Yonsei Med J.  2019 Jun;60(6):585-591. 10.3349/ymj.2019.60.6.585.

Upregulation of miR-27b Facilitates Apoptosis of TNF-α-Stimulated Fibroblast-Like Synoviocytes

• Lei S
• Chen G
• Deng L
• He J

• KMID: 2446965
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3349/ymj.2019.60.6.585

Abstract

PURPOSE
The aim of this study was to explore the function of microRNA-27b (miR-27b) in fibroblast-like synoviocytes (FLSs) stimulated by tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α).
MATERIALS AND METHODS
mRNA expression of miR-27b in FLS cells (MH7A) treated with or without TNF-α was determined by q-PCR. MiR-27b mimics was transfected into MH7A cells to upregulate miR-27b expression. MTT assay and flow cytometry analysis were performed to investigate the effect of miR-27b on MH7A cell viability and apoptosis. The targets of miR-27b were predicted by TargetScan. The direct regulation of miR-27b on IL-1β expression was verified by luciferase assay. The protein expression levels of apoptosis-related proteins, IL-1β, and NF-κB signaling-related proteins were detected by Western blot.
RESULTS
We discovered that miR-27b expression was decreased in MH7A cells stimulated by TNF-α. Upregulation of miR-27b by miR-27b mimics significantly inhibited the proliferation and promoted the apoptosis of TNF-α-stimulated MH7A cells. Consistently, upregulation of miR-27 decreased the level of Bcl-2 and increased Bax and caspase-3 expression in MH7A cells stimulated by TNF-α. Luciferase assay revealed that IL-1β was indeed a target of miR-27b. By quantitative real-time PCR and Western blot, we found that the expression of IL-1β is negatively regulated by miR-27b. Moreover, the NF-κB signaling pathway was significantly inhibited by miR-27b.
CONCLUSION
Taken together, our results illustrated that enhanced miR-27b expression results in the suppression of proliferation and the promotion of apoptosis in FLSs stimulated by TNF-α, partially by regulating IL-1β expression and NF-κB signaling.

Keyword

miR-27b; rheumatoid arthritis; NF-κB signaling pathway; IL-1β

MeSH Terms

Apoptosis*
Arthritis, Rheumatoid
Blotting, Western
Caspase 3
Cell Survival
Flow Cytometry
Luciferases
Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction
RNA, Messenger
Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha
Up-Regulation*
Caspase 3
Luciferases
RNA, Messenger
Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha

Figure

• 

  Fig. 1 mRNA expression changes in miR-27b in TNF-α-stimulated MH7A cells. (A) mRNA expression of miR-27b was decreased in MH7A cells stimulated by TNF-α in a concentration-dependent manner. (B) miR-27b mimics upregulates the expression of miR-27b in MH7A cells. (C) miR-27b mimics reduces the decline of miR-27b expression caused by TNF-α stimulation. *p<0.01 vs. ctrl group, †p<0.01 vs. TNF-α+miR-27b mimics NC group.

• 

  Fig. 2 The effects of TNF-α and miR-27b mimics on the proliferation of MH7A cells were determined by MTT assay. *p<0.01, TNF-α group vs. Ctrl group, †p<0.01, TNF-α+miR-27b mimic group vs. TNF-α+miR-27b mimics NC group.

• 

  Fig. 3 Upregulation of miR-27b promotes apoptosis of TNF-α-stimulated MH7A cells. (A) The apoptosis of MH7A cells were determined by flow cytometry. (B) The percentage of apoptosis cells in (A). (C) Protein expression of apoptosis-related proteins was determined by Western blot. (D) Quantification of the relative expression levels of apoptosis-related proteins in (C). *p<0.01 vs. ctrl group, †p<0.01 vs. TNF-α+miR-27b mimics NC group.

• 

  Fig. 4 IL-1β is a target gene of miR-27b. (A) The binding sites between miR-27b and IL-1β predicted by TargetScan. (B) Dual luciferase reporter gene activity was detected to verify the direct combination between miR-27b and IL-1β. *p<0.01 vs. miR-27b mimics NC group.

• 

  Fig. 5 The effect of miR-27b upregulation on the expression of IL-1β. (A) IL-1β mRNA expression levels in MH7A cells with different treatment were determined by q-PCR. (B) The protein expression levels of IL-1β in MH7A cells with different treatment were determined by Western blot. *p<0.01 vs. ctrl group, †p<0.01 vs. TNF-α+miR-27b mimics NC group.

• 

  Fig. 6 The effect of miR-27b upregulation on the expression of NF-κB signaling pathway-related proteins was examined by Western blot. (A) The protein expression levels of p-NF-κB p65, NF-κB p65, p-IκBα, and IκBα were determined by Western blot. (B) Quantification of the relative protein expression levels in (A). *p<0.01 vs. ctrl group, †p<0.01 vs. TNF-α+miR-27b mimics NC group.

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