Distinct Effects of Respiratory Viral Infection Models on miR-149-5p, IL-6 and p63 Expression in BEAS-2B and A549 Epithelial Cells

Shahdab, Nafeesa ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3047-5643, Ward, Christopher ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6954-9611, Hansbro, Philip M ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4741-3035, Cummings, Stephen, Young, John S ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2711-9701 and Moheimani, Fatemeh ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1239-3887 (2024) Distinct Effects of Respiratory Viral Infection Models on miR-149-5p, IL-6 and p63 Expression in BEAS-2B and A549 Epithelial Cells. Cells, 13 (11). 919. ISSN 2073-4409

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Abstract

Respiratory viruses cause airway inflammation, resulting in epithelial injury and repair. miRNAs, including miR-149-5p, regulate different pathological conditions. We aimed to determine how miR-149-5p functions in regulating pro-inflammatory IL-6 and p63, key regulators of airway epithelial wound repair, in response to viral proteins in bronchial (BEAS-2B) and alveolar (A549) epithelial cells. BEAS-2B or A549 cells were incubated with poly (I:C, 0.5 µg/mL) for 48 h or SARS-CoV-2 spike protein-1 or 2 subunit (S1 or S2, 1 μg/mL) for 24 h. miR-149-5p was suppressed in BEAS-2B challenged with poly (I:C), correlating with IL-6 and p63 upregulation. miR-149-5p was down-regulated in A549 stimulated with poly (I:C); IL-6 expression increased, but p63 protein levels were undetectable. miR-149-5p remained unchanged in cells exposed to S1 or S2, while S1 transfection increased IL-6 expression in BEAS-2B cells. Ectopic over-expression of miR-149-5p in BEAS-2B cells suppressed IL-6 and p63 mRNA levels and inhibited poly (I:C)-induced IL-6 and p63 mRNA expressions. miR-149-5p directly suppressed IL-6 mRNA in BEAS-2B cells. Hence, BEAS-2B cells respond differently to poly (I:C), S1 or S2 compared to A549 cells. Thus, miR-149-5p dysregulation may be involved in poly (I:C)-stimulated but not S1- or S2-stimulated increased IL-6 production and p63 expression in BEAS-2B cells.