Inhibition of MicroRNA-21 induces apoptosis in dermal fibroblasts of patients with systemic sclerosis

Background Prolonged activation of dermal fibroblasts is the main cause of progressive fibrosis in systemic sclerosis (SSc). It seems that inhibition of apoptosis in SSc fibroblasts deregulates fibrosis. MicroRNA-21 (miR-21) is a pro-fibrotic factor with high expression in lesional areas of SSc skin and fibroblasts. Methods The effects of miR-21 on expression of Bcl-2 and Bax, two apoptotic genes, in dermal fibroblasts of SSc patients were evaluated using real-time polymerase chain reaction and Western blot analysis. Apoptotic cells were detected using flow cytometry and Hoechst 33258 staining assays. Results Overexpression of miR-21 using synthetic miR-21 RNA increased expression of Bcl-2, an inhibitor of apoptosis, and decreased the Bax : Bcl-2 expression ratio, a cell fate determinant, in SSc fibroblasts. Antisense inhibition of miR-21 induced a high rate of apoptosis in SSc fibroblasts. We propose that this may be associated with a decrease in Bcl-2 expression and a shift in the Bax : Bcl-2 ratio. Conclusions Although further studies are necessary to determine the underlying apoptotic pathway, we propose that inhibition of miR-21 in dermal fibroblasts from lesional skin may be useful in harnessing progressive fibrosis in SSc.