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Xu T, Zhu Y, Lin Z, Lei J, Li L, Zhu W, Wu D. Evidence of Cross-Kingdom Gene Regulation by Plant MicroRNAs and Possible Reasons for Inconsistencies. JOURNAL OF AGRICULTURAL AND FOOD CHEMISTRY 2024; 72:4564-4573. [PMID: 38391237 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jafc.3c09097] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/24/2024]
Abstract
The debate on whether cross-kingdom gene regulation by orally acquired plant miRNAs is possible has been ongoing for nearly 10 years without a conclusive answer. In this study, we categorized plant miRNAs into different groups, namely, extracellular vesicle (EV)-borne plant miRNAs, extracted plant miRNAs, herbal decoction-borne plant miRNAs, synthetic plant miRNA mimics, and plant tissue/juice-borne plant miRNAs. This categorization aimed to simplify the analysis and address the question more specifically. Our evidence suggests that EV-borne plant miRNAs, extracted plant miRNAs, herbal decoction-borne plant miRNAs, and synthetic plant miRNA mimics consistently facilitate cross-kingdom gene regulation. However, the results regarding the cross-kingdom gene regulation by plant tissue- and juice-borne plant miRNAs are inconclusive. This inconsistency may be due to variations in study methods, a low absorption rate of miRNAs and the selective absorption of plant miRNAs in the gastrointestinal tract. Overall, it is deduced that cross-kingdom gene regulation by orally acquired plant miRNAs can occur under certain circumstances, depending on factors such as the types of plant miRNAs, the delivery mechanism, and their concentrations in the plant.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tielong Xu
- Jiangxi University of Chinese Medicine, 1688 Mei Ling Avenue, Nanchang 330004, P.R. China
| | - Yating Zhu
- Jiangxi University of Chinese Medicine, 1688 Mei Ling Avenue, Nanchang 330004, P.R. China
| | - Ziqi Lin
- Jiangxi University of Chinese Medicine, 1688 Mei Ling Avenue, Nanchang 330004, P.R. China
| | - Jinyue Lei
- Jiangxi University of Chinese Medicine, 1688 Mei Ling Avenue, Nanchang 330004, P.R. China
| | - Longxue Li
- Jiangxi University of Chinese Medicine, 1688 Mei Ling Avenue, Nanchang 330004, P.R. China
| | - Weifeng Zhu
- Jiangxi University of Chinese Medicine, 1688 Mei Ling Avenue, Nanchang 330004, P.R. China
| | - Diyao Wu
- Jiangxi University of Chinese Medicine, 1688 Mei Ling Avenue, Nanchang 330004, P.R. China
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Díez-Sainz E, Aranaz P, Amri EZ, Riezu-Boj JI, Lorente-Cebrián S, Milagro FI. Plant miR8126-3p and miR8126-5p Decrease Lipid Accumulation through Modulation of Metabolic Genes in a Human Hepatocyte Model That Mimics Steatosis. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:1721. [PMID: 38338999 PMCID: PMC10855419 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25031721] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2023] [Revised: 01/23/2024] [Accepted: 01/27/2024] [Indexed: 02/12/2024] Open
Abstract
Plant-based food interventions are promising therapeutic approaches for non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) treatment, and microRNAs (miRNAs) have emerged as functional bioactive components of dietary plants involved in cross-kingdom communication. Deeper investigations are needed to determine the potential impact of plant miRNAs in NAFLD. This study aimed to identify plant miRNAs that could eventually modulate the expression of human metabolic genes and protect against the progression of hepatic steatosis. Plant miRNAs from the miRBase were used to predict human target genes, and miR8126-3p and miR8126-5p were selected as candidates for their potential role in inhibiting glucose and lipid metabolism-related genes. Human HepG2 cells were transfected with plant miRNA mimics and then exposed to a mixture of oleic and palmitic acids to mimic steatosis. miR8126-3p and miR8126-5p transfections inhibited the expression of the putative target genes QKI and MAPKAPK2, respectively, and had an impact on the expression profile of key metabolic genes, including PPARA and SREBF1. Quantification of intrahepatic triglycerides revealed that miR8126-3p and miR8126-5p attenuated lipid accumulation. These findings suggest that plant miR8126-3p and miR8126-5p would induce metabolic changes in human hepatocytes eventually protecting against lipid accumulation, and thus, they could be potential therapeutic tools for preventing and alleviating lipid accumulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ester Díez-Sainz
- Department of Nutrition, Food Science and Physiology, and Center for Nutrition Research, Faculty of Pharmacy and Nutrition, University of Navarra, 31008 Pamplona, Spain; (E.D.-S.); (P.A.); (J.I.R.-B.); (F.I.M.)
