MicroRNA-29b Mediates Lung Mesenchymal-Epithelial Transition and Prevents Lung Fibrosis in the Silicosis Model

Jingping Sun; Qiuyue Li; Ximeng Lian; Zhonghui Zhu; Xiaowei Chen; Wanying Pei; Siling Li; Ali Abbas; Yan Wang; Lin Tian

Molecular Therapy: Nucleic Acids (Mar 2019)

MicroRNA-29b Mediates Lung Mesenchymal-Epithelial Transition and Prevents Lung Fibrosis in the Silicosis Model

Jingping Sun,
Qiuyue Li,
Ximeng Lian,
Zhonghui Zhu,
Xiaowei Chen,
Wanying Pei,
Siling Li,
Ali Abbas,
Yan Wang,
Lin Tian

Affiliations

Jingping Sun: Department of Occupational Health and Environmental Health, School of Public Health, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100069, China; Beijing Key Laboratory of Environmental Toxicology, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100069, China
Qiuyue Li: Department of Occupational Health and Environmental Health, School of Public Health, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100069, China; Beijing Key Laboratory of Environmental Toxicology, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100069, China
Ximeng Lian: Department of Occupational Health and Environmental Health, School of Public Health, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100069, China; Beijing Key Laboratory of Environmental Toxicology, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100069, China
Zhonghui Zhu: Department of Occupational Health and Environmental Health, School of Public Health, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100069, China; Beijing Key Laboratory of Environmental Toxicology, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100069, China
Xiaowei Chen: Department of Occupational Health and Environmental Health, School of Public Health, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100069, China; Beijing Key Laboratory of Environmental Toxicology, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100069, China
Wanying Pei: Department of Occupational Health and Environmental Health, School of Public Health, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100069, China; Beijing Key Laboratory of Environmental Toxicology, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100069, China
Siling Li: Department of Occupational Health and Environmental Health, School of Public Health, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100069, China; Beijing Key Laboratory of Environmental Toxicology, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100069, China
Ali Abbas: Department of Occupational Health and Environmental Health, School of Public Health, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100069, China; Beijing Key Laboratory of Environmental Toxicology, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100069, China
Yan Wang: Department of Occupational Health and Environmental Health, School of Public Health, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100069, China; Beijing Key Laboratory of Environmental Toxicology, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100069, China; Corresponding author: Yan Wang, Department of Occupational Health and Environmental Health, School of Public Health, Capital Medical University, No. 10, Xi toutiao outside You anmen Street, Beijing 100069, China.
Lin Tian: Department of Occupational Health and Environmental Health, School of Public Health, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100069, China; Beijing Key Laboratory of Environmental Toxicology, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100069, China; Corresponding author: Lin Tian, Department of Occupational Health and Environmental Health, School of Public Health, Capital Medical University, No. 10, Xi toutiao outside You anmen Street, Beijing 100069, China.

Journal volume & issue: Vol. 14
pp. 20 – 31

Abstract

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Lung epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) plays an important role in silicosis fibrosis. The reverse process of EMT is mesenchymal-epithelial transition (MET), which is viewed as an anti-EMT therapy and is a good target toward fibrosis. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) have emerged as potent regulators of EMT and MET programs, and, hence, we tested the miRNA expression using microarray assay and investigated their roles in silica-induced EMT in lung epithelial cells. We found that miRNA-29b (miR-29b) was dynamically downregulated by silica and influenced the promotion of MET in RLE-6TN cells. Furthermore, delivery of miR-29b to mice significantly inhibited silica-induced EMT, prevented lung fibrosis, and improved lung function. Together, our results clearly demonstrated that miR-29b acted as a novel negative regulator of silicosis fibrosis-inhibited lung fibrosis, probably by promoting MET and by suppressing EMT in the lung. These findings may represent a new potential therapeutic target for treating silicosis fibrosis. Keywords: microRNA-29b, mesenchymal-epithelial transition, silicosis, epithelial-mesenchymal transition, lung function

Published in Molecular Therapy: Nucleic Acids

ISSN: 2162-2531 (Online)
Publisher: Elsevier
Country of publisher: United States
LCC subjects: Medicine: Therapeutics. Pharmacology
Website: https://www.cell.com/molecular-therapy-family/nucleic-acids/latest-content

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