A miR-19 regulon that controls NF-κB signaling

Nucleic Acids Res. 2012 Sep;40(16):8048-58. doi: 10.1093/nar/gks521. Epub 2012 Jun 7.

Abstract

Fine-tuning of inflammatory responses by microRNAs (miRNAs) is complex, as they can both enhance and repress expression of pro-inflammatory mediators. In this study, we investigate inflammatory responses following global miRNA depletion, to better define the overall contribution of miRNAs to inflammation. We demonstrate that miRNAs positively regulate Toll-like receptor signaling using inducible Dicer1 deletion and global miRNA depletion. We establish an important contribution of miR-19b in this effect, which potentiates nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) activity in human and mouse cells. Positive regulation of NF-κB signaling by miR-19b involves the coordinated suppression of a regulon of negative regulators of NF-κB signaling (including A20/Tnfaip3, Rnf11, Fbxl11/Kdm2a and Zbtb16). Transfection of miR-19b mimics exacerbated the inflammatory activation of rheumatoid arthritis primary fibroblast-like synoviocytes, demonstrating its physiological importance in the pathology of this disease. This study constitutes, to our knowledge, the first description of a miR-19 regulon that controls NF-κB signaling, and suggests that targeting this miRNA and linked family members could regulate the activity of NF-κB signaling in inflammation.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Bone Marrow Cells / metabolism
  • Cells, Cultured
  • Fibroblasts / metabolism
  • Humans
  • Inflammation / genetics
  • Inflammation Mediators / metabolism
  • Macrophages / metabolism
  • Mice
  • MicroRNAs / metabolism*
  • NF-kappa B / metabolism*
  • Regulon*
  • Signal Transduction*
  • Synovial Membrane / cytology
  • Synovial Membrane / metabolism
  • Toll-Like Receptors / metabolism

Substances

  • Inflammation Mediators
  • MIRN19 microRNA, human
  • MIRN19 microRNA, mouse
  • MicroRNAs
  • NF-kappa B
  • Toll-Like Receptors