Evaluating the Role of miR-93-5p in Children Infected by Mycoplasma pneumoniae with Digestive System Injury.

MiR-93-5p has been implicated in modulating acute lung injury, but its role and diagnostic value in pediatric Mycoplasma pneumoniae pneumonia (MPP) with digestive system injury remain unclear. This study evaluated the role of miR-93-5p as a potential diagnostic biomarker for MPP and associated digestive complications in children. Clinical samples were collected from pediatric patients with MPP and healthy controls. MiR-93-5p expression was quantified by reverse transcription quantitative PCR. Mycoplasma pneumoniae (MP)-infected A549 cells were used to establish a cellular MPP model to evaluate changes in cell viability and pro-inflammatory cytokines. Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) targeting by miR-93-5p was assessed using a luciferase reporter assay. Diagnostic performance was evaluated using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis. MiR-93-5p levels were significantly decreased in patients with MPP compared with healthy controls (P < 0.001) and were further decreased in patients with MPP with digestive system injury compared with those with MPP alone. MP infection reduced cell viability and increased IL-6 and TNF-α levels, whereas miR-93-5p overexpression attenuated these effects. TLR4 expression was increased following MP infection and negatively regulated by miR-93-5p. Clinically, digestive system injury in patients with MPP was associated with lower miR-93-5p levels. ROC curve analyses showed favorable diagnostic performance for distinguishing patients with MPP from healthy controls and patients with MPP with digestive system injury from those with MPP alone. MiR-93-5p directly targets TLR4 in pediatric MPP, and its downregulation may contribute to disease progression and associated digestive system injury. These findings suggest that miR-93-5p may serve as a potential diagnostic biomarker for MPP and MPP with digestive system injury.