MERRICAL

MERRICAL (Macrophage Enriched lncRNA Regulates Inflammation, Chemotaxis, and AtheroscLerosis) is a macrophage-enriched long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) that plays a critical role in the development of diabetes-associated atherosclerosis. It is nuclear-localized and significantly upregulated in intimal lesions during disease progression. MERRICAL functions through an *in-cis* regulatory mechanism, interacting with the histone modification enzyme H3K4me3 to modulate the expression of neighboring chemokine genes *Ccl3* and *Ccl4*. By regulating these genes, MERRICAL controls macrophage chemotaxis and pro-inflammatory responses. Experimental systemic knockdown of MERRICAL has been shown to significantly reduce atherosclerotic lesion formation and leukocyte recruitment in mouse models, suggesting its potential as a therapeutic target for vascular inflammation in diabetes.

Other names

Macrophage Enriched lncRNA Regulates Inflammation, Chemotaxis, and AtheroscLerosis