MicroRNA-142-3p inhibits IFN-γ production via targeting of RICTOR in Aspergillus fumigatus activated CD4 + T cells

• Published in: Annals of translational medicine 2019-11, Vol.7 (22), p.649-649
• Main Authors: Ma, Ning, Wei, Ting, Wang, Bin, Jiang, Xiaohua, Zhou, Lin, Zhong, Renqian
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Original
• ISSN: 2305-5839; 2305-5839
• DOI: 10.21037/atm.2019.10.85

(AFE) is a well-adapted, opportunistic fungus that causes a severe and commonly fatal disease, wherein IFN-γ is one of the most important protective cytokines. The aim of this study was to investigate the microRNA expression profile and explore the underlying mechanism during infection with AFE. CD4 T cells were activated by co-culturing with dendritic cells (DCs), which were pre-treated with AFE. Next, we performed microRNA microarray expression profiles of activated and control T cells, following which, miRNA-142-3P was selected. To explore the effect of miR-142-3P on T cell activation, miRNA-142-3P expression was disrupted by transient transfection with miR-142-3P mimic or inhibitor. Then, levels of RICTOR, phosphorylated AKT and IFN-γ were detected via Western blotting and qPCR respectively. We further used siRNA to decrease RICTOR expression and determined the role played by RICTOR in miR-142-3P mediated-IFN-γ expression by qPCR following AFE-mediated T cell activation. The heat-map of miRNA expression profiles showed that 54 microRNAs (miRNAs) were filtered, the levels of which, were significantly different between CD4 T cells activated by AFE and control T cells, in which microRNA-142-3 was involved. Forced expression of miRNA-142-3P dramatically suppressed RICTOR levels, phosphorylated AKT and IFN-γ in AFE activated T cells. Conversely, loss of miRNA-142-3P elevated RICTOR levels, phosphorylated AKT and IFN-γ. Notably, RICTOR deficiency decreased AKT phosphorylation levels and IFN-γ secretion. Observations indicated that down-regulation of microRNA-142-3p enhanced IFN-γ expression, and did so by promoting RICTOR expression in CD4 T cells activated by AFE.