Abstract
Objective: MicroRNA-23b-3p has been demonstrated to act as a safeguard against several autoimmune diseases. However, its role in Sjo<spacing diaeresis>gren's syndrome (SS) remains unclear. Methods: In order to investigate its role in SS, we administered agomiR-23b-3p or agomiR-NC to non-obese diabetic (NOD) mice via tail vein weekly for 6 weeks. The study examined the saliva flow rate, histological changes in submandibular glands, and levels of autoantibodies. Additionally, the levels of several cytokines, cell apoptosis, and NF-kappa B signaling were evaluated. The protective effect of miR-23b-3p was confirmed in a cell model. Results: The results demonstrated that miR-23b-3p overexpression improved salivary flow rates, inhibited lymphocyte infiltration, reduced cytokine levels, and suppressed cell apoptosis in NOD mice. Moreover, NF-kappa B signaling was inactivated following miR-23b-3p overexpression. In a cellular model of SS, overexpression of miR23b-3p protected submandibular gland epithelial cells exposed to IFN-gamma against apoptosis and inflammation by targeting SOX6. Conclusions: The study concludes that miR-23b-3p alleviates SS by targeting SOX6 and inhibiting the NF-kappa B signaling pathway. The miR-23b-3p/SOX6 axis represents a promising avenue for the development of novel therapeutic strategies for SS.