# Analysis of Human miRNA Derived From Bladder Epithelial Cells Infected With Uropathogenic Escherichia coli

## TL;DR

This study explores how bladder cells infected with certain types of E. coli release microRNAs that may influence both human and bacterial genes during urinary tract infections.

## Contribution

The study identifies miRNAs released by bladder cells infected with ESBL-producing E. coli and their potential targets in human and bacterial genomes.

## Key findings

- 402 unique miRNAs were identified, with 30 differentially expressed in ESBL019-infected cells.
- Differentially expressed miRNAs target 747 human genes linked to immune and stress pathways.
- Nine miRNAs were predicted to interact with bacterial genes from an ESBL-producing UPEC strain.

## Abstract

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) have been shown to regulate many cellular processes and to play a role in host‐pathogen interactions. However, the role of miRNA in urinary tract infection (UTI) remains unclear. The aim of this study was to analyze and compare miRNAs from supernatants of human bladder epithelial cells infected with ESBL‐producing (ESBL019) and non‐ESBL‐producing (CFT073) uropathogenic
E. coli
(UPEC) strains and to identify miRNA target genes in human cells and uropathogenic bacteria. In total, 402 unique miRNAs were found. The statistical analysis showed differential expression of 30 miRNAs from bladder cells stimulated with ESBL019, while stimulation with CFT073 did not show any significantly expressed miRNAs when compared to unstimulated controls. The 30 differentially expressed miRNAs in ESBL019 stimulated cells showed 747 predicted individual human gene targets. KEGG and REACTOME pathways showed enrichments in pathways mainly connected to immune regulation and stress responses. Of the 30 differentially expressed host miRNAs, nine miRNAs were found to interact with predictive targets of the whole genome from the multi‐resistant, ESBL‐producing UPEC strain EC958. This study shows that ESBL019‐infected bladder epithelial cells release miRNAs with predictive targets in both human and bacterial genes, although their role in UTI cross‐species interactions remains to be clarified.