MiR-340-5p acts as a lung protective factor in sepsis-induced acute lung injury by inhibiting ROCK1

Objective: This study aims to explore the role of miR-340-5p in sepsis-related acute lung injury (ALI). Methods: Firstly, ROC curve and binary logistic regression were employed to assess the correlation between the level of miR-340-5p in patients with sepsis and the risk of ARDS. ALI was induced in mice through cecal ligation and puncture (CLP), and then the number of neutrophils and inflammatory factors and pulmonary edema were observed. Furthermore, the effects of miR-340-5p on the cell viability, apoptosis and inflammatory factors of lung epithelial cells induced by LPS were observed through CCK-8, flow cytometry and ELISA. Moreover, the binding relationship between miR-340-5p and ROCK1 was verified through dual luciferase reporter assay. Results: miR-340-5p is an important risk factor affecting ARDS. After overexpression of miR-340-5p, the lung injury in CLP mice was significantly alleviated, as evidenced by the inhibition of inflammatory factors and pulmonary edema. miR-340-5p also has a significant protective effect on lung epithelial cells, manifested as reduced cell apoptosis and decreased inflammatory factors. Moreover, overexpression of ROCK1 weakened the protective effect of miR-340-5p on alveolar epithelial cells. Conclusion: Patients with sepsis who have low expression of miR-340-5p are associated with a higher risk of developing ARDS. During ALI, miR-340-5p exerts a protective effect by inhibiting ROCK1.