miR-494-3p regulates lipopolysaccharide-induced inflammatory responses in RAW264.7 cells by targeting PTEN

MicroRNAs (miRNAs/miRs) serve important roles in regulating inflammatory responses at the post-transcriptional level. In the present study, the limma package was used to analyze the GSE43300 array dataset downloaded from the Gene Expression Omnibus database. It was identified that several miRNAs, including miR-494-3p, were upregulated in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-treated RAW264.7 macrophages compared to control cells. Transfection experiments indicated that overexpressing miR-494-3p inhibited production of LPS-induced proinflammatory cytokines, including interleukin-1β and tumor necrosis factor-α. Conversely, knockdown of miR-494-3p enhanced cytokine expression. Bioinformatics prediction and luciferase assay both revealed that miR-494-3p could directly target phosphatase and tensin homolog (PTEN) and upregulate protein kinase B activity. In addition, miR-494-3p mimics suppressed p65 translocation to the nucleus. Similar effects were observed following PTEN silencing. In conclusion, the results of the present study revealed that miR-494-3p may act as an important immune regulator in LPS-stimulated macrophages, and be an effective therapeutic target for treating infections in the future.