1. Department of Clinical Immunology, Institute of Clinical Laboratory Medicine, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Medical Molecular Diagnostics, Guangdong Medical University, Dongguan 523808, Guangdong Province, China; 2. Clinic and Research Center of Tuberculosis, Shanghai Pulmonary Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200433, China; 3. Key Laboratory of Medical Molecular Virology (MOE/NHC/CAMS), and Department of Microbiology and Parasitology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China
Abstract：MicroRNAs (miRNAs) play an important role in the regulation of the immune system. To demonstrate the role of miR-125b-5p in anti-TB immunity, we have infected host target lung alveolar A549, human macrophage THP-1, mice macrophage RAW264.7 and C57BL/6 mice, respectively. The q-PCR results demonstrated that miR-125b-5p is highly expressed in the tested conditions. The expression of miR-125b-5p in BCG infected mice lung was about 15 times of that in the control mice. The results verified that miR-125b-5p regulated mycobacteria growth in A549, THP-1 and RAW264.7 cells, respectively. Moreover, administration of miR-125b-5p inhibitors in BCG infected mice significantly reduced bacteria burden in lung. Thus, we concluded that miR-125b-5p may play a critical role on mycobacteria proliferation in vivo. The results provide useful information for our understanding of host immune defense and potential therapeutic interventions against this disease.
2020, Vol. 15 
