1. Background
autoimmune diseases, SLE disease, organ damage, lupus erythematosus, autoimmune disease
PROLIFERATION, INFLAMMATION, AUTOIMMUNE DISEASES, SYSTEMIC LUPUS ERYTHEMATOSUS (SLE), IMMUNE TOLERANCE, LUPUS ERYTHEMATOSUS, AUTOIMMUNE DISEASE
Academic Editor: Cinzia CiccacciSystemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a chronic autoimmune disease characterized by the production of autoantibodies and tissue inflammation. Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) have emerged as a promising candidate therapy for SLE owing to the immunomodulatory and regenerative properties. Circulating miRNAs are small, single-stranded noncoding RNAs in a variety of body fluids that regulate numerous immunologic and inflammatory pathways. Recent studies have revealed many differentially expressed circulating miRNAs in autoimmune diseases including SLE. However, the role of circulating miRNAs in SLE has not been extensively studied. Here, we performed small RNA sequencing analysis to compare the circulating miRNA profiles of SLE patients before and after MSC transplantation (MSCT), and identified a significant decrease of circulating miR-320b level during MSCT. Importantly, we found that the expression of circulating miR-320b and its target gene MAP3K1 was closely associated with SLE disease activity. The Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a chronic autoimmune disease characterized by dysregulation of T and B lymphocytes and loss of immune tolerance to self-antigens. CD4+ T-helper cells play crucial roles in orchestrating immune responses by providing costimulatory signals and cytokines, which contribute to autoantibody production and organ damage [Circulating miRNAs are small, single-stranded noncoding RNAs in a variety of body fluids that regulate numerous immunologic and inflammatory pathways by inhibiting mRNA translation or promoting mRNA degradation [Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are multipotent nonhematopoietic progenitors that can modulate various immune cells such as T cells, B cells, dendritic cells, and macrophages through cell–cell contact, cytokine secretion, and other mechanisms [In this study, we investigated the circulating miRNA profile in SLE patients pre- and post-MSCT, and identified the potential diagnostic value of circulating miR-320b and its target gene MAP3K1. We also explored the effects of MAP3K1 on CD4+ T-cell proliferation 