Circ-CAMTA1 regulated by Ca²⁺ influx inhibited pyruvate carboxylase activity and modulate T cell function in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus

Objectives: To investigate the roles of Ca²⁺ influx-regulated circular RNAs (circRNAs) in T cells from patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE).

Methods: The expression profile of circRNAs in Jurkat cells, co-cultured with and without ionomycin, was analyzed by next-generation sequencing and validated using real-time polymerase chain reaction. The identified Ca²⁺ influx-regulated circRNAs were further examined in T cells from 42 patients with SLE and 23 healthy controls. The biological function of specific circRNA was investigated using transfection and RNA pull-down assay.

Results: After validation, we confirmed that the expression levels of circ-ERCC4, circ-NFATC2, circ-MYH10, circ-CAMTA1, circ-ASH1L, circ-SOCS7, and circ-ASAP1 were consistently increased in Jurkat cells following Ca²⁺ influx. The expression levels of circ-CAMTA1, circ-ASH1L, and circ-ASAP1 were significantly lower in T cells from patients with SLE, with even lower levels observed in those with higher disease activity. Interferon (IFN)-α was found to suppress the expression of circ-CAMTA1. Circ-CAMTA1 bound to pyruvate carboxylase and inhibited its biological activity. Overexpression of circ-CAMTA1, but not its linear form, significantly decreased extracellular glucose levels. Furthermore, increased expression of circ-CAMTA1, but not its linear form, decreased miR-181c-5p expression, resulting increased IL-2 secretion.

Conclusion: Three Ca²⁺ influx-regulated circ-RNAs-circ-CAMTA1, circ-ASH1L, and circ-ASAP1 -were significantly reduced in T cells from patients with SLE and associated with disease activity. IFN-α suppressed the expression of circ-CAMTA1, which interacted with pyruvate carboxylase, inhibited its activity, affected glucose metabolism, and increased IL-2 secretion. These findings suggest that circ-CAMTA1 regulated by Ca²⁺ influx modulated T cell function in patients with SLE.