Ursolic acid represses influenza A virus-triggered inflammation and oxidative stress in A549 cells by modulating the miR-34c-5p/TLR5 axis

Abstract

BackgroundUrsolic acid (UA) is a pentacyclic triterpenoid compound with a wide range of anti-tumor, anti-inflammatory, hypotensive and other pharmacological effects. Here, the biological roles and regulatory mechanisms of UA in influenza A virus (IAV)-treated A549 cells were investigated. MethodThe cytotoxic impacts of UA on A549 cells with or without IAV treatment were determined using MTT and LDH assays. The inflammatory responses and oxidative stress of IAV-treated A549 cells were measured by RT–qPCR, ELISA, DCFH-DA probe, and colorimetric assays. A dual luciferase assay was carried out to validate the molecular interaction between miR-34c-5p and TLR5. Promoter methylation was detected by MSP experiment. Methylation-related proteins were quantified by western blot. Virus replication was assessed by TCID50 and western blot assays. ResultsUA significantly ameliorated IAV-triggered cell injury and inflammatory response, virus replication and oxidative stress by elevating cell viability, ROS level and the activities of SOD and GSH-Px but reducing the LDH, MDA, and TCID50 values and the expression of virus-related proteins (NP) and cytokines (TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-6, and IL-18). Moreover, UA promoted miR-34c-5p expression by repressing DNMTs-mediated methylation. TLR5 was verified to be a direct target of miR-34c-5p and could be downregulated by UA. Rescue experiments revealed that silencing miR-34c-5p diminished the regulatory roles of UA in IAV-treated A549 cells. ConclusionOur data elucidated that UA attenuated IAV-triggered inflammatory responses and oxidative stress in A549 cells by regulating the miR-34c-5p/TLR5 axis, suggesting that UA plays a protective role in IAV-induced pneumonia.