MicroRNA-206, IL-4, IL-13, and INF-γ levels in lung tissue and plasma are increased by the stimulation of particulate matter with a diameter of ≤2.5μm, and are associated with the poor prognosis of asthma induced pulmonary arterial hypertension patients.

Background: This study aimed to explore the prognostic value of particulate matter with a diameter of ≤2.5 μm (PM2.5)-related microRNA-206 combined with interleukin (IL)-4, IL-13 and interferon-γ (INF-γ) in asthma induced pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH).

Methods: Fifty SPF BALB/c mice were divided into 5 groups: control group, asthma + PAH group, low-toxic asthma + PAH group, moderately-exposed asthma + PAH group, highly-exposed asthma + PAH group. Differences of microRNA-206, IL-4, IL-13, and INF-γ expression in lung tissue and plasma were detected. A total of 98 patients with asthma induced PAH and 98 healthy persons were collected. Patients were followed up for 12 months.

Results: Based on microarray analyses, we found that microRNA-206 may be involved in asthma induced PAH stimulated by PM2.5. Compared with healthy people, plasma microRNA-206, IL-4, IL-13, and INF-γ levels in asthma induced PAH patients were significantly higher (< .05). Compared with survivors, plasma microRNA-206, IL-4, IL-13, and INF-γ levels in non-survivors were significantly higher (< .05). Survival analyses showed that compared with low microRNA-206, low IL-4, low IL-13 and low INF-γ groups, survival rate of patients in high microRNA-206 (= 4.864, = .013), high IL-4 (= 3.774, = .038), high IL-13 (= 8.375, < .001) and high INF-γ groups (= 9.007, < .001) were significantly reduced. Established prognostic evaluation model was built and the estimated probability was 0.473. Compared with estimated probability ≤ 0.473, survival rate of patients in estimated probability> 0.473 was significantly reduced (= 17.377, < .001).

Conclusion: Current model combining plasma microRNA-206, IL-4, IL-13, and INF-γ has potential significance for prognosis of asthma induced PAH.