Xue Xia1,2, Di Wang1, Lei Yu3, Bin Wang4, Wenjing Wang1, Chunlei Jiao1, Xuyong Chen1, Hongyi Zhang1, Feng Chen5, Jiexiong Feng6. 1. Department of Pediatric Surgery, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, People's Republic of China. 2. Department of Endocrinology, The Central Hospital of Wuhan, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, People's Republic of China. 3. Department of Neonatal Surgery, Wuhan Children's Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, People's Republic of China. 4. Department of General Surgery, Shenzhen Children's Hospital, Shenzhen, People's Republic of China. 5. Department of Pediatric Surgery, Fujian Medical University Union Hospital, Fuzhou, People's Republic of China. 6. Department of Pediatric Surgery, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, People's Republic of China. fengjiexiong@126.com.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Activation of intestinal macrophages is implicated in the pathogenesis of neonatal necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC), yet its precise mechanisms remain unclear. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study is to investigate the role of macrophages and TNF-α via an inflammatory MicroRNA in NEC. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Immunofluorescence (IF) staining of CD68, iNOS, and Arg-1 was employed to identify phenotypes of macrophage in the intestines of NEC infants and NEC mice. Expression of TNF-α, c-kit, and miR-222 was evaluated by qRT-PCR, Western blot, and immunochemical staining from the tissue samples. RESULTS: Large number of M1 macrophage infiltration was found in the NEC intestines. Expression of CD68, iNOS, and TNF-α were significantly increased, while c-kit was decreased distinctly in the NEC group. In the early phase of NEC mouse model, inhibition of M1 macrophages reduced the incidence of NEC and intestinal inflammation. We found that TNF-α upregulated the expression of miRNA-222 and inhibited the expression of c-kit. Conversely, such decrease of c-kit expression could be reversed by miR-222 antagonists. Furtherly, dual-luciferase assay confirmed that c-kit can be inhibited by miR-222 directly. CONCLUSION: Macrophages activation in NEC intestine results in an increased inflammatory response and TNF-α production, accompanied with miR-222 upregulation and c-kit suppression. Modulations of M1 macrophages, TNF-α or miR-222 may be potential therapeutic targets for NEC treatment.
BACKGROUND: Activation of intestinal macrophages is implicated in the pathogenesis of neonatal necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC), yet its precise mechanisms remain unclear. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study is to investigate the role of macrophages and TNF-α via an inflammatory MicroRNA in NEC. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Immunofluorescence (IF) staining of CD68, iNOS, and Arg-1 was employed to identify phenotypes of macrophage in the intestines of NEC infants and NEC mice. Expression of TNF-α, c-kit, and miR-222 was evaluated by qRT-PCR, Western blot, and immunochemical staining from the tissue samples. RESULTS: Large number of M1 macrophage infiltration was found in the NEC intestines. Expression of CD68, iNOS, and TNF-α were significantly increased, while c-kit was decreased distinctly in the NEC group. In the early phase of NEC mouse model, inhibition of M1 macrophages reduced the incidence of NEC and intestinal inflammation. We found that TNF-α upregulated the expression of miRNA-222 and inhibited the expression of c-kit. Conversely, such decrease of c-kit expression could be reversed by miR-222 antagonists. Furtherly, dual-luciferase assay confirmed that c-kit can be inhibited by miR-222 directly. CONCLUSION: Macrophages activation in NEC intestine results in an increased inflammatory response and TNF-α production, accompanied with miR-222 upregulation and c-kit suppression. Modulations of M1 macrophages, TNF-α or miR-222 may be potential therapeutic targets for NEC treatment.