Published in:
01-04-2013 | Original Research
MiR-320a is Downregulated in Patients with Myasthenia Gravis and Modulates Inflammatory Cytokines Production by Targeting Mitogen-activated Protein Kinase 1
Published in: Journal of Clinical Immunology | Issue 3/2013
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Myasthenia gravis (MG) are T-cell dependent antibody-mediated autoimmune disorders, microRNAs are important regulators of human autoimmune disease pathogenesis. Here, we investigated the miRNAs expression profiles in MG for the first time and found that miR-320a was significantly downregulated in MG patients compared to normal healthy people. Meanwhile, pro-inflammatory cytokins in MG patients were overexpressed. Furthermore, we identified MAPK1 as a direct target of miR-320a. Downregulation of miR-320a induced the overexpression of pro-inflammatory cytokins through promoting COX-2 expression. This process was modulated by ERK/ NF-κB pathways. Taken together, our findings suggested that miR-320a could play a role in modulation of inflammatory cytokins production.