MicroRNA miR-146a-5p inhibits the inflammatory response and injury of airway epithelial cells via targeting TNF receptor-associated factor 6

• Main Authors: Fang Yan, Dilinuer Wufuer, Jianbing Ding, Jing Wang
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Taylor & Francis Group 2021-01-01
• Series: Bioengineered
• Subjects: asthma; mir-146a-5p; traf6; inflammation; cell barrier injury; apoptosis
• Online Access: http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/21655979.2021.1927545

Bronchial asthma is a common respiratory disease, which is characterized by airway inflammation, remodeling and hyperresponsiveness. MicroRNAs (miRNAs), as reported, are implicated in the pathogenesis of many diseases, but how miRNAs-146a-5p (miR-146a-5p) works in asthma remains inconclusive. In this work, we proved that miR-146a-5p expression was inhibited in asthma patients’ plasma and platelet activating factor (PAF)-induced human small airway epithelial cells (HSAECs). MiR-146a-5p up-regulation ameliorated the inflammatory reaction and cell barrier damage of HSAECs induced by PAF, and inhibited the apoptosis; besides, miR-146a-5p down-regulation functioned oppositely. In addition, miR-146a-5p could target TNF receptor-associated factor 6 (TRAF6) and negatively regulate its expression. TRAF6 overexpression could counterract the impact of miR-146a-5p up-regulation on PAF-induced inflammation, cell barrier damage and apoptosis of HSAECs. Collectively, miR-146a-5p may protect airway epithelial cells and inhibit the pathogenesis of asthma via targeting TRAF6.