Mechanism of lncRNA H19 in Regulating Pulmonary Injury in Hyperoxia-Induced Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia Newborn Mice

Objective Bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) is a pulmonary injury related to inflammation and is a major cause of premature infant death. Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) are important regulators in pulmonary injury and inflammation. We investigated the molecular mechanism of lncRNA H19 in pulmonary injury and inflammation in hyperoxia (Hyp)-induced BPD mice. Study Design The BPD newborn mouse model was established and intervened with H19 to evaluate the pathologic conditions and radial alveolar count (RAC) in lung tissues of mice in the room air (RA) and Hyp group on the 4th, 7th, and 14th days after birth. The levels of BPD-related biomarkers vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), transforming growth factor beta 1 (TGF-beta 1), and surfactant protein C (SPC) in lung tissues were detected on the 14th day after birth. The expression of and relationships among H19 and miR-17, miR-17, and STAT3 were detected and verified. Levels of interleukin (IL)-6, IL-1 beta, p-STAT3, and STAT3 levels in mouse lung tissues were detected on the 14th day after birth. Results Hyp-induced mice showed increased alveolar diameter, septum, and hyperemia and inflammatory cell infiltration, upregulated H19, decreased overall number and significantly reduced RAC on the 7th and 14th days after birth, which were reversed in the si-H19-treated mice. VEGF was upregulated and TGF-beta 1 and SPC was decreased in si-H19-treated mice. Moreover, H19 competitively bound to miR-17 to upregulate STAT3. IL-6 and IL-1 beta expressions and p-STAT3 and STAT3 levels were downregulated after inhibition of H19. Conclusion Downregulated lncRNA H19 relieved pulmonary injury via targeting miR-17 to downregulate STAT3 and reduced inflammatory response caused by p-STAT3 in BPD newborn mice.