Protective impacts of circular RNA VMA21 on lipopolysaccharide-engendered WI-38 cells injury via mediating microRNA-142-3p.

CircRNA derived from vacuolar ATPase assembly factor (circVMA21) is a newly-researched circRNA, which is reported to adjust the degeneration of intervertebral disc. But, function of circVMA21 in infantile pneumonia is yet to be explored. The research surveyed the role of circVMA21 in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-caused WI-38 cell inflammatory injury. LPS (10 μg/ml, 12 hr) was exploited to arouse WI-38 cell inflammatory injury. Subsequently, the mediatory impacts of microRNA (miR)-142-3p and circVMA21 in LPS-evoked cell injury were detected after transfection with the inhibited or overexpressed vectors. In above processes, cell behaviors of cell viability, apoptosis, and pro-inflammatory factors were monitored. NF-κB and JNK pathways were elucidated to showcase the feasible molecular mechanisms. Results displayed that LPS engendered WI-38 cell inflammatory injury was alleviated as well as activated NF-κB and JNK pathways was interdicted by miR-142-3p suppression. Importantly, restrained miR-142-3p expression was discovered in WI-38 cells after overexpressing circVMA21. Moreover, overexpressed circVMA21 exerted the similar functions as miR-142-3p suppression in LPS-triggered WI-38 cell injury. But, the influence was clearly reversed by miR-142-3p overexpression. Hindered NF-κB and JNK pathways caused by overexpressed circVMA21 was also crippled by miR-142-3p overexpression. The research discolsed that circVMA21 protected WI-38 cells to resist LPS-triggered inflammatory injury via miR-142-3p-NF-κB/JNK axis.