MicroRNA-146a regulates the production of cytokines in lymphocytes stimulated by lipopolysaccharide.

OBJECTIVES

This study aimed to investigate the effects of microRNA-146a (miR-146a) on the production of cytokines in lymphocytes stimulated by lipopolysaccharide (LPS).

METHODS

Lymphocytes were harvested from mouse spleen and cultured . The cells were treated with LPS, miR-146a mimic, or miR-146a inhibitor. Scramble RNA served as the negative control of mimic and inhibitor. The production of inflammatory cytokines was detected by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.

RESULTS

Compared with non-LPS-stimulated group, LPS could increase the levels of interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-6, receptor activator NF-κB ligand (RANKL), and IL-10 (<0.05) and decrease the mRNA level of osteoprotectin (OPG) (<0.05). However, it did not significantly change the secretion of OPG. Compared with the negative control group, miR-146a mimic upregulated the levels of IL-10 and OPG (<0.05), downregulated IL-1β, IL-6, and RANKL (<0.05). Meanwhile, miR-146a inhibitor had a reverse effect on these cytokines (<0.05) in LPS-treated-lymphocytes.

CONCLUSIONS

MiR-146a can provide a suitable microenvironment for bone formation by preventing the inflammatory effects of LPS through the inhibition of IL-1β, IL-6, and RNAKL, thereby enhancing IL-10 and OPG.