We found 18 differentially expressed microRNAs in moDCs of SLE patients by microarray, and target gene prediction showed some target genes of differentially expressed miRNAs were involved in cytokine regulation. miR-142-3p was verified among the highly expressed miRNAs in the SLE group and overexpressing miR-142-3p in moDCs of the NC group caused an increase of SLE-related cytokines, such as CCL2, CCL5, CXCL8, IL-6 and TNF-α.
The discrimination between HC and SSc (95% accuracy) was strongly driven by miRNA of the 17 ∼ 92 cluster and by miR-16, -223, and -638, while SLE and SSc differed mainly in the expression of miR-142-3p, -150, -223, and -638.
Data from this study suggest that MPA activates miR-142 and miR-146a expression through histone modification at the promoter region, which may partially explain the pharmacological mechanisms of MPA for SLE.
The results of this study indicate that reduced expression of miR-142-3p/5p in the CD4+ T cells of patients with SLE causes T cell activity and B cell hyperstimulation.