let7f‑5p attenuates inflammatory injury in in vitro pneumonia models by targeting MAPK6

Long non-coding RNA DANCR increases spinal cord neuron apoptosis and inflammation of spinal cord injury by mediating the microRNA-146a-5p/MAPK6 axis

OBJECTIVE

This research was to unravel the impact of the lncRNA differentiation antagonizing non-protein coding RNA (DANCR)/microRNA (miR)-146a-5p/mitogen-activated protein kinase 6 (MAPK6) axis on spinal cord injury (SCI).

METHODS

SCI mouse models were established and injected with si-DANCR or miR-146a-5p agomir. The recovery of motor function was assessed by Basso Mouse Scale. SCI was pathologically evaluated, and serum inflammatory factors were measured in SCI mice. Mouse spinal cord neurons were injured by H2O2 and transfected, followed by assessment of proliferation and apoptosis. DANCR, miR-146a-5p, and MAPK6 in tissues and cells were detected, as well as their relationship.

RESULTS

DANCR increased and miR-146a-5p decreased in SCI. Silencing DANCR or enhancing miR-146a-5p stimulated the proliferation of mouse spinal cord neurons and reduced apoptosis. DANCR was bound to miR-146a-5p to target MAPK6. DANCR affected the proliferation and apoptosis of spinal cord neurons by mediating the miR-146a-5p/MAPK6 axis. Downregulating DANCR or upregulating miR-146a-5p improved inflammation, the destruction of spinal cord tissue structure, and apoptosis in SCI mice.

CONCLUSION

DANCR affects spinal cord neuron apoptosis and inflammation of SCI by mediating the miR-146a-5p/MAPK6 axis.

miR-128-3p inhibits the inflammation by targeting MAPK6 in penicillin-induced astrocytes

OBJECTIVE

Epilepsy causes physical and mental damage to patients. As well known, microRNAs (miRNAs) provide therapeutic target potentials for patients with epilepsy. miR-128-3p was previously reported to be downregulated in temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE) patients, however, its detailed function in epilepsy is unknown.

METHODS

Astrocytes function in epilepsy, penicillin-induced astrocytes can be used as a model for seizures in vitro. Currently, the expression levels of mitogen-activated protein kinase 6 (MAPK6), interleukin-1 beta (IL-1β) and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) were determined by western blot and reverse transcription-quantitative PCR analyses (RT-qPCR). The expression level of miR-128-3p was evaluated by RT-qPCR. TargetScan 7.1 and dual luciferase reporter assay were used for prediction and verification of interaction between miR-128-3p and MAPK6 3' untranslated region (UTR). Cell viability was detected by 3-(4,5-dimethyl-2-thiazolyl)-2,5-diphenyl-2-H-tetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay.

RESULTS

We found that penicillin-induced decrease in cell viability, and increase of TNF-α/IL-1β in primary astrocytes. There were lower miR-128-3p and higher MAPK6 in penicillin-treated primary astrocytes. miR-128-3p overexpression rescued penicillin-induced reduction of cell viability, and upregulation of TNF-α/IL-1β, which was partially abolished by MAPK6 overexpression.

CONCLUSION

Altogether, miR-128-3p attenuates penicillin-induced cell injury and inflammation in astrocytes by targeting MAPK6, thus providing a protective role in epilepsy.

Hippo signaling pathway and respiratory diseases

The hippo signaling pathway is a highly conserved evolutionary signaling pathway that plays an important role in regulating cell proliferation, organ size, tissue development, and regeneration. Increasing evidences consider that the hippo signaling pathway is involved in the process of respiratory diseases. Hippo signaling pathway is mainly composed of mammalian STE20-like kinase 1/2 (MST1/2), large tumor suppressor 1/2 (LATS1/2), WW domain of the Sav family containing protein 1 (SAV1), MOB kinase activator 1 (MOB1), Yes-associated protein (YAP) or transcriptional coactivator with PDZ-binding motif (TAZ), and members of the TEA domain (TEAD) family. YAP is the cascade effector of the hippo signaling pathway. The activation of YAP promotes pulmonary arterial vascular smooth muscle cells (PAVSMCs) proliferation, which leads to pulmonary vascular remodeling; thereby the pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is aggravated. While the loss of YAP leads to high expression of inflammatory genes and the accumulation of inflammatory cells, the pneumonia is consequently exacerbated. In addition, overexpressed YAP promotes the proliferation of lung fibroblasts and collagen deposition; thereby the idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is promoted. Moreover, YAP knockout reduces collagen deposition and the senescence of adult alveolar epithelial cells (AECs); hence the IPF is slowed. In addition, hippo signaling pathway may be involved in the repair of acute lung injury (ALI) by promoting the proliferation and differentiation of lung epithelial progenitor cells and intervening in the repair of pulmonary capillary endothelium. Moreover, the hippo signaling pathway is involved in asthma. In conclusion, the hippo signaling pathway is involved in respiratory diseases. More researches are needed to focus on the molecular mechanisms by which the hippo signaling pathway participates in respiratory diseases.

Ubiquitin-Specific Protease 14 (USP14) Aggravates Inflammatory Response and Apoptosis of Lung Epithelial Cells in Pneumonia by Modulating Poly (ADP-Ribose) Polymerase-1 (PARP-1)

Pneumonia is one of the common respiratory diseases in pediatrics. Ubiquitin-specific protease 14 (USP14) contributes the progress of inflammation-associated diseases. Poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase-1 (PARP-1) involves in the signal transduction of inflammatory pulmonary disease. This study aims to identify the precise function and elaborate the regulatory mechanism of USP14/PARP-1 in the injury of lung epithelial cells. Human lung epithelial BEAS-2B cells received lipopolysaccharide (LPS) (0, 1, 5, and 10 mg/L) treatment for 16 h, establishing in vitro pneumonia model. USP14 protein and mRNA levels in LPS-injured lung epithelial cells were separately assessed using western blot and RT-qPCR analysis. Lung epithelial cells were transfected with siRNA-USP14 or OV-USP14 to perform gain- or loss-of-function experiments. CCK-8 assay was applied to assess cell viability. TUNEL staining and western blot analysis were adopted to determine cell apoptosis. In addition, release of inflammatory cytokines and nitric oxide (NO) was detected using the commercial kits. Meanwhile, PARP-1 protein levels in LPS-injured lung epithelial cells were detected by performing western blot assay. Moreover, Co-IP assay was utilized for detection of the interaction between USP14 and PARP-1. The regulatory effects of PARP-1 on USP14 function in LPS-injured lung epithelial cells were also investigated. LPS dose-dependently reduced viability of lung epithelial cells and elevated USP14 protein. USP14 combined with PARP-1 and increased PARP-1 expression. USP14 elevation exacerbated inflammatory injury and boosted the apoptosis of LPS-injured lung epithelial cells, which was reversed upon downregulation of PARP-1. To sum up, USP14 promotion exacerbated inflammatory injury and boosted the apoptosis of LPS-injured lung epithelial cells by upregulating PARP-1 expression. These findings may represent a therapeutic target for clinical intervention in pneumonia.