The role of microRNA regulation in the early inflammatory response: miR-146a and NF-κB signaling in lung inflammation

Inflammatory lung diseases encompass a range of conditions which can be divided into acute and chronic diseases. In some extreme cases such as pneumonia, chronic bronchitis, and lung cancer, inflammation leads to high mortality. Recent studies suggest that microRNA (miRNA) regulation plays an important role in the lung inflammatory response. Here, we investigate the role of miR-146a in the early regulation of NF-κB signaling after infection with Legionella pneumophila, a pathogen that causes severe pneumonia. We constructed a mathematical model based on quantitative experimental data, describing the early inflam…