BACKGROUND: We investigated whether microRNA-155-5p is involved in the differentiation of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) into alveolar type II epithelial (AT II) cells by regulating the Wnt signaling pathway, thus participating in the development of acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS).

MATERIAL AND METHODS: Serum levels of microRNA-155-5p in 50 ARDS patients and 50 normal controls were detected by quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR). Marrow mesenchymal stem cells (MCSs) were isolated from mouse bone marrow and identified by flow cytometry. Subsequently, the effect of microRNA-155-5p on differentiation of BMSCs into AT II cells was evaluated by detecting the expression levels of AT II-specific genes. The expression levels of proteins in the Wnt signaling pathway after overexpression or knockdown of microRNA-155-5p were detected by Western blot.

RESULTS: Serum levels of microRNA-155-5p in ARDS patients were significantly higher than that in normal controls. Expression levels of AT II-specific genes were enhanced after downregulating microRNA-155-5p in BMSCs. MicroRNA-155-5p overexpression showed the opposite result. Furthermore, microRNA-155-5p inhibited the expression levels of proteins in the Wnt signaling pathway.

CONCLUSIONS: MicroRNA-155-5p can attenuate the differentiation of BMSCs into AT II cells by inhibiting the Wnt signaling pathway, thus promoting the progression of ARDS.

Keywords: mesenchymal stromal cells