microRNA-146a 对牙龈卟啉单胞菌脂多糖刺激下淋巴细胞分泌细胞因子的调节作用

Objective 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), down-regulated 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. Conclu⁃ sion 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.