| First Author | Sun X | Year | 2012 |
| Journal | J Clin Invest | Volume | 122 |
| Issue | 6 | Pages | 1973-90 |
| PubMed ID | 22622040 | Mgi Jnum | J:190482 |
| Mgi Id | MGI:5448911 | Doi | 10.1172/JCI61495 |
| Citation | Sun X, et al. (2012) MicroRNA-181b regulates NF-kappaB-mediated vascular inflammation. J Clin Invest 122(6):1973-90 |
| abstractText | EC activation and dysfunction have been linked to a variety of vascular inflammatory disease states. The function of microRNAs (miRNAs) in vascular EC activation and inflammation remains poorly understood. Herein, we report that microRNA-181b (miR-181b) serves as a potent regulator of downstream NF-kappaB signaling in the vascular endothelium by targeting importin-alpha3, a protein that is required for nuclear translocation of NF-kappaB. Overexpression of miR-181b inhibited importin-alpha3 expression and an enriched set of NF-kappaB-responsive genes such as adhesion molecules VCAM-1 and E-selectin in ECs in vitro and in vivo. In addition, treatment of mice with proinflammatory stimuli reduced miR-181b expression. Rescue of miR-181b levels by systemic administration of miR-181b "mimics" reduced downstream NF-kappaB signaling and leukocyte influx in the vascular endothelium and decreased lung injury and mortality in endotoxemic mice. In contrast, miR-181b inhibition exacerbated endotoxin-induced NF-kappaB activity, leukocyte influx, and lung injury. Finally, we observed that critically ill patients with sepsis had reduced levels of miR-181b compared with control intensive care unit (ICU) subjects. Collectively, these findings demonstrate that miR-181b regulates NF-kappaB-mediated EC activation and vascular inflammation in response to proinflammatory stimuli and that rescue of miR-181b expression could provide a new target for antiinflammatory therapy and critical illness. |
