An exemplary embodiment relates to a method of using a plant-derived miR172 molecule or its synthetic equivalent, selected from amongst miR172a or miR172b, for decreasing inflammatory processes in an organism, a method of decreasing B and T lymphocyte proliferation, as well as a method of reducing protein FAN (Factor Associated with Neutral Sphingomyelinase Activation) level. Exemplary embodiments provide a novel therapeutic method based on miRNA molecules, which through the interaction with mRNA encoding FAN protein, negatively regulate its expression and decrease the inflammatory response of the organism.
