Brain Ischemia Significantly Alters microRNA Expression in Human Peripheral Blood Natural Killer Cells.

Abstract

Brain ischemia induces systemic immunosuppression and increases a host's susceptibility to infection. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are molecular switches in immune cells, but the alterations of miRNAs in human immune cells in response to brain ischemia and their impact on immune defense remain elusive. Natural killer (NK) cells are critical for early host defenses against pathogens. In this study, we identified reduced counts, cytokine production, and cytotoxicity in human peripheral blood NK cells obtained from patients with acute ischemic stroke. The extent of NK cell loss of number and activity was associated with infarct volume. MicroRNA sequencing analysis revealed that brain ischemia significantly altered miRNA expression profiles in circulating NK cells, in which miRNA-451a and miRNA-122-5p were dramatically upregulated. Importantly, inhibition of miR-451a or miR-122-5p augmented the expression of activation-associated receptors in NK cells. These results provide the first evidence that brain ischemia alters miRNA signatures in human NK cells.

• Authors: Ying Kong, Shiyao Li, Xiaojing Cheng, Honglei Ren, Bohao Zhang, Hongshan Ma, Minshu Li, Xiao-An Zhang
• Journal: Frontiers in immunology (Front Immunol) Vol. 11 Pg. 759 ( 2020) ISSN: 1664-3224 [Electronic] Switzerland
• PMID: 32477329 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)
• Copyright: Copyright © 2020 Kong, Li, Cheng, Ren, Zhang, Ma, Li and Zhang.

Chemical References

• Antigens, CD
• Antigens, Differentiation, T-Lymphocyte
• CD69 antigen
• KLRK1 protein, human
• Lectins, C-Type
• MIRN122 microRNA, human
• MIRN451 microRNA, human
• MicroRNAs
• NK Cell Lectin-Like Receptor Subfamily K

Topics

• Adult
• Aged
• Aged, 80 and over
• Antigens, CD (metabolism)
• Antigens, Differentiation, T-Lymphocyte (metabolism)
• Brain Ischemia (metabolism)
• Cohort Studies
• Gene Expression Profiling
• Healthy Volunteers
• Humans
• Ischemic Stroke (metabolism)
• Killer Cells, Natural (metabolism)
• Lectins, C-Type (metabolism)
• Leukocytes, Mononuclear
• MicroRNAs (genetics, metabolism)
• Middle Aged
• NK Cell Lectin-Like Receptor Subfamily K (metabolism)