| | - Paula Aranaz
- Department of Nutrition, Food Science and Physiology, and Center for Nutrition Research, Faculty of Pharmacy and Nutrition, University of Navarra, 31008 Pamplona, Spain; (E.D.-S.); (P.A.); (J.I.R.-B.); (F.I.M.)
- Navarra Institute for Health Research (IdiSNA), 31008 Pamplona, Spain
| | - Ez-Zoubir Amri
- CNRS, Inserm, iBV, Université Côte d’Azur, 06107 Nice, France;
| | - José I. Riezu-Boj
- Department of Nutrition, Food Science and Physiology, and Center for Nutrition Research, Faculty of Pharmacy and Nutrition, University of Navarra, 31008 Pamplona, Spain; (E.D.-S.); (P.A.); (J.I.R.-B.); (F.I.M.)
- Navarra Institute for Health Research (IdiSNA), 31008 Pamplona, Spain
| | - Silvia Lorente-Cebrián
- Department of Pharmacology, Physiology and Legal and Forensic Medicine, Faculty of Health and Sport Science, University of Zaragoza, 50009 Zaragoza, Spain
- Instituto Agroalimentario de Aragón-IA2, Universidad de Zaragoza-Centro de Investigación y Tecnología Agroalimentaria (CITA), 50013 Zaragoza, Spain
- Aragón Health Research Institute (IIS-Aragon), 50009 Zaragoza, Spain
| | - Fermín I. Milagro
- Department of Nutrition, Food Science and Physiology, and Center for Nutrition Research, Faculty of Pharmacy and Nutrition, University of Navarra, 31008 Pamplona, Spain; (E.D.-S.); (P.A.); (J.I.R.-B.); (F.I.M.)
- Navarra Institute for Health Research (IdiSNA), 31008 Pamplona, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red Fisiopatología de la Obesidad y Nutrición (CIBERobn), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, 28029 Madrid, Spain
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Díez-Sainz E, Lorente-Cebrián S, Aranaz P, Amri EZ, Riezu-Boj JI, Milagro FI. miR482f and miR482c-5p from edible plant-derived foods inhibit the expression of pro-inflammatory genes in human THP-1 macrophages. Front Nutr 2023; 10:1287312. [PMID: 38099184 PMCID: PMC10719859 DOI: 10.3389/fnut.2023.1287312] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2023] [Accepted: 11/06/2023] [Indexed: 12/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Edible plants can exert anti-inflammatory activities in humans, being potentially useful in the treatment of inflammatory diseases. Plant-derived microRNAs have emerged as cross-kingdom gene expression regulators and could act as bioactive molecules involved in the beneficial effects of some edible plants. We investigated the role of edible plant-derived microRNAs in the modulation of pro-inflammatory human genes. Methods MicroRNAs from plant-derived foods were identified by next-generation sequencing. MicroRNAs with inflammatory putative targets were selected, after performing in silico analyses. The expression of candidate plant-derived miRNAs was analyzed by qPCR in edible plant-derived foods and their effects were evaluated in THP-1 monocytes differentiated to macrophages. The bioavailability of candidate plant miRNAs in humans was evaluated in feces and serum samples by qPCR. Results miR482f and miR482c-5p are present in several edible plant-derived foods, such as fruits, vegetables, and cooked legumes and cereals, and fats and oils. Transfections with miR482f and miR482c-5p mimics decreased the gene expression of CLEC7A and NFAM1, and TRL6, respectively, in human THP-1 monocytes differentiated to macrophages, which had an impact on gene expression profile of inflammatory biomarkers. Both microRNAs (miR482f and miR482c-5p) resisted degradation during digestion and were detected in human feces, although not in serum. Conclusion Our findings suggest that miR482f and miR482c-5p can promote an anti-inflammatory gene expression profile in human macrophages in vitro and their bioavailability in humans can be achieved through diet, but eventually restricted at the gut level.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ester Díez-Sainz
