In the present study, the expression of microRNA (miR)-365 and interleukin (IL)-6 in peripheral blood mononuclear cells and serum from patients with sepsis following multiple trauma has been investigated. A total of 26 patients with sepsis following multiple trauma were included as the experimental group, whereas 21 contemporaneous patients without sepsis following multiple trauma were included as the negative control group. The expression of IL-6 mRNA and miR-365 was determined by reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction, and western blot analysis was used to measure IL-6 protein expression. ELISA was performed to determine the secretion of IL-6 protein. Following stimulation with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) for 24 h, THP-1 cells were used to examine the expression of miR-365 and the levels of IL-6 protein and mRNA in cells simulating sepsis. A dual luciferase reporter assay revealed that IL-6 mRNA was a direct target of miR-365. Patients with sepsis following multiple trauma exhibited significantly higher IL-6 mRNA and protein levels than patients without sepsis (P<0.05). In addition, miR-365 expression in patients with sepsis following trauma was significantly lower than in patients without sepsis (P<0.05). Similar effects were observed in THP-1 cells treated with LPS. The present study demonstrated that increased expression of IL-6 in patients with sepsis following multiple trauma is associated with decreased expression of miR-365. miR-365 may regulate the occurrence and immune response of sepsis following multiple trauma via IL-6. These results may elucidate agents for clinical diagnosis and treatment of the disease.
Keywords: interleukin-6; microRNA-365; mononuclear cells; sepsis following multiple trauma.