Molecular immunology
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Molecular immunology · Sep 2016
MiR-146a modulates macrophage polarization in systemic juvenile idiopathic arthritis by targeting INHBA.
Monocytes from patients with systemic juvenile idiopathic arthritis (SJIA) have both features of classical activated M1 and alternatively activated M2 macrophages. An increasing number of studies have indicated that microRNAs (miRNAs) are critical regulators of monocyte polarization. Here, we focused on miR-146a expression in SJIA and investigated the function of miR-146a in monocyte polarization. ⋯ Additionally, INHBA overexpression rescued the reduced IL-6, IL-12, and TNF-α levels induced by miR-146a overexpression in M1 macrophages, and rescued the increased Arg1, CCL17, and CCL22 levels induced by miR-146a overexpression in M2 macrophages. Similarly, the effects of miR-146a inhibition in monocyte polarization were all partly reversed by INHBA inhibition. Taken together, the data suggest that miR-146a serves as a molecular regulator in monocyte polarization and might play an important role in monocytes from patients with SJIA.