MicroRNA-146a regulates the production of cytokines in lymphocytes stimulated by Porphyromonas gingivalis lipopolysaccharide.

Abstract

Objectives: This study aimed to investigate the effects of microRNA-146a (miR-146a) on the production of cytokines in lymphocytes stimulated by Porphyromonas gingivalis (P.gingivalis) lipopolysaccharide (LPS).

Methods: Lymphocytes were harvested from mouse spleen and cultured in vitro. The cells were treated with P. gingivalis LPS, miR-146a mimic, or miR-146a inhibitor. Scramble RNA served as the negative control of mimic and inhibitor. The production of inflammatory cytokines was detected by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.

Results: Compared with non-LPS-stimulated group, P. gingivalis LPS could increase the levels of interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-6, receptor activator NF-κB ligand (RANKL), and IL-10 (P<0.05) and decrease the mRNA level of osteoprotectin (OPG) (P<0.05). However, it did not significantly change the secretion of OPG. Compared with the negative control group, miR-146a mimic upregulated the levels of IL-10 and OPG (P<0.05), downregulated IL-1β, IL-6, and RANKL (P<0.05). Meanwhile, miR-146a inhibitor had a reverse effect on these cytokines (P<0.05) in P.gingivalis LPS-treated-lymphocytes.

Conclusions: MiR-146a can provide a suitable microenvironment for bone formation by preventing the inflammatory effects of P.gingivalis LPS through the inhibition of IL-1β, IL-6, and RNAKL, thereby enhancing IL-10 and OPG.