microRNA-181b is increased in cystic fibrosis cells and impairs lipoxin A4 receptor-dependent mechanisms of inflammation resolution and antimicrobial defense

Sci Rep. 2017 Oct 18;7(1):13519. doi: 10.1038/s41598-017-14055-y.

Abstract

The involvement of microRNA (miR) in cystic fibrosis (CF) pathobiology is rapidly emerging. We previously documented that miR-181b controls the expression of the ALX/FPR2 receptor, which is recognized by the endogenous proresolution ligand, lipoxin (LX)A4. Here, we examined whether the miR-181b-ALX/FPR2 circuit was altered in CF. We examined human airways epithelial cells, normal (16HBE14o-), carrying the ΔF508 mutation (CFBE41o-) or corrected for this mutation (CFBE41o-/CEP-CFTR wt 6.2 kb), as well as monocyte-derived macrophages (MΦs) from CF patients. CFBE41o- cells exhibited higher miR-181b and reduced ALX/FPR2 levels compared to 16HBE14o- and CFBE41o-/CEP-CFTR wt 6.2 kb cells. An anti-mir-181b significantly enhanced ALX/FPR2 expression (+ 60%) as well as LXA4-induced increase in transepithelial electric resistance (+ 25%) in CFBE41o- cells. MΦs from CF patients also displayed increased miR-181b (+ 100%) and lower ALX/FPR2 levels (- 20%) compared to healthy cells. An anti-mir-181b enhanced ALX/FPR2 expression (+ 40%) and normalized receptor-dependent LXA4-induced phagocytosis of fluorescent-labeled zymosan particles as well as of Pseudomonas aeruginosa by CF-MΦs. These results provide the first evidence that miR-181b is overexpressed in CF cells, impairing some mechanisms of the ALX/FPR2-dependent pathway of inflammation resolution. Thus, targeting miR-181b may represent a strategy to enhance anti-inflammatory and anti-microbial defense mechanisms in CF.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing / metabolism
  • Adult
  • Cells, Cultured
  • Cystic Fibrosis / genetics
  • Cystic Fibrosis / immunology*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Macrophages / immunology
  • Macrophages / microbiology
  • MicroRNAs / genetics*
  • MicroRNAs / metabolism
  • Phagocytosis*
  • Pseudomonas aeruginosa / pathogenicity
  • Receptors, Formyl Peptide / genetics
  • Receptors, Formyl Peptide / metabolism*
  • Receptors, Lipoxin / genetics
  • Receptors, Lipoxin / metabolism*
  • Respiratory Mucosa / immunology
  • Respiratory Mucosa / microbiology

Substances

  • Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing
  • FPR2 protein, human
  • HSH2D protein, human
  • MIrn181 microRNA, human
  • MicroRNAs
  • Receptors, Formyl Peptide
  • Receptors, Lipoxin