Down-regulation of miR-140-3p is a cause of the interlukin-13-induced up-regulation of RhoA protein in bronchial smooth muscle cells

Small GTPases. 2022 Jan;13(1):1-6. doi: 10.1080/21541248.2021.1872318. Epub 2021 Jan 11.

Abstract

The current study aimed to determine the role of a microRNA (miRNA), miR-140-3p, in the control of RhoA expression in bronchial smooth muscle cells (BSMCs). In cultured human BSMCs, incubation with interleukin-13 (IL-13) caused an up-regulation of RhoA protein concurrently with a down-regulation of miR-140-3p. Transfection of the cells with a miR-140-3p inhibitor caused an increase in basal RhoA protein level. Although a mimic of miR-140-3p had little effect on the basal RhoA level, its treatment inhibited the IL-13-induced up-regulation of RhoA. These findings suggest that RhoA expression is negatively regulated by miR-140-3p, and that the negative regulation is inhibited by IL-13 to cause an up-regulation of RhoA protein in BSMCs.

Keywords: Microrna (miRNA); RhoA; asthma; bronchial smooth muscle hyperresponsiveness; miR-140-3p.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Asthma* / genetics
  • Asthma* / metabolism
  • Down-Regulation
  • Humans
  • Interleukin-13 / genetics
  • Interleukin-13 / metabolism
  • Interleukin-13 / pharmacology
  • MicroRNAs* / genetics
  • MicroRNAs* / metabolism
  • Myocytes, Smooth Muscle / metabolism
  • Up-Regulation
  • rhoA GTP-Binding Protein / genetics
  • rhoA GTP-Binding Protein / metabolism

Substances

  • rhoA GTP-Binding Protein
  • Interleukin-13
  • MicroRNAs
  • RHOA protein, human
  • Mirn140 microRNA, human

Grants and funding

This work was partly supported by Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C) Grant Number 15583093 (Y.C.) and 18988016 (M.H.) from the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS).