Decreased microRNA-146a in CD4+T cells promote ocular inflammation in thyroid-associated ophthalmopathy by targeting NUMB

Z.-J. Hu, J.-F. He, K.-J. Li, J. Chen, X.-R. Xie

Department of Ophthalmology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, Guangxi, China. hejianf@163.com

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• Endocrinology

OBJECTIVE: The aim of the study was to explore the functional role of miR-146a in CD4+T cells of active thyroid-associated ophthalmopathy (TAO) patients and to identify the possible molecular mechanism for the modulation of miR-146a in TAO.

PATIENTS AND METHODS: The experimental group collected six cases of peripheral venous blood of patients with active TAO. The healthy control group collected six cases of normal peripheral venous blood. All specimens excluded other eye diseases and autoimmune diseases, tumors, asthma, chronic inflammation, Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV), recent history of trauma, infection, and showed normal thyroid function. All patients with active TAO and age- and sex-matched healthy control subjects in this study.

RESULTS:  miR-146a is downregulated in active TAO CD4+T cells. NUMB was a target of miR-146a.

CONCLUSIONS: We observed that miR-146a expression was downregulated in CD4+T cells during the active stage of patients with TAO. At the same time, it was found that NUMB can be targeted by miR-146a in CD4+T cells in TAO patients. Decreased microRNA-146a in CD4+T cells promotes ocular inflammation in active TAO by targeting NUMB.

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