Tianjin Medical Journal ›› 2026, Vol. 54 ›› Issue (3): 232-237.doi: 10.11958/20253169

• Experimental Research • Previous Articles     Next Articles

MiR-181a-5p regulates the proliferation and apoptosis of glomerular mesangial cells in lupus nephritis mice through HMGB1/NF-κB signaling pathway

YANG Xiaofang1(), JIA Xinyan2, FENG Wenjun1   

  1. 1 Department of Nephrology, Zhengzhou Yihe Hospital, Zhengzhou 450000, China
    2 Renal Disease Area 1, First Affiliated Hospital of Xinxiang Medical College
  • Received:2025-10-15 Revised:2025-11-14 Published:2026-03-15 Online:2026-03-17

Abstract:

Objective To explore the regulatory mechanism of microRNA (miR)-181a-5p on the proliferation and apoptosis of glomerular mesangial cells in mice with lupus nephritis (LN) through the high mobility group protein box 1 (HMGB1)/nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) signaling pathway. Methods LN mouse mesangial cells were isolated and cultured in vitro, and divided into the blank group, the mimics-NC group, the miR-181a-5p mimics group, the Si-NC group, the Si-HMGB1 group (transfected with Si-HMGB1), the mimics-NC+pcDNA-NC group, the miR-181a-5p mimics+pcDNA-NC group, the mimics-NC+pcDNA-HMGB1 group and the miR-181a-5p mimics+pcDNA-HMGB1 group. MRL/MPJ mouse mesangial cells were isolated and cultured in vitro as the control group. qRT-PCR method was implemented to measure the mRNA expression levels of miR-181a-5p and HMGB1 in cells. Dual-luciferase experiments were performed to verify the targeting relationship of miR-181a-5p to HMGB1. CCK-8 method and flow cytometry were implemented to measure cell proliferation and apoptosis, respectively. Western blot assay was performed to measure the protein expression levels of HMGB1, human inhibitor of nuclear factor κB-α (IκB-α) and NF-κB p65 in cells. Results There was a targeting relationship between miR-181a-5p and HMGB1. Compared with the control group, the cell proliferation rate, HMGB1 and NF-κB p65 protein expression were obviously increased in the blank group, and the miR-181a-5p and IκB-α expression were obviously decreased (P<0.05). Compared with the mimics-NC group, the cell proliferation rate, HMGB1 and NF-κB p65 protein expression were obviously decreased in the miR-181a-5p mimics group, and the miR-181a-5p and IκB-α expression were obviously increased (P<0.05). Compared with the Si-NC group, the cell proliferation rate, HMGB1 and NF-κB p65 protein expression were obviously decreased in the Si-HMGB1 group, and the IκB-α expression was obviously increased (P<0.05). The overexpression of HMGB1 was able to reverse the inhibitory effect of up-regulated miR-181a-5p on the excessive proliferation of glomerular mesangial cells in LN mice (P<0.05). Conclusion Overexpression of miR-181a-5p can inhibit the excessive proliferation of glomerular mesangial cells in LN mice, which may be related to the inhibition of HMGB1/NF-κB signaling pathway.

Key words: lupus nephritis, microRNAs, HMGB1 protein, NF-kappa B, mesangial cells, cell proliferation, apoptosis

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