SESN3 Inhibited SMAD3 to Relieve Its Suppression for MiR-124, Thus Regulating Pre-Adipocyte Adipogenesis

Bta-miR-330 promotes bovine intramuscular pre-adipocytes adipogenesis via targeting SESN3 to activate the Akt-mTOR signaling pathway

Consumers are more inclined to choose beef with a high intramuscular fat content (IMF), which regulated by lots of factors. It is very significant to find a miRNA that plays a key role in the accumulation of IMF. In our study, we found that bta-miR-330 was highly expressed in Japanese black cattle and differentially expressed at intramuscular pre-adipocytes differentiation processes. Furthermore, we transfected the bta-miR-330 mimic & inhibitor in intramuscular pre-adipocytes. The results showed that bta-miR-330 inhibits the proliferation but promotes the adipogenesis of intramuscular pre-adipocytes. Subsequently, our study showed that bta-miR-330 binds to SESN3, which inhibits the adipogenesis of intramuscular pre-adipocytes. Moreover, we established the mechanism that bta-miR-330 promotes the adipogenesis of intramuscular pre-adipocytes by targeting SESN3 to activate the Akt-mTOR signaling pathway. Overall, our results revealed that bta-miR-330-SESN3-Akt-mTOR axis plays an important role in adipogenesis of intramuscular pre-adipocytes, which provides a molecular basis for increasing IMF content in beef cattle.

Exploration of the Key Genes Involved in Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease and Possible MicroRNA Therapeutic Targets

Background

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are promising therapeutic agents for non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). This study aimed to identify key genes/proteins involved in NAFLD pathogenesis and progression and to evaluate miRNAs influencing their expression.

Methods

Gene expression profiles from datasets GSE151158, GSE163211, GSE135251, GSE167523, GSE46300, and online databases were analyzed to identify significant NAFLD-related genes. Then, protein-protein interaction networks and module analysis identified hub genes/proteins, which were validated using real-time PCR in oleic acid-treated HepG2 cells. Functional enrichment analysis evaluated signaling pathways and biological processes. Gene-miRNA interaction networks identified miRNAs targeting critical NAFLD genes.

Results

The most critical overexpressed hub genes/proteins included: TNF, VEGFA, TLR4, CYP2E1, ACE, SCD, FASN, SREBF2, and TGFB1 based on PPI network analysis, of which TNF, TLR4, SCD, FASN, SREBF2, and TGFB1 were up-regulated in oleic acid-treated HepG2 cells. Functional enrichment analysis for biological processes highlighted programmed necrotic cell death, lipid metabolic process response to reactive oxygen species, and inflammation. In the Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) enrichment analysis, the highest adjusted P-value signaling pathways encompassed AGE-RAGE in diabetic complications, TNF, and HIF-1 signaling pathways. In gene-miRNA network analysis, miR-16 and miR-124 were highlighted as the miRNAs exerting the most influence on important NAFLD-related genes.

Conclusion

In silico analyses identified NAFLD therapeutic targets and miRNA candidates to guide further experimental investigation.

Analysis of the therapeutic potential of miR-124 and miR-16 in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease

BACKGROUNDS

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a common condition affecting >25 % of the population worldwide. This disorder ranges in severity from simple steatosis (fat accumulation) to severe steatohepatitis (inflammation), fibrosis and, at its end-stage, liver cancer. A number of studies have identified overexpression of several key genes that are critical in the initiation and progression of NAFLD. MiRNAs are potential therapeutic agents that can regulate several genes simultaneously. Therefore, we transfected cell lines with two key miRNAs involved in targeting NAFLD-related genes.

METHODS

The suppression effects of the investigated miRNAs (miR-124 and miR-16) and genes (TNF, TLR4, SCD, FASN, SREBF2, and TGFβ-1) from our previous study were investigated by real-time PCR in Huh7 and HepG2 cells treated with oleic acid. Oil red O staining and the 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl-2H-tetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay were utilized to assess cell lipid accumulation and cytotoxic effects of the miRNAs, respectively. The pro-oxidant-antioxidant balance (PAB) assay was undertaken for miR-16 and miR-124 after cell transfection.

RESULTS

Following transfection of miRNAs into HepG2, oil red O staining showed miR-124 and miR-16 reduced oleic acid-induced lipid accumulation by 35.2 % and 28.6 % respectively (p < 0.05). In Huh7, miR-124 and miR-16 reduced accumulation by 23.5 % and 31.3 % respectively (p < 0.05) but without impacting anti-oxidant activity. Real-time PCR in HepG2 revealed miR-124 decreased expression of TNF by 0.13-fold, TLR4 by 0.12-fold and SREBF2 by 0.127-fold (p < 0.05). miR-16 decreased TLR4 by 0.66-fold and FASN by 0.3-fold (p < 0.05). In Huh7, miR-124 decreased TNF by 0.12-fold and FASN by 0.09-fold (p < 0.05). miR-16 decreased SCD by 0.28-fold and FASN by 0.64-fold (p < 0.05). MTT assays showed, in HepG2, viability was decreased 24.7 % by miR-124 and decreased 33 % by miR-16 at 72 h (p < 0.05). In Huh7, miR-124 decreased viability 42 % at 48 h and 29.33 % at 72 h (p < 0.05), while miR-16 decreased viability by 32.3 % (p < 0.05).

CONCLUSION

These results demonstrate the ability of miR-124 and miR-16 to significantly reduce lipid accumulation and expression of key pathogenic genes associated with NAFLD through direct targeting. Though this requires further in vivo investigation.

A genome-wide landscape of mRNAs, lncRNAs, circRNAs and miRNAs during intramuscular adipogenesis in cattle

Background

Intramuