Abstract
Our study aims to investigate the roles that microRNA-214 (miR-214) plays in the epithelial mesenchymal transition (EMT) process and the development of interstitial cystitis (IC) in postmenopausal women by targeting Mitofusin 2 (Mfn2). IC bladder tissues and adjacent normal bladder tissues were collected from postmenopausal women. Immunohistochemistry (IHC) staining was conducted. The target relationship between miR-214 and Mfn2 was determined by a dual luciferase reporter gene assay. Adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells (ADMSCs) were extracted from postmenopausal rats and assigned to the blank, mimics, miR-214 inhibitors, mimics negative control (NC), inhibitors NC, Mfn2 siRNA, miR-214 inhibitors and Mfn2 siRNA groups. Exosomes secreted by transfected ADMSCs were instilled into the bladders of postmenopausal rats. The expression of miR-214 and Mfn2 mRNA and EMT markers was assessed by qRT-PCR and western blotting. It was confirmed that Mfn2 was the target gene of miR-214 in IC. Compared with the normal bladder tissues, miR-214 decreased, but Mfn2 increased in IC bladder tissues. Compared with the blank group, the expression of miR-214 and the expression levels of N-cadherin, Fibronectin, Twist1, Snail and Vimentin mRNA and protein increased, whereas the expression levels of Mfn2, E-cadherin and ZO-1 mRNA and protein decreased in the miR-214 mimics and Mfn2 groups. The expression of MiR-214 and the expression levels of N-cadherin, Fibronectin, Twist1, Snail and Vimentin mRNA and protein decreased, whereas the expression levels of Mfn2, E-cadherin and ZO-1 mRNA and protein increased in the miR-214 inhibitors group. Our findings indicate that the inhibition of miR-214 promotes the EMT process and contributes to bladder wall fibrosis by up-regulating Mfn2, thus leading to the occurrence of IC in postmenopausal women.
Highlights
As a recurrent and chronic inflammatory condition of the muscular and submucosal layers in the bladder, interstitial cystitis (IC) is defined as a syndrome with multiple etiologies and is characterized by pelvic bladder pain related to urinary urgency, frequency, burning and suprapubic pain with bladder pressure at a low-to-moderate degree.[1]
Our initial findings reveal that the main syndrome of IC is a chronic inflammation and fibrosis in the bladder, and Mfn[2] is up-regulated while miR-214 is inhibited in the IC bladder tissues
IC patients are reported to have elevated urinary nerve growth factor (NGF) levels and chronic inflammation localized to the urinary bladder.[21]
Summary
As a recurrent and chronic inflammatory condition of the muscular and submucosal layers in the bladder, interstitial cystitis (IC) is defined as a syndrome with multiple etiologies and is characterized by pelvic bladder pain related to urinary urgency, frequency, burning and suprapubic pain with bladder pressure at a low-to-moderate degree.[1]. Increasing evidence has demonstrated that miR-214 is involved in the development
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