Crystalline silica particles exposure modulated miRNA expression profiles in human macrophage-like THP-1 cells.

Résumé

Occupational and environmental exposure to crystalline silica particles is a major global health concern linked to silicosis, pulmonary fibrosis, autoimmune disease, and lung cancer. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) regulate gene expression post-transcriptionally and are emerging as potential effect biomarkers of exposure in human biomonitoring studies. To identify intracellular and extracellular miRNAs responses to silica-particle exposure in human THP-1 derived macrophages, differentiated THP-1 derived macrophages were exposed to 0-300 µg/mL crystalline silica particles for 24 h. Cytotoxicity was assessed via LDH release assays. Expression profiles of 24 selected miRNAs were evaluated in intracellular and extracellular compartments, i.e., in cell-suspension and in their conditioned culturing media (secreted exosomes). Significant miRNAs were identified using fold change > ±1.5 and adjusted p