Bone Marrow Stromal Cell-Secreted Extracellular Vesicles Containing miR-34c-5p Alleviate Lung Injury and Inflammation in Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia Through Promotion of PTEN Degradation by Targeting OTUD3.

BACKGROUND

Bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) is the predominant chronic disorder in preterm neonates. This study explored impacts of miR-34c-5p carried by bone marrow stromal cells-secreted extracellular vesicles (BMSC-EVs) on BPD progression.

METHODS

A BPD mouse model was established, followed by measurement of miR-34c-5p, OTUD3, and PTEN expression. EVs were isolated from BMSCs transfected with miR-34c-5p mimic or mimic NC and intratracheally injected into mice. CD31 and Ki67 expression was detected and the pathological changes of lung tissues and lung function indexes were observed for mice. A neonatal human pulmonary microvascular endothelial cell (HPMEC) model was developed with hyperoxia, followed by co-culture with extracted EVs and ectopic experiments for measurement of cell viability, migration, and angiogenesis. IL-4, IL-13, IL-1β, and IL-6 levels were measured in cell supernatants and lung tissues. Dual-luciferase reporter, ubiquitination, Co-IP, and RIP assays were adopted to determine the relationship among miR-34c-5p, OTUD3, and PTEN.

RESULTS

Lung tissues of BPD mice had downregulated miR-34c-5p expression and upregulated OTUD3 and PTEN expression. BMSC-EVs and BMSC-EVs-miR-34c-5p treatment improved lung injury and alveolar structure, decreased lung resistance and IL-4, IL-13, IL-1β, and IL-6 levels, and elevated dynamic lung compliance in BPD mice, as well as enhanced proliferation, angiogenesis, and migration and restrained inflammation in HPMECs. Mechanistically, miR-34c-5p negatively targeted OTUD3 which restrained ubiquitination to promote PTEN protein stabilization. Upregulation of OTUD3 or PTEN negated the changes in the proliferation, angiogenesis, migration, and inflammation of hyperoxia-treated HPMECs induced by BMSC-EVs-miR-34c-5p.

CONCLUSION

BMSC-EVs-miR-34c-5p alleviated lung injury and inflammation in hyperoxia-induced BPD by blocking the OTUD3/PTEN axis.