MicroRNA-146a-5p alleviates lipopolysaccharide-induced NLRP3 inflammasome injury and pro-inflammatory cytokine production via the regulation of TRAF6 and IRAK1 in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs)

BACKGROUND: Microribonucleic acids (miRNAs) have an evident role in regulating endothelial inflammation and dysfunction, which characterizes the early stages of atherosclerosis. The NOD-like receptor family pyrin domain-containing protein 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome has been reported to contribute to the endothelial inflammatory response that promotes atherosclerosis development and progression. This study sought to investigate the effects of miR-146a-5p on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced NLRP3 inflammasome injury and pro-inflammatory cytokine production in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs). METHODS: HUVECs were transfected with a miR-146a-5p mimic, small-interfering RNA (siRNA) (si-TRAF6, and si-IRAK1), and were then stimulated with LPS for 24 h. The messenger (mRNA) and the protein levels of p-NF-κB/NF-κB, NLRP3, Caspase-1, pro-inflammatory cytokine [interleukin (IL)-6, IL-1β and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α)] in the HUVECs were analyzed by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reactions (PCRs) and western blot assays, respectively. The secretion of IL-6 from the cells was detected by enzyme-linked immunoassay (ELISA). Bioinformatic and dual-luciferase reporter assays were performed to identify the targets of miR-146a-5p. RESULTS: LPS promoted pro-inflammatory cytokine expression in a dose-dependent manner and significantly increased the expression levels of p-NF-κB/NF-κB p65, NLRP3, and Caspase-1. After transfection with a miR-146a-5p mimic, or si-TRAF6 or si-IRAK1, we observed that the mRNA and protein levels of NF-κB/p-NF-κB, NLRP3, Caspase-1, and pro-inflammatory cytokine in the HUVECs were all down-regulated, and the secretion of IL-6 from cells declined significantly. After transfection with a miR-146-5p mimic, the expression of TRAF6 and IRAK1 in HUVECs were both down-regulated. Dual-luciferase reporter assays confirmed that miR-146-5p directly targets the 3'-untranslated region (3'-UTR) of TRAF6 and IRAK1 to regulate their expression. CONCLUSIONS: As a modulator of TRAF6 and IRAK1, miR-146a-5p negatively regulated LPS-induced NF-κB activation and the NLRP3 inflammasome signaling pathway in HUVECs. Thus, miRNA-146a-5p may serve as a potential therapeutic target for atherosclerosis.