Impact of miR-223-3p and miR-2909 on inflammatory factors IL-6, IL-1ß, and TNF-α, and the TLR4/TLR2/NF-κB/STAT3 signaling pathway induced by lipopolysaccharide in human adipose stem cells

PLoS One. 2019 Feb 26;14(2):e0212063. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0212063. eCollection 2019.

Abstract

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small non-coding RNA molecules that play an important role in the regulation of gene expression related to inflammatory responses. Human adipose stem cells are characterized by pluripotent differentiation potential and isolated from adipose tissues. These cells regulate inflammation mainly by interacting with immune cells and affecting the secretion of immune factors; details of this interaction are currently unknown. In the current study, we successfully established an acute inflammation model and a chronic inflammation model involving adipose stem cells. We used high-throughput miRNA microarray analysis to identify miRNAs that were significantly (p < 0.05) differentially expressed during both acute and chronic inflammation. Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) significantly (p < 0.05) reduced the expression of miR-223-3P and miR-2909, while promoting the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines, interleukin (IL) 6, IL-1β, and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α via the Toll-like receptor (TLR) 4/TLR2/nuclear factor (NF)-κB/signal transducer and activator of transcription (STAT) 3 signaling pathway in human adipose stem cells. Further, miR-223-3P expression was significantly (p < 0.05) reduced in human adipose stem cells during activation by IL-6 stimulation. The inducible down-regulation of miR-223-3P resulted in the activation of STAT3, which was directly targeted by miR-223-3P. STAT3 directly targeted TLR4 and TLR2, promoting the production of the pro-inflammatory cytokine, IL-6, and formed a positive feedback loop to regulate IL-6 levels. Similarly, TNF-α significantly (p < 0.05) increased the expression of miR-223-3p, with LPS and TLR4/TLR2/NF-κB/STAT3 forming a negative feedback loop to regulate TNF-α levels. In addition, miR-2909, which depends on NF-κB, targeted Krueppel-like factor (KLF) 4 to regulate the levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines, IL-6, IL-1β, and TNF-α. We conclude that miR-223-3p and miR-2909 form a complex regulatory network with pro-inflammatory factors and signaling pathways in adipose stem cells stimulated by LPS. These findings will inform the development of therapies against autoimmune and inflammatory diseases.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adipose Tissue / cytology
  • Antagomirs / metabolism
  • Cell Survival / drug effects
  • Humans
  • Interleukin-1beta / metabolism
  • Interleukin-6 / antagonists & inhibitors
  • Interleukin-6 / genetics
  • Interleukin-6 / metabolism
  • Lipopolysaccharides / pharmacology*
  • MicroRNAs / antagonists & inhibitors
  • MicroRNAs / genetics
  • MicroRNAs / metabolism*
  • NF-kappa B / metabolism
  • Phosphorylation / drug effects
  • RNA Interference
  • RNA, Small Interfering / metabolism
  • STAT3 Transcription Factor / antagonists & inhibitors
  • STAT3 Transcription Factor / genetics
  • STAT3 Transcription Factor / metabolism
  • Signal Transduction / drug effects*
  • Stem Cells / cytology
  • Stem Cells / drug effects
  • Stem Cells / metabolism
  • Toll-Like Receptor 2 / metabolism
  • Toll-Like Receptor 4 / metabolism
  • Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / antagonists & inhibitors
  • Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / genetics
  • Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / metabolism

Substances

  • Antagomirs
  • Interleukin-1beta
  • Interleukin-6
  • Lipopolysaccharides
  • MIRN223 microRNA, human
  • MIRN2909 microRNA, human
  • MicroRNAs
  • NF-kappa B
  • RNA, Small Interfering
  • STAT3 Transcription Factor
  • Toll-Like Receptor 2
  • Toll-Like Receptor 4
  • Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha

Grants and funding

This work was supported by grants from the Wuhan Applied Basic Research Program (2015061701011643), which is a government organisation. The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.