Overexpression of miR-431-5p Inhibits the Development of Hypertrophic Scars by Negatively Regulating the Expression of ZEB1

Abstract

Background: The exact mechanism underlying hypertrophic scar (HS) remains elusive at present.

Aims: This study aimed to investigate the potential regulatory mechanism of microRNA-431-5p in HS.

Patients/methods: 100 HS patients were recruited in this study. The relative expression of miR-431-5p, ZEB1, and α-SMA was quantified using RT-qPCR. Cell proliferation was assessed via the CCK-8 assay. Cell migration was evaluated using the Transwell. Cell apoptosis was determined by flow cytometry. Inflammatory factors' levels were measured through ELISA (Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay). The targeting regulatory relationship was confirmed by the dual-luciferase assay.

Results: miR-431-5p was significantly reduced in HS tissues. Overexpression of miR-431-5p markedly suppressed cell proliferation and migration, promoted apoptosis, downregulated the levels of IL-1β (Interleukin-1β) and IL-6 (Interleukin-6), and inhibited α-SMA expression. Moreover, ZEB1 was highly expressed in HS tissues, and miR-431-5p negatively regulated ZEB1. Further investigation revealed that overexpression of ZEB1 could partially reverse the regulatory effects of miR-431-5p on cellular behavior.

Conclusions: The miR-431-5p/ZEB1 axis was involved in the regulation of HS.

Keywords: ZEB1; HSFBs; hypertrophic scar; miR‐431‐5p.