis in vivo. Interestingly, nuclear actin polymerization is highly related with expression of PIAS3, which modulates signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 and NF-κB activity in colitis. Strategies such as circNlgn knockdown and targeting nuclear actin polymerization of the colonic epithelium may explore a novel avenue for acute ulcerative colitis clinical intervention.