Clinical significance and effects of miR-431-5p in children with asthma

This study investigated the clinical significance of miR-431-5p in childhood asthma and its cell function in house dust mite (HDM)-induced cell models.

Differential miRNA expression was analyzed in the GSE263408 dataset using bioinformatics tools (Limma package). Serum levels of miR-431-5p and CD34 mRNA in asthmatic and healthy children were measured. The diagnostic and prognostic potentials of miR-431-5p were evaluated using ROC curve analysis. The targeting relationship between miR-431-5p and CD34 was predicted by TargetScan and validated by dual-luciferase reporter assay. In vitro, transfected with miR-431-5p mimic or CD34 pcDNA, human airway smooth muscle cells (ASMCs) and mast cells were treated with HDM to assess effects on RNA expression, ASMC cell viability, and mast cell degranulation/histamine content.

Bioinformatic analysis identified miR-431-5p as differentially expressed in asthma. Serum miR-431-5p was significantly downregulated in asthmatic children compared to healthy controls, showing diagnostic value (AUC = 0.866). It was further decreased in children with asthma recurrence/exacerbation, with an AUC of 0.787 in discriminating recurrence/exacerbation from none. miR-431-5p targeted CD34 3'UTR. In HDM-induced ASMCs, miR-431-5p mimic reduced CD34, MUC5AC mRNA, and cell viability, which were rescued by CD34 overexpression. In HDM-induced mast cells, miR-431-5p mimic reduced CD34 mRNA, degranulation, and histamine content, effects also reversed by CD34 overexpression.

Serum miR-431-5p has potential as a biomarker for childhood asthma. miR-431-5p may mitigate asthma-related cellular processes by targeting CD34.