title: MiR-21 is up-regulated in psoriasis and suppresses T cell apoptosis.
abstract: MicroRNAs are short non-coding RNAs that regulate gene expression. Previously, in a genome-wide screen, we found deregulation of microRNA expression in psoriasis skin. MicroRNA-21 (miR-21) is one of the microRNAs significantly up-regulated in psoriasis skin lesions. To identify the cell type responsible for the increased miR-21 level, we compared expression of miR-21 in epidermal cells and dermal T cells between psoriasis and healthy skin and found elevated levels of miR-21 in psoriasis in both cell types. In cultured T cells, expression of miR-21 increased markedly upon activation. To explore the function of miR-21 in primary human T helper cells, we inhibited miR-21 using a tiny seed-targeting LNA-anti-miR. Specific inhibition of miR-21 increased the apoptosis rate of activated T cells. Our results suggest that miR-21 suppresses apoptosis in activated T cells, and thus, overexpression of miR-21 may contribute to T cell-derived psoriatic skin inflammation.
authors.forename: Florian
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Meisgen
authors.forename: Ning
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.forename: Tianling
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Wei
authors.forename: Peter C
authors.initials: PC
authors.lastname: Janson
authors.forename: Susanna
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Obad
authors.forename: Oliver
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Broom
authors.forename: Nikoletta
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Nagy
authors.forename: Sakari
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kauppinen
authors.forename: Lajos
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Kemény
authors.forename: Mona
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ståhle
authors.forename: Andor
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pivarcsi
authors.forename: Enikö
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Sonkoly
mesh_terms: D017209:Apoptosis / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D006801:Humans; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D035683:MicroRNAs / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D011565:Psoriasis / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D012867:Skin / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D015854:Up-Regulation
chemical_list: C524940:MIRN21 microRNA, human; D035683:MicroRNAs