Objective: To investigate the effect of long non-coding RNA (LncRNA) XIST on apoptosis of bronchial epithelial cells infected with respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) by regulating the miR-574-5p/TLR4 axis. Methods: Human bronchial epithelial cells (16HBE) were separated into control group, RSV group, si-NC group (RSV infection), si-XIST group (RSV infection), si-XIST+inhibitor NC group (RSV infection), and si-XIST+miR-574-5p inhibitor group (RSV infection), Real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR was applied to detect the expression of LncRNA XIST and miR-574-5p; EdU staining and flow cytometry were applied to detect cell proliferation and apoptosis, respectively; ELISA was applied to detect the secretions of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin-6, and interleukin-1β (IL-6, IL-1β); dual luciferase reporter gene experiment was applied to verify the relationship between miR-574-5p and LncRNA XIST, TLR4; Western blot was applied to detect the expression of TLR4, proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA), Bcl-2 associated X protein (Bax), anti apoptotic factor B cell lymphomatoma-2 (Bcl-2), and Cleaved caspase-3 proteins. Results: Compared with the control group, the XIST, apoptosis rate, IL-6, IL-1β, TNF-α levels, TLR4, Bax, and Cleaved Caspase-3 expression in RSV group and si-NC group elevated, the positive rate of Edu, miR-574-5p, PCNA, and Bcl-2 expression decreased (P<0.05); compared with the si-NC group, the XIST, apoptosis rate, IL-6, IL-1β, TNF-α levels, TLR4, Bax, and Cleaved Caspase-3 expression in the si-XIST group decreased, the positive rate of Edu, miR-574-5p, PCNA, and Bcl-2 expression increased (P<0.05); downregulation of miR-574-5p was able to reverse the inhibitory effects of knocking down XIST on apoptosis and inflammatory response of 16HBE cells infected with RSV (P<0.05); dual luciferase reporter gene experiment confirmed the targeted regulatory relationship between miR-574-5p and LncRNA XIST, and between miR-574-5p and TLR4 (P<0.05). Conclusion: LncRNA XIST is upregulated in RSV infected 16HBECs cells, and knocking down LncRNA XIST may inhibit apoptosis of 16HBECs cells after RSV infection by regulating the miR-574-5p/TLR4 axis. |