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Updated: Jun 30, 2026
Identification and Characterization of Immunogenic RNA Species in HDM Allergens that Modulate Eosinophilic Lung Inflammation
Published on: May 30, 2020
Expression of miR-185-5p, miR-146b-5p, miR-320b, and miR-21-5p in Eosinophil Subtypes in Allergic Asthma Patients
Eglė Vasylė1, Andrius Januskevicius1, Paulina Malakauskaitė2,3
1Laboratory of Pulmonology, Department of Pulmonology, Lithuanian University of Health Sciences, Kaunas, Lithuania.
Background:
Allergic asthma (AA) is a common type 2 eosinophilic asthma phenotype. Inflammatory (iEOS) and lung-resident (rEOS) eosinophil subtypes may contribute to its underlying inflammatory processes. The biological functions of these eosinophils are tightly regulated by gene expression, with micro ribonucleic acids (miRNAs) emerging as key modulators and potential biomarkers.
Purpose:
To investigate the expression of miR-185-5p, miR-146b-5p, miR-320b, and miR-21-5p in eosinophil subtypes and relate with their plasma levels in AA patients.
Patients And Methods:
The study included 13 AA patients and 16 healthy subjects (HS). All AA patients underwent bronchial allergen challenge (BAC) with Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus and blood samples were re-taken after 24 hours. Total blood eosinophils were isolated by high-density centrifugation and magnetic separation, phenotyped using CD62L-conjugated magnetic beads. miRNAs expression quantified by reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR).
Results:
Before BAC, miR-185-5p and miR-146b-5p expression were elevated in both eosinophil subtypes relative to HS, with miR-185-5p showing higher expression in iEOS-like cells than in rEOS-like cells within the AA group. miR-320b was elevated only in iEOS-like cells relative to HS and remained higher than in rEOS-like cells within the AA group, whereas miR-21-5p was decreased only in iEOS-like cells and remained lower than in rEOS-like cells. After BAC, miR-146b-5p expression decreased in iEOS-like cells but increased in rEOS-like cells. Plasma analysis revealed elevated levels of all investigated miRNAs in AA patients relative to HS before BAC. However, after BAC, miR-185-5p and miR-146b-5p remained elevated, whereas miR-320b and miR-21-5p decreased to levels not significantly different from HS.
Conclusion:
Elevated miR-185-5p and miR-320b expression in iEOS-like cells compared to rEOS-like cells from AA patients highlights differences in their biological properties. Following the BAC, miR-146b-5p expression decreased in iEOS-like cells but increased in rEOS-like cells. Moreover, miR-185-5p and miR-146b-5p remained elevated in plasma, suggesting their potential to reflect chronic inflammation rather than acute response to allergen.
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