MiR-146a alleviates lung injury caused by RSV infection in young rats by targeting TRAF-6 and regulating JNK/ERKMAPK signaling pathways.

Abstract

Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is a major cause of acute lower respiratory tract infection in infants and children. The present study aimed to investigate the effects of miR-146a on RSV replication and the related mechanisms.

MATERIAL AND METHODS:

We pretreated A549 and HEp-2 cells and young rats with miR-146a mimic before infection with RSV. The expressions of miR-146a and RSV-F mRNA in cells and lung tissues were detected by RT-qPCR, and production of IL-1β, IL-6, IL-18, and TNF-α in bronchial alveolar lavage fluid (BALF) were determined by ELISA. The expression level of TRAF-6 and activation of the JNK/ERK/MAPK/NF-κB signaling pathway was detected by Western blotting.

RESULTS:

RSV infection significantly reduced miR-146a levels in both A549 and HEp-2 cells and rat lung tissues. RSV infection resulted in accelerated growth, increased release of inflammatory cytokines, increased expression of TRAF-6, and activation of the JNK pathway in cells, and the lung inflammatory infiltration and the pathological score increased in rats. Overexpression of miR-146a targeted down-regulation of TRAF-6 expression and JNK/ERK/MAPK/NF-κB pathway induced by RSV infection, reduced the production of inflammatory cytokines IL-1β, IL-6 and TNF-α, and alleviate lung injury in young rats. We got similar results in both A549 and HEp-2 cell experiments.

CONCLUSION:

MiR-146a alleviates lung injury caused by RSV infection in young rats by targeting TRAF-6 and regulating JNK/ERK/MAPK signaling pathways.

• Authors: Zhi Huang, Xiaoxian Liu, Xi Wu, Min Chen, Wenfeng Yu
• Journal: Scientific reports (Sci Rep) Vol. 12 Issue 1 Pg. 3481 (03 03 2022) ISSN: 2045-2322 [Electronic] England
• PMID: 35241728 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)
• Copyright: © 2022. The Author(s).

Chemical References

• Cytokines
• Interleukin-6
• MIRN146a microRNA, rat
• MicroRNAs
• NF-kappa B
• Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha

Topics

• Animals
• Cytokines (metabolism)
• Interleukin-6 (metabolism)
• Lung Injury (etiology)
• MAP Kinase Signaling System
• MicroRNAs (genetics, metabolism)
• NF-kappa B (metabolism)
• Rats
• Respiratory Syncytial Virus Infections
• Respiratory Syncytial Virus, Human (genetics)
• Signal Transduction
• Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha (metabolism)