M2 cytokines alter the miRNA expression profile in macrophages

To examine the miRNA expression profile of the profibrogenic macrophages, we compared miRNA expression in untreated versus IL-4 or IL-13-treated macrophages using miRNA microarray.IL-4 and IL-13 treatment resulted in marked changes in 18 and 19 miRNAs in macrophages, respectively.(n=3, fold changes>2, P<0.05) Total RNA from human primary macrophages (n=3) treated with or without 20 ng/ml IL-4 or 20ng/ml IL-13 for 48 hr was isolated with a mirVana miRNA Isolation kit (Ambion, Foster, CA). The miRNA expression profile of the samples were examined using miRCURY LNA™ arrays (v18.0; covering 1921 human miRNAs, Exiqon ,Vedbaek, Denmark).