miR-29b and miR-29c are involved in Toll-like receptor control of glucocorticoid-induced apoptosis in human plasmacytoid dendritic cells

PLoS One. 2013 Jul 23;8(7):e69926. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0069926. Print 2013.

Abstract

Glucocorticoids (GCs) are frequently used to treat many of the acute disease manifestations associated with inflammatory and autoimmune disorders. However, Toll-like receptor (TLR) pathway-activated plasmacytoid dendritic cells (pDCs) are resistant to GC-induced apoptosis, which leads to the inefficiency of GCs in the treatment of type I interferon-related autoimmune diseases, such as systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Therefore, compounds promoting pDC apoptosis may be helpful for improving the efficacy of GCs. In this study, we performed screening to identify microRNAs (miRNAs) involved in TLR-inhibited GC-induced pDC apoptosis and found an array of miRNAs that may regulate pDC apoptosis. Among those demonstrating altered expression, 6 miRNAs were inhibited in TLR-activated pDCs. Bioinformatics analysis and functional studies indicated that miR-29b and miR-29c were 2 key miRNAs involved in TLR-inhibited GC-induced pDC apoptosis. Furthermore, both of these miRNAs promoted pDC apoptosis by directly targeting Mcl-1 and Bcl-2 in human primary pDCs. Our findings provide new targets that could improve the efficacy of GCs for the treatment of SLE.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Apoptosis / drug effects*
  • Computational Biology
  • CpG Islands
  • Dendritic Cells / cytology*
  • Dendritic Cells / metabolism
  • Dexamethasone / pharmacology*
  • Glucocorticoids / pharmacology*
  • Humans
  • MicroRNAs / metabolism*
  • Myeloid Cell Leukemia Sequence 1 Protein / genetics
  • Myeloid Cell Leukemia Sequence 1 Protein / metabolism
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 / genetics
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 / metabolism
  • Toll-Like Receptors / metabolism*

Substances

  • Glucocorticoids
  • MCL1 protein, human
  • MIRN29a microRNA, human
  • MicroRNAs
  • Myeloid Cell Leukemia Sequence 1 Protein
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2
  • Toll-Like Receptors
  • Dexamethasone

Grants and funding

This work was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China grant (the impact of cellular senescence and SENEX gene on the peripheral CD4+CD25+ Treg cells enhancement in elderly No. 81141104). The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.