MiR-155 contributes to Th17 cells differentiation in dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced colitis mice via Jarid2

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) play an important role in regulating immune system function by mRNA destabilisation or inhibition of translation. Recently, miR-155 was detected to be significantly up-regulated in colonic tissues of patients with active UC. However, it is unknown whether miR-155 is involved in the pathogenesis of UC and how it influences immune response in dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced colitis mice. Here, we investigated the role of miR-155 in UC. Firstly, through bioinformatics analysis and luciferase report assay, we found Jarid2 was a direct target of miR-155; then, we carried out in situ hybridization, immunofluorescence and flow cytometry, and revealed that miR-155 levels were increased, Jarid2 levels were decreased and the frequency of Th17 cells was elevated in DSS-induced mice; we also used lentiviral vector to deliver miR-155 inhibition sequences to silence miR-155 that was effectively taken up by epithelial cells. MiR-155 inhibition attenuated DSS-induced colonic damage and inhibited Th17 cells differentiation. This study suggests that miR-155 plays a host-damaging role during DSS-induced colitis mice and induces Th17 differentiation by targeting Jarid2.