MiR-192-5p Alleviated Fibrosis and Inflammatory Responses of Tendon Cells by Targeting NFAT5

OBJECTIVE: To explore the effect of microRNA (miR)-192-5p on the inflammatory and fibrotic responses of tendon cells. METHODS: Tendon cells were treated with transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1). The expression of miR-192-5p and nuclear factor of activated T cells 5 (NFAT5) in tendon cells were detected by RT-qPCR. The expressions of inflammatory and fibrosis-related factors were detected by RT-qPCR and Western blot. MiR-192-5p binds to NFAT5 targeting by TargetScan and dual-luciferase reporter gene assay. The expression of the NFAT5 gene was detected by RT-qPCR and Western blot. Detection of apoptosis in tendon cells by flow cytometry. RESULTS: MiR-192-5p was downregulated in tendon cells, and the expression level gradually decreased with the prolong of TGF-β1 treatment. The expression of NFAT5 increased with the treatment time of TGF-β1. The expression of miR-192-5p decreased collagen III (COLIII), α smooth muscle actin (α-SMA), matrix metalloproteinase- (MMP-) 1, and MMP-8 expression, thereby inhibiting TGF-β1-induced fibrosis in tendon cells. The expression of miR-192-5p decreased the expression of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin (IL)-6, and IL-1β, thereby alleviating TGF-β1-induced inflammatory response and reduce apoptosis in tendon cells. NFAT5 is a direct target of miR-192-5p in tendon cells. The upregulation of NFAT5 reversed the effect of miR-192-5p on the fibrotic activity and inflammatory response of TGF-β1-stimulated tendon cells. CONCLUSIONS: MiR-192-5p alleviates fibrosis and inflammatory responses of tendon cells by targeting NFAT5.