MicroRNA-200a Affects the Proliferation of Airway Smooth Muscle Cells and Airway Remodeling by Targeting FOXC1 via the PI3K/AKT Signaling Pathway in Ovalbumin-Induced Asthmatic Mice.
The etiology of asthma, which is a complicated disorder with various symptoms, including wheezing, coughing, and airflow obstruction, remains poorly understood. In addition, the effects of microRNAs (miRs) have not been explored. This study explored the effect of microRNA-200a (miR-200a) on airway smooth muscle cells (ASMCs) and airway remodeling in asthmatic mice. Furthermore, we speculated that miR-200a achieves its effect by targeting FOXC1 via the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway based on differentially expressed gene screening, target miR predictions and a bioinformatics analysis.
Eighty mice were assigned to a saline group or an ovalbumin (OVA) group, and the OVA group was transfected with a series of inhibitors, activators, and siRNAs to test the established mouse model. Airway reactivity and the ratio of eosinophils (EOSs) to leukocytes were detected. An ELISA was adopted to measure the levels of interleukin (IL)-4, IL-6, IL-8, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, and immunoglobulin E (IgE). Reverse transcription quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) and western blotting were used to determine the expression of FOXC1, PI3K, AKT, NF-κB, cyclin D1, TGF-β1 and p-AKT in ASMCs. Finally, CCK-8 assays were performed to detect cell proliferation and flow cytometry to detect apoptosis and cell cycle entry.
The bioinformatics analysis indicated that miR-200a mediated the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway by targeting FOXC1. In addition, mouse models of asthma were established. An elevated expression of miR-200a, a decreased mRNA and protein expression of FOXC1, PI3K, AKT, NF-κB, cyclin D1 and TGF-β1, a decreased expression of p-AKT, suppressed cell proliferation, accelerated apoptosis, and an increased number of cells at the G0/G1 phase were observed following the upregulation of miR-200a and downregulation of FOXC1.
The overexpression of miR-200a may downregulate FOXC1, thereby inhibiting the activation of the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway and ultimately suppressing ASMC proliferation and airway remodeling in asthmatic mice. This evidence supports the potential that miR-200a represents a new approach to treating asthma.
Liu Y
,Miao Y
,Gao X
,Wang YY
,Wang H
,Zheng YW
,Zhao ZY
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miR-143-3p impacts on pulmonary inflammatory factors and cell apoptosis in mice with mycoplasmal pneumonia by regulating TLR4/MyD88/NF-κB pathway.
miR-143-3p is correlated with inflammatory pain responses, such as hsa-miR-143-3p expression reduction in fibromyalgia. The present study aimed to explore the effects of miR-143-3p and Toll-like receptor (TLR) 4/myeloid differentiation factor 88 (MyD88)/NF-κB signaling pathway on pulmonary inflammatory factors levels and alveolar epithelial cell apoptosis in mycoplasmal pneumonia mice. Twenty mice were selected as normal group. The 120 successfully modeled Mycoplasma pneumoniae (MP) infection mice were randomly divided into model group (without any treatment), negative control (NC) group (injected with NC mimic), miR-143-3p mimic group (injected with miR-143-3p mimic), miR-143-3p inhibitor group (injected with miR-143-3p inhibitor), TAK-242 group (treatment with TAK-242), and miR-143-3p inhibitor + TAK-242 group (treatment with miR-143-3p inhibitor + TAK-242). Compared with model group, model mice had up-regulated miR-143-3p expression and decreased MyD88 and p-NF-κB p50 protein expressions (all P<0.05); Model mice treated with miR-143-3p mimic and TAK-242 had reduced interleukin (IL)-2 and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α contents and protein expressions of MyD88, p-NF-κB p50, increased IL-10 content, fewer alveolar epithelial cell apoptosis, lower Bax expression and higher Bcl-2 expression (all P<0.05); however, mice with miR-143-3p inhibitor treatment showed opposite trends in terms of above indicators. The exacerbation of mycoplasmal pneumonia caused by miR-143-3p inhibitor was partly improved by miR-143-3p inhibitor + TAK-242 combination treatment (all P<0.05). Therefore, up-regulation of miR-143-3p expression may ameliorate pulmonary inflammatory factors levels and reduce alveolar epithelial cell apoptosis in mycoplasmal pneumonia mice by inhibiting TLR4/MyD88/NF-κB signaling pathway.
Wang Y
,Li H
,Shi Y
,Wang S
,Xu Y
,Li H
,Liu D
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