LncRNA 91234.1 targets PRMT1/ASCL4/GPX4 axis to regulate formaldehyde-induced cardiomyocyte ferroptosis and congenital heart disease

Congenital heart disease (CHD) are the predominant cause of neonatal mortality and the most prevalent congenital malformation. Additionally, CHD can impact cardiovascular health in adulthood and exacerbate cardiovascular conditions in the elderly. Emerging studies indicate that both genetic predispositions and environmental factors may contribute to the development of this condition. Notably, formaldehyde (FA), a ubiquitous environmental toxin, has been increasingly implicated in the pathophysiology of CHD through recent investigations. Earlier, we identified long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) that exhibited significant differential expression in rats with cardiac developmental impairments associated with FA exposure. Here our study aims to elucidate the role of lncRNA in pathological mechanisms by subjecting H9C2 cells to 24-h formaldehyde exposure or administering formaldehyde (2.0 mg/kg) to female rats and examining their offspring. We indicate that lncRNA 91,234.1 (lnc91234) plays a role in FA-induced CHD by facilitating ferroptosis via PRMT1/ASCL4/GPX4 axis, which influences the methylation of H4R3, leading to lipid peroxidation and malondialdehyde (MDA) accumulation. This research is the first to demonstrate that exposure to FA disrupts cardiac function through ferroptosis and identifies lnc91234 as a novel lncRNA that may serve as a potential therapeutic target for cardiac dysplasia and CHD by modulating myocardial function both in vivo and in vitro.