title: MiR-146a activates WAVE2 expression and enhances phagocytosis in lipopolysaccharide-stimulated RAW264.7 macrophages.
abstract: MiR-146a has been shown to play a critical role in cell immunity and phagocytosis, processes that require rearrangement of the cytoskeleton. However, the detailed mechanism by which miR-146a regulates these events remains elusive. Here, we used luciferase reporter and protein assays to show that the cytoskeleton-regulatingprotein verprolin-homologous protein 2 (WAVE2), is a direct target of miR-146a. MiR-146a overexpression resulted in a decrease in WAVE2 protein expression under endotoxin-free culture conditions. Unexpectedly, however, miR-146a activated rather than repressed the expression of WAVE2 in macrophage RAW264.7 cells when cultured continuously in the presence of endotoxin. Furthermore, we demonstrated that miR-146a induced WAVE2 expression and enhanced phagocytosis in lipopolysaccharide-stimulated RAW264.7 macrophages. Our study suggests that lipopolysaccharide- induced miR146a indirectly activates WAVE2 expression; thus, facilitating cytoskeletal reorganization and phagocytosis in lipopolysaccharide-stimulated macrophages.
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University Shanghai, China.
authors.forename: Zhongwei
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Cao
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University Shanghai, China.
authors.forename: Qunyan
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Yao
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University Shanghai, China.
authors.forename: Shuncai
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Zhang
keywords: MiR-146a; WAVE2; endotoxin; macrophage; phagocytosis