title: MicroRNA-146a expression inhibits the proliferation and promotes the apoptosis of bronchial smooth muscle cells in asthma by directly targeting the epidermal growth factor receptor.
abstract: The present study aimed to determine the expression of microRNA-146a (miR-146a) in the plasma of children with asthma, and to investigate the effect of miR-146a on the proliferation and apoptosis of bronchial smooth muscle cells (BSMCs). Reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction was used to determine the expression levels of miR-146a mimics and its inhibitor. A Cell Counting kit-8 assay was performed to examine the proliferation of BSMCs. Caspase-3/7 activity was determined using a Caspase-Glo 3/7 kit. To measure the expression levels of proteins associated with apoptosis, western blotting was performed. The target gene of miR-146a was identified using a dual-luciferase reporter assay. The plasma levels of miR-146a in children with asthma were significantly higher compared with those in healthy children. Enhanced miR-146a expression inhibited the proliferation of BSMCs. BSMC apoptosis was promoted by miR-146a. The mechanism underlying the miR-146a-induced promotion of BSMC apoptosis may be its direct targeting of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), which affects downstream signaling pathways. In conclusion, miR-146a expression in asthma inhibits the proliferation and promotes the apoptosis of BSMCs by direct targeting of EGFR.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Maternal and Child Healthcare Hospital, Laiwu, Shandong 271100, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Yanxia
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, General Hospital of Yanzhou Mining Bureau, Jining, Shandong 272100, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Yan
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Xue
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Zoucheng People's Hospital, Zoucheng, Shandong 273500, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Yan
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Dezhou People's Hospital, Dezhou, Shandong 253000, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Guodong
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Song
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Maternal and Child Healthcare Hospital, Laiwu, Shandong 271100, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Guofeng
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Lv
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Maternal and Child Healthcare Hospital, Laiwu, Shandong 271100, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Yongqiang
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Maternal and Child Healthcare Hospital, Laiwu, Shandong 271100, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Yijiang
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Maternal and Child Healthcare Hospital, Laiwu, Shandong 271100, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Xiang
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Taishan Medical College, Taian, Shandong 271016, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Leiying
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Yang
keywords: apoptosis; bronchial smooth muscle cell; microRNA-146a; proliferation