MicroRNA-98 interferes with thrombospondin 1 expression in peripheral B cells of patients with asthma

Thrombospondin 1 (TSP1)-producing B cells are an important immune regulatory cell fraction in the body, which are compromised in a number of immune diseases. miRs are involved in the immune regulation. The present study aims to elucidate the mechanism by which miR-98 interferes with the expression of TSP1 in B cells of the peripheral blood system. In the present study, peripheral blood samples were collected from patients with allergic asthma. The B cells were isolated from the blood samples to be analyzed for the expression of miR-98 and TSP1. The results showed that the levels of miR-98 were higher, the levels of TSP1 were lower, in B cells isolated from the peripheral blood in patients with asthma. A negative correlation was identified between the data of miR-98 and TSP1 in B cells. Exposure to T helper (Th) 2 (Th2) cytokine, interleukin (IL)-13, increased the expression of miR-98 and suppressed the expression of TSP1 in peripheral B cells, which was abolished by knocking down the miR-98 gene. In conclusion, miR-98 can suppress the expression of TSP1 in the peripheral B cells of patients with allergic asthma.