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Peer-reviewedCC BY 4.0Molecular Biology Reports

miR-21a-5p targets DDX58 to suppress TLR2/NF-κB signaling and protect the blood–brain barrier after injury

  • Jing Yang1,2
  • Ning Tang2,3
  • Ruanxian Dai2,3
  • Hao Fu2,3
  • Shiyi Li4
  • Qiang Meng2
4 affiliations
  1. 1Department of Intensive Care Unit, Yan’an Hospital of Kunming City, Yan’an Hospital affiliated to Kunming Medical University, Kunming, 650051 China
  2. 2Department of Neurology, The First People’s Hospital of Yunnan Province, The Affiliated Hospital of Kunming University of Science and Technology, 157 Jinbi Rd, Xishan district, Kunming, 650032 Yunnan Province China
  3. 3Faculty of Life Science and Technology, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming, 650500 China
  4. 4College of Science, Minzu University of China, Beijing, 10081 China
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Abstract

Background: Damage to the blood-brain barrier (BBB) plays a pivotal role in the pathogenesis of various neurological disorders. miR-21a-5p has been implicated in the modulation of BBB injury. Understanding the molecular targets of miR-21a-5p is crucial for developing targeted interventions in BBB repair.

Methods: The target gene of miR-21a-5p was identified through bioinformatics analysis and validated using a dual luciferase reporter assay. The expression of target gene was further confirmed in both in vivo and in vitro models of BBB injury. BBB injury cell models were employed to assess the effects of target gene overexpression and silencing on brain microvascular endothelial cell (BMEC) activity, as well as on the TLR2/NF-κB signaling pathway and associated BBB proteins. miR-21a-5p overexpression and silencing were utilized to assess the impact of target gene on BBB integrity.

Results: DDX58 was identified as a direct target of miR-21a-5p and is shown to modulate BBB injury. DDX58 expression was found to be upregulated in models of BBB damage. Exosomes containing miR-21a-5p mitigated BBB damage, which was associated with downregulated DDX58 expression in vivo and in vitro. Overexpression of DDX58 in BMECs resulted in reduced cellular viability, increased expression of TLR2 and phosphorylated p65 (p-p65), as well as elevated levels of matrix metalloproteinases (MMP-2/9), which are associated with BBB disruption. This was accompanied by a reduction in tight junction proteins, including claudin-5, occludin, and ZO-1. Conversely, silencing DDX58 expression exhibited the opposite effects. Both miR-21a-5p treatment and DDX58 interference alleviated BBB injury. Co-overexpression of DDX58 during miR-21a-5p treatment reversed the protective effects of miR-21a-5p, exacerbating BBB injury.

Conclusion: miR-21a-5p targets and downregulates DDX58, which is associated with reduced expression of TLR2/NF-κB-related markers, decreased MMP-2/9 levels, and protection of tight junction integrity.

Supplementary Information: The online version contains supplementary material available at https://doi.org/10.1007/s11033-026-13010-3.

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Cite

BibTeXRIS
BibTeX
@article{yang2026mir21a5p,
  title = {{miR-21a-5p targets DDX58 to suppress TLR2/NF-κB signaling and protect the blood–brain barrier after injury}},
  author = {Jing Yang and Ning Tang and Ruanxian Dai and Hao Fu and Shiyi Li and Qiang Meng},
  journal = {Molecular Biology Reports},
  year = {2026},
  month = oct,
  doi = {10.1007/s11033-026-13010-3},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.1007/s11033-026-13010-3},
  note = {CC BY 4.0},
}
RIS
TY  - JOUR
TI  - miR-21a-5p targets DDX58 to suppress TLR2/NF-κB signaling and protect the blood–brain barrier after injury
AU  - Jing Yang
AU  - Ning Tang
AU  - Ruanxian Dai
AU  - Hao Fu
AU  - Shiyi Li
AU  - Qiang Meng
PY  - 2026
DA  - 2026/10/25
JO  - Molecular Biology Reports
DO  - 10.1007/s11033-026-13010-3
UR  - https://doi.org/10.1007/s11033-026-13010-3
AB  - Background: Damage to the blood-brain barrier (BBB) plays a pivotal role in the pathogenesis of various neurological disorders. miR-21a-5p has been implicated in the modulation of BBB injury. Understanding the molecular targets of miR-21a-5p is crucial for developing targeted interventions in BBB repair.  Methods: The target gene of miR-21a-5p was identified through bioinformatics analysis and validated using a dual luciferase reporter assay. The expression of target gene was further confirmed in both in vivo and in vitro models of BBB injury. BBB injury cell models were employed to assess the effects of target gene overexpression and silencing on brain microvascular endothelial cell (BMEC) activity, as well as on the TLR2/NF-κB signaling pathway and associated BBB proteins. miR-21a-5p overexpression and silencing were utilized to assess the impact of target gene on BBB integrity.  Results: DDX58 was identified as a direct target of miR-21a-5p and is shown to modulate BBB injury. DDX58 expression was found to be upregulated in models of BBB damage. Exosomes containing miR-21a-5p mitigated BBB damage, which was associated with downregulated DDX58 expression in vivo and in vitro. Overexpression of DDX58 in BMECs resulted in reduced cellular viability, increased expression of TLR2 and phosphorylated p65 (p-p65), as well as elevated levels of matrix metalloproteinases (MMP-2/9), which are associated with BBB disruption. This was accompanied by a reduction in tight junction proteins, including claudin-5, occludin, and ZO-1. Conversely, silencing DDX58 expression exhibited the opposite effects. Both miR-21a-5p treatment and DDX58 interference alleviated BBB injury. Co-overexpression of DDX58 during miR-21a-5p treatment reversed the protective effects of miR-21a-5p, exacerbating BBB injury.  Conclusion: miR-21a-5p targets and downregulates DDX58, which is associated with reduced expression of TLR2/NF-κB-related markers, decreased MMP-2/9 levels, and protection of tight junction integrity.  Supplementary Information: The online version contains supplementary material available at https://doi.org/10.1007/s11033-026-13010-3.
SN  - 0301-4851
SN  - 1573-4978
ER  -