MicroRNA-4443 regulates mast cell activation by T cell–derived microvesicles

Irit Shefler, Pazit Salamon, Francesca Levi-Schaffer, Adam Mor, Alon Y. Hershko, Yoseph A. Mekori*

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

28 Scopus citations

Abstract

Background: The mechanism by which mast cells (MCs) are activated in T cell–mediated inflammatory processes remains elusive. Recently, we have shown that microvesicles derived from activated T cells (mvT*s) can stimulate MCs to degranulate and release several cytokines. Objective: The aim of this study was to characterize the contribution of microRNAs (miRs) delivered by microvesicles to MC activation. Methods: miR profiling was performed with NanoString technology and validated by using real-time PCR. The biological role of mvT* miR was verified by overexpression of miRs in MCs using mimic or inhibitory molecules and analyzing the effect on their predicted targets. Results: mvT*s were found to downregulate the expression of the tyrosine phosphatase protein tyrosine phosphatase receptor type J (PTPRJ), a known extracellular signal-regulated kinase inhibitor. Bioinformatics analysis predicted that miR-4443 regulates the PTPRJ gene expression. Indeed, miR-4443, which was present in mvT*s, was also found to be overexpressed in human MCs stimulated with these MVs. α-Amanitin insensitivity confirmed that overexpression of miR-4443 was not due to transcriptional activation. The luciferase reporter assay indicated that the 3′ untranslated region of PTPRJ was targeted by this miR. Transfection of MCs with mimic or inhibitor of miR-4443 resulted in decreased or enhanced PTPRJ expression, respectively. Furthermore, miR-4443 regulated extracellular signal-regulated kinase phosphorylation and IL-8 release in MCs activated by mvT*s. Conclusion: These results support a scenario by which T cell–derived microvesicles act as intercellular carriers of functional miR-4443, which might exert heterotypic regulation of PTPRJ gene expression in MCs, leading to their activation in the context of T cell–mediated inflammatory processes.

Original languageAmerican English
Pages (from-to)2132-2141.e4
JournalJournal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology
Volume141
Issue number6
DOIs
StatePublished - Jun 2018

Bibliographical note

Funding Information:
Supported in part by a grant from Tel Aviv University (TAU). Y.A.M. is the incumbent of the Argentina Chair of the Research of Allergic Diseases at TAU.

Publisher Copyright:
© 2017 American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology

Keywords

  • MicroRNA
  • T cells
  • mast cells
  • microvesicles

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