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Updated: Oct 4, 2025
Use of Animal Model of Sepsis to Evaluate Novel Herbal Therapies
Published on: April 11, 2012
miR-126 ameliorates multiple organ dysfunction in septic rats by regulating the differentiation of Th17/Treg
1Departments of Critical Care Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Bengbu Medical College, 287 Changhuai Road, Bengbu, 233004, Anhui, People's Republic of China.
Background:
The most common cause of death in sepsis is MODS. We hope that miR-126 can regulate the differentiation of Th17/Treg, reduce the infiltration of inflammatory factors in peripheral blood and various organs and tissues, and improve organ function and prognosis in sepsis.
Methods And Results:
Septic rat model was established by cecal perforation and ligation. miR-126 mimic and inhibitor were used to intervene sepsis. The experimental results showed that miR-126 mimic reduced the differentiation of Th17 and increased the differentiation of Treg in septic rats, resulting in the TNF-α, IL-6 and IL-17 were decreased in peripheral blood, the infiltration levels of TNF-α, IL-6 and IL-17 were decreased in lung, liver and kidney, the tissue damage degree of lung, liver and kidney were weakened, and the corresponding histopathological score decreased. Finally, the survival rate of septic rats was increased. However, after using miR-126 inhibitor, the levels of inflammatory factors and the degree of multiple organ injury in septic rats increased in varying degrees, and the prognosis of septic rats was worse.
Conclusion:
This study confirmed that miR-126 can regulate the differentiation of Th17/Treg, change the infiltration of inflammatory factors in peripheral blood, lung, liver and kidney of septic rats, alleviate MODS, and improve the organ function and prognosis of septic rats.
Insights
MicroRNA-126 (miR-126) plays a crucial role in sepsis by modulating immune cell differentiation. Upregulating miR-126 improves organ function and survival rates in sepsis models.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Molecular Biology
- Sepsis Pathophysiology
Background:
- Sepsis frequently leads to multiple organ dysfunction syndrome (MODS), a primary cause of mortality.
- MicroRNAs, such as miR-126, are implicated in regulating immune responses during sepsis.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the role of miR-126 in modulating T helper 17 (Th17) and regulatory T cell (Treg) differentiation in sepsis.
- To assess the therapeutic potential of miR-126 in improving organ function and prognosis in a sepsis model.
Main Methods:
- A rat model of sepsis was induced via cecal ligation and perforation.
- miR-126 mimic and inhibitor were administered to modulate miR-126 levels.
- Immune cell differentiation, inflammatory cytokine levels, organ damage, and survival rates were evaluated.
Main Results:
- miR-126 mimic administration decreased Th17 differentiation and increased Treg differentiation.
- Levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines (TNF-α, IL-6, IL-17) were reduced in blood and organs (lung, liver, kidney).
- Tissue damage was attenuated, histopathological scores decreased, and survival rates were significantly increased in rats treated with miR-126 mimic. Conversely, miR-126 inhibition worsened outcomes.
Conclusions:
- miR-126 effectively regulates Th17/Treg balance in sepsis.
- Modulating miR-126 levels can alleviate inflammatory responses and mitigate MODS.
- miR-126 holds therapeutic promise for improving organ function and patient prognosis in sepsis.
