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MiRNA-21 Regulates Bronchial Epithelial Cell Proliferation by Activating Tgfβ1/Smad Signaling Pathway and Its
Yang Kang1, Minghui Bai1, Liling Deng1
1Department of Pediatrics, the Third Affiliated Hospital of Qiqihar Medical University, Qiqihar 161000, China.
Insights
MicroRNA-21 (miRNA-21) is elevated in children with asthma and correlates with disease severity. This microRNA promotes bronchial epithelial cell proliferation via the TGF-β1/Smad signaling pathway.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Pulmonology
- Molecular Biology
- Biochemistry
Background:
- Childhood asthma pathogenesis involves complex molecular mechanisms.
- MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are increasingly recognized as key regulators in respiratory diseases.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the role of miRNA-21 in childhood asthma.
- To determine the correlation between miRNA-21 expression and asthma severity.
Main Methods:
- Serum miRNA-21 levels were quantified using qRT-PCR in 54 asthmatic children and 49 healthy controls.
- Correlation analysis and ROC curves assessed the relationship between miRNA-21 and asthma severity.
- In vitro studies examined miRNA-21's effect on bronchial epithelial cell proliferation and TGF-β1/Smad signaling.
Main Results:
- Asthmatic children exhibited significantly higher serum miRNA-21 levels compared to healthy children (P<0.001).
- miRNA-21 expression showed a strong positive correlation with asthma severity (r=0.853, P<0.001).
- In vitro, miRNA-21 promoted bronchial epithelial cell proliferation and influenced TGF-β1/Smad3 pathway protein expression.
Conclusions:
- miRNA-21 plays a role in regulating bronchial epithelial cell proliferation.
- Activation of the TGF-β1/Smad signaling pathway by miRNA-21 is implicated in asthma.
- Elevated miRNA-21 levels are associated with increased asthma severity in children.
Background:
This research was designed to probe into the role of miRNA-21 in the pathogenesis of childhood asthma and its correlation with the severity.
Methods:
Fifty-four children with bronchial asthma admitted to the Third Affiliated Hospital of Qiqihar Medical University from Jun 2018 to Dec 2019 were included. Forty nine healthy children underwent physical examination at this time period were also enrolled. The miR-21 expression in peripheral blood serum was analyzed by qRT-PCR. The relationship between the expression and severity of asthma in children was explored by Spearman correlation analysis and ROC curve. Bronchial epithelial cell lines were cultured in vitro and divided into blank control group, negative control group and miR-21 inhibition and activation group. The changes of cell proliferation after treatment were detected by CCK-8 test in different groups. The expression of TGF-β1/Smad signaling pathway protein in cells was assessed by Western blot (WB).
Results:
Compared with that of healthy children, the miR-21 expression in peripheral blood serum of asthmatic children was higher (P<0.001). MiR-21 expression was positively correlated with the severity of illness (r=0.853, P<0.001). The results of cell experiments in vitro signified that miR-21 can promote the proliferation of bronchial epithelial cells, and may be involved in regulating the expression of TGF-β1/Smad3 signaling pathway, thus affecting cell proliferation.
Conclusion:
miRNA-21 regulates the proliferation of bronchial epithelial cells by activating TGFβ1/Smad signaling pathway. And it is positively correlated with the severity of asthma in children.
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