MiR-155-5p promotes fibroblast cell proliferation and inhibits FOXO signaling pathway in vulvar lichen sclerosis by targeting FOXO3 and CDKN1B.

Vulvar lichen sclerosis (VLS) is a chronic inflammatory skin disorder. Evidence is accumulating that microRNAs (miRNAs) exert crucial roles in initiation and development of a wide range of human diseases. MiR-155-5p has been frequently reported to be implicated in the tumorigenesis and progression of multiple types of cancers, however, its biological role in VLS remains unclear. This study aimed to explore the role of miR-155-5p in VLS and clarify the potential molecular mechanisms involved. In the present study, miR-155-5p was observed to be significantly upregulated in VLS tissues. Functional studies showed that miR-155-5p facilitated cell proliferation, accelerated cell cycle progression and inhibited forkhead box O (FOXO) signaling pathway in fibroblast cells. Mechanical studies demonstrated that miR-155-5p exerted its promoting effects on fibroblast cell proliferation via targeting both forkhead box O3 (FOXO3) and cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor 1B (CDKN1B). Besides, Pearson's correlation analysis revealed that miR-155-5p expression was negatively correlated with the mRNA expression of FOXO3 and CDKN1B in VLS tissues. Taken together, our results indicate that miR-155-5p promotes fibroblast cell proliferation and inhibits FOXO signaling pathway by negative modulation of both FOXO3 and CDKN1B in VLS, and that miR-155-5p may be used to be a potential therapeutic target for VLS.

[Study on the effect of di-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate on pregnant rats and the protection of zinc against it in pregnancy].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of di-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) on pregnant rat and the protection of zinc. METHODS: Fifty rats were randomized equally into 5 groups consisting of blank (given 1 ml 0.9% sodium chloride), corn oil (given 1 ml corn oil), zinc (given 1 ml zinc gluconate including 1.2 mg zinc), DEHP (given 50 mg×kg(-1)×d(-1) DEHP) and DEHP + zinc (given 50 mg×kg(-1)×d(-1) DEHP + zinc gluconate). At the beginning of the experiment (about 7 d before pregnancy), the female rats were administered with corresponding drugs everyday. The pregnant rats were killed and the fetal rats were removed on 19th day. The following results in each group were recorded: the body weight and the organic weight of the female rats, the number and the weight of fetus rats and the placental weight. RESULTS: The weight and the coefficient of female rats' kidney/body, spleen/body, brain/body, and heart/body in DEHP group compared with other groups were not statistical significance (all P > 0.05). The coefficient of female rats' liver/body, uterus/body, and ovary/body of blank group were (4.4 ± 0.7)%, (1.26 ± 0.09)%, (0.083 ± 0.009)% respectively, corn oil group were (4.5 ± 0.6)%, (1.29 ± 0.10)%, (0.084 ± 0.008)%, zinc group were (4.4 ± 0.4)%, (1.26 ± 0.08)%, (0.084 ± 0.009)%, DEHP group were (5.4 ± 1.0)%, (1.11 ± 0.08)%, (0.074 ± 0.012)%, and DEHP + zinc group were (4.4 ± 1.0)%, (1.28 ± 0.10)%, (0.082 ± 0.007)%; in DEHP group the coefficient of female rats' liver/body, uterus/body, and ovary/body compared with other groups was statistical significance (P < 0.05). The fetal quantity, fetal weight and placental weight of female rats of blank group were 12.8 ± 2.7, (6.03 ± 0.16) g, (1.00 ± 0.03) g respectively, corn oil group were 13.6 ± 3.1, (6.07 ± 0.20) g, (1.00 ± 0.04) g, zinc group were 13.3 ± 3.1, (6.16 ± 0.18) g, (1.00 ± 0.05) g, DEHP group were 9.2 ± 4.1, (4.03 ± 0.09) g, (0.95 ± 0.03) g, and zinc + DEHP group were 12.1 ± 2.9, (6.09 ± 0.17) g, (0.99 ± 0.03) g. In DEHP group the fetal quantity, fetal weight and placental weight of female rats compared with other groups were statistical significance (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: DEHP can damage female rats and fetal rats in gestation period. Zinc supplied before pregnancy can relieve the influence by DEHP.