Silent HMGB1 Alleviates LPS or IL-17A Induced Inflammation and Apoptosis of Human Middle Ear Epithelial Cells via Inhibiting p38 MAPK Signaling Pathway
Objective:To investigate the regulatory effects and mechanisms of high-mobility group pro-tein B1(HMGB1)on the inflammatory response and apoptosis of human middle ear epithelial cells(HMEECs)induced by lipopolysaccharide(LPS)or interleukin-17A(IL-17A).Methods:HMEEC cell line was cultured.HMEECs were divided into the control group,LPS group,LPS+shRNA negative control group(LPS+shNC group),LPS+shRNA-mediated HMGB1 knockdown group(LPS+shHMGB1 group),LPS+p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase(p38 MAPK)inhibitor SB202190 group(LPS+SB202190 group),IL-17A group,IL-17A+shNC group,IL-17A+shHMGB1 group,and IL-17A+SB202190 group.Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA)was used to detect the changes in the levels of TNF-α,IL-1β and IL-6.Western blot was used to detect the expression of mucin 5AC(MUC5AC),mucin 8(MUC8),p38 MAPK,phosphorylated p38 MAPK(p-p38 MAPK),E-twenty-six like 1 protein(ELK1),B-cell lympho-ma 2 protein(Bcl-2),and Bcl-2 associated X protein(Bax).Flow cytometry was used to detect cell apop-tosis.Results:Compared with the control group,the apoptosis rate of HMEECs in the LPS group or IL-17A group was increased,and the expression levels of HMGB1,MUC5AC,MUC8,TNF-α,IL-1β,IL-6,p38,p-p38,ELK1,and Bax were increased,while the expression level of Bcl-2 was decreased(all P<0.05).Compared with the LPS group or IL-17A group,the apoptosis rate was decreased in the LPS+shHMGB1 group or IL-17A+shHMGB1 group,and the expression levels of HMGB1,MUC5AC,MUC8,TNF-α,IL-1β,IL-6,p38,p-p38,ELK1,and Bax were all decreased,while the expression level of Bcl-2 was increased(all P<0.05).Compared with the LPS group or IL-17A group,the apoptosis rate was decreased in the LPS+SB202190 group or IL-17A+SB202190 group,and the expression levels of MUC5AC,MUC8,TNF-α,IL-1β,IL-6,p38,p-p38,ELK1,and Bax were all decreased,while the expression level of Bcl-2 was in-creased(all P<0.05).Conclusion:Silent HMGB1 alleviates LPS or IL-17A-induced inflammation and ap-optosis of HMEECs via inhibiting p38 MAPK signaling pathway.
High mobility group protein 1p38 mitogen-activated protein kinaseHuman middle ear epithelial cellsCell apoptosis