miR-144 Mediated Inhibition of ROCK1 Protects Against LPS Induced Lung Endothelial Hyperpermeability

Dysfunctional endothelial cell (EC) barrier and increased lung vascular permeability is a cardinal feature of Acute Lung Injury (ALI) and sepsis that may results in a pathophysiological condition characterized by alveolar flooding, pulmonary edema and subsequent hypoxemia. In lung ECs, activation of Rho associated kinase-1 (ROCK1) phosphorylates myosin light chain (MLC) associated phosphatase at its inhibitory site which favors phosphorylation of MLC, stress fiber formation and hyper-permeability during ALI. The role of MicroRNA-144 (miR-144) has been well investigated in many human diseas¬es including cardiac ischaemia/reperfusion-induced injury, lung cancer and lung viral infection, however, its role in pulmonary EC barrier regulation remains obscure. Here, we investigated miR-144 mediated mechanism in the protection of endothelial barrier function in LPS-induced lung injury model. By using trans-endothelial electrical resistance (TEER) and transwell permeability assay to examine in vitro permeability a...