CircRNA104250 and lncRNAuc001.dgp.1 promote the PM2.5-induced inflammatory response by co-targeting miR-3607-5p in BEAS-2B cells

Long-term exposure to particulate matter 2.5 (PM2.5) is closely related to the occurrence and development of airway inflammation. Exploration of the role of PM2.5 in inflammation is the first step towards clarifying the harmful effects of particulate pollution. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying PM2.5-induced airway inflammation are yet to be fully established. In this study, we focused on the specific roles of non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) in PM2.5-induced airway inflammation. In a human bronchial epithelial cell line, BEAS-2B, PM2.5 at a concentration of 75 μg/mL induced the inflammatory response. Microarray and quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) analyses revealed significant upregulation of circRNA104250 and lncRNAuc001.dgp.1 during the PM2.5-induced inflammatory response in this cell line. Data from functional analyses further showed that both molecules promote an inflammatory response. CircRNA104250 and lncRNAuc001.dgp.1 target miR-3607-5p and affect expression of interleukin 1 receptor 1 (IL1R1), which influences the nuclear factor κB (NF-κB) signaling pathway. In summary, we have uncovered an underlying mechanism of airway inflammation by PM2.5 involving regulation of ncRNA for the first time, which provides further insights into the toxicological effects of PM2.5.