miR-142-3p Regulates Airway Inflammation Through PTEN/AKT in Children and Mice with Asthma.

BACKGROUND

Asthma is the most common chronic pulmonary disease in children. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) play a regulatory role in the occurrence and development of asthma. We aimed to explore the differential expression of miRNAs in the peripheral blood of children with asthma and identify a miRNA that can alleviate asthma inflammation.

METHODS

We used high-throughput sequencing to analyze differences in peripheral blood miRNA between children with acute asthma and healthy children, followed by target gene prediction and functional enrichment analysis. We inhibited miR-142-3p's expression in asthmatic mice to observe asthma symptoms. Inflammatory changes in lung tissue were assessed using hematoxylin and eosin staining and ELISA. Subsequently, the target gene of miR-142-3p was identified through a dual-luciferase reporter assay, and PTEN and AKT expression levels in mice lung tissue were determined using qPCR and western blot.

RESULTS

Fifty one differentially expressed miRNAs were identified. Inhibition of miR-142-3p expression in asthmatic mice reversed the downregulation of PTEN and activation of AKT in lung tissue, while also significantly alleviating symptoms and pulmonary inflammation in the asthmatic mice.

CONCLUSION

miRNAs were differentially expressed in the peripheral blood of children with asthma. miR-142-3p regulates airway inflammation via the PTEN/AKT pathway.