MicroRNA-mediated regulation of IL-10, IL-12 and TNFα gene expression in severely injured trauma patients

Background Severe trauma induces a blunted immune response associated with an enhanced susceptibility to nosocomial infections [1]. Within 2 hours of injury, expression of the prototypical anti-inflammatory cytokine, IL-10, increases whilst expression of the pro-inflammatory cytokines, TNFa and IL-12, decreases [1]. We hypothesise that microRNAs (miRs) may exacerbate this immunosuppressive gene expression pattern.