MiR-150-5p regulates EGR2 to promote the development of chronic rhinosinusitis via the DC-Th axis.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Accumulating studies indicate that miR-150-5p might play a significant role in dendritic cells (DCs) of peripheral blood in chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) patients. We sought to investigate the effects and mechanism of miR-150-5p, which regulates early growth response 2 (EGR2) to promote the development of CRS via the DC-Th axis.

METHODS: The upregulated expression of miR-150-5p in DCs of CRS was assayed by real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR), and IL-17 cytokines in the supernatants of DC-naïve T cells co-cultures were analysed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Flow cytometry was used to evaluate T cell proliferations. EGR2 was also identified as a direct target of miR-150-5p by establishing a miRNA-mRNA network, and this target was validated with a Dual-Luciferase® Reporter Assay System and Western blot.

RESULTS: MiR-150-5p was up-regulated in DCs in peripheral blood from CRS patients, and this expression was down-regulated by EGR2 expression via the DC-Th axis. Up-regulated miR-150-5p Regulates DCs, and DCs Promote Naïve T Cells Proliferation. MiR-150-5p Further Regulates EGR2 and Inhibits DCs, Which Makes the DC-Th Axis Abnormal in the Peripheral Blood of Patients with CRS.

CONCLUSION: MiR-150-5p and its identified target, EGR2, are involved in the development of CRS. DCs can promote T cell proliferations of peripheral blood in CRS.