MicroRNA-206, IL-4, IL-13, and INF-γ levels in lung tissue and plasma are increased by the stimulation of particulate matter with a diameter of ≤2.5μm, and are associated with the poor prognosis of asthma induced pulmonary arterial hypertension patients

Background This study aimed to explore the prognostic value of particulate matter with a diameter of <= 2.5 mu m (PM2.5)-related microRNA-206 combined with interleukin (IL)-4, IL-13 and interferon-gamma (INF-gamma) in asthma induced pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH). Methods Fifty SPF BALB/c mice were divided into 5 groups: control group, asthma + PAH group, low-toxic asthma + PAH group, moderately-exposed asthma + PAH group, highly-exposed asthma + PAH group. Differences of microRNA-206, IL-4, IL-13, and INF-gamma expression in lung tissue and plasma were detected. A total of 98 patients with asthma induced PAH and 98 healthy persons were collected. Patients were followed up for 12 months. Results Based on microarray analyses, we found that microRNA-206 may be involved in asthma induced PAH stimulated by PM2.5. Compared with healthy people, plasma microRNA-206, IL-4, IL-13, and INF-gamma levels in asthma induced PAH patients were significantly higher (P< .05). Compared with survivors, plasma microRNA-206, IL-4, IL-13, and INF-gamma levels in non-survivors were significantly higher (P< .05). Survival analyses showed that compared with low microRNA-206, low IL-4, low IL-13 and low INF-gamma groups, survival rate of patients in high microRNA-206 (chi(2) = 4.864, P= .013), high IL-4 (chi(2) = 3.774, P= .038), high IL-13 (chi(2) = 8.375, P< .001) and high INF-gamma groups (chi(2) = 9.007, P< .001) were significantly reduced. Established prognostic evaluation model was built and the estimated probability was 0.473. Compared with estimated probability <= 0.473, survival rate of patients in estimated probability> 0.473 was significantly reduced (chi(2) = 17.377, P< .001). Conclusion Current model combining plasma microRNA-206, IL-4, IL-13, and INF-gamma has potential significance for prognosis of asthma induced PAH.