Effect of type 2 diabetes on expression of MicroRNA155 and MicroRNA133a in lung tissue of male rats

Abstract

Diabetes has been associated with several complications. Lung tissue is very prone to diabetes complications due to its extensive vascular bed and abundance of connective tissue. According to research, diabetes causes a significant reduction in lung volume. However, little research is available on the pathophysiological effects of diabetes on lung tissue. The aim of this study was to investigate the expression changes of MiR-133a and MiR-155 in the lungs of male diabetic rats.

Methods In this study, 20 male rats were divided into control and diabetic groups. The diabetic group received a high-fat, high-protein diet plus a dose of streptozotocin for one month and were exposed to type 2 diabetes. After rats became diabetic, lung tissue was removed from the body to measure microRNAs and examine for tissue changes. All calculations were performed using SPSS19 software. In this study, p <0.05 was considered significant.

Results In this study, in examining the lung tissue sections of diabetic rats, the normal structure of alveoli and alveolar sacs and bronchioles was disturbed and the thickness of inter-alveolar septa was increased due to infiltration of inflammatory cells. Extensive alveolar collapse, which was the main cause of disruption of lung tissue structure, and accumulation of inflammatory cells and exudate secretions created an interstitial pneumonia-like appearance. MiR-155 expression was increased in the lungs of diabetic rats compared with control rats and MiR-133a expression was decreased.