- Department of Nutrition, Food Science and Physiology/Center for Nutrition Research, Faculty of Pharmacy and Nutrition, University of Navarra, Pamplona, Spain
| | - Silvia Lorente-Cebrián
- Department of Pharmacology, Physiology and Legal and Forensic Medicine, Faculty of Health and Sport Science, University of Zaragoza, Zaragoza, Spain
- Instituto Agroalimentario de Aragón-IA2, Universidad de Zaragoza-CITA, Zaragoza, Spain
- Aragón Health Research Institute (IIS-Aragon), Zaragoza, Spain
| | - Paula Aranaz
- Department of Nutrition, Food Science and Physiology/Center for Nutrition Research, Faculty of Pharmacy and Nutrition, University of Navarra, Pamplona, Spain
- Navarra Institute for Health Research (IdiSNA), Pamplona, Spain
| | | | - José I. Riezu-Boj
- Department of Nutrition, Food Science and Physiology/Center for Nutrition Research, Faculty of Pharmacy and Nutrition, University of Navarra, Pamplona, Spain
- Navarra Institute for Health Research (IdiSNA), Pamplona, Spain
| | - Fermín I. Milagro
- Department of Nutrition, Food Science and Physiology/Center for Nutrition Research, Faculty of Pharmacy and Nutrition, University of Navarra, Pamplona, Spain
- Navarra Institute for Health Research (IdiSNA), Pamplona, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red Fisiopatología de la Obesidad y Nutrición (CIBERobn), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
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Alfalfa Xeno-miR168b Target CPT1A to Regulate Milk Fat Synthesis in Bovine Mammary Epithelial Cells. Metabolites 2023; 13:metabo13010076. [PMID: 36677001 PMCID: PMC9866016 DOI: 10.3390/metabo13010076] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/06/2022] [Revised: 12/26/2022] [Accepted: 12/28/2022] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
It was shown that microRNAs (miRNAs) play an important role in the synthesis of milk fat; thus, this manuscript evaluated whether exogenous miRNA (xeno-miRNAs) from alfalfa could influence the milk fat content in dairy cows. At first, mtr-miR168b was screened from dairy cow milk and blood. Then, EdU staining, flow cytometry, Oil Red O staining, qRT-PCR, and WB were applied to explore the effect of xeno-miR168b on the proliferation, apoptosis, and lipid metabolism of bovine mammary epithelial cells (BMECs). Finally, in order to clarify the pathway that regulated the lipid metabolism of BMECs using xeno-miR168b, a double-luciferase reporter assay was used to verify the target gene related to milk fat. These results showed that overexpression of xeno-miR168b inhibited cell proliferation but promoted apoptosis, which also decreased the expression of several lipid metabolism genes, including PPARγ, SCD1, C/EBPβ, and SREBP1, significantly inhibited lipid droplet formation, and reduced triglyceride content in BMECs. Furthermore, the targeting relationship between CPT1A and xeno-miR168b was determined and it was confirmed that CPT1A silencing reduced the expression of lipid metabolism genes and inhibited fat accumulation in BMECs. These findings identified xeno-miR168b from alfalfa as a cross-kingdom regulatory element that could influence milk fat content in dairy cows by modulating CPT1A expression.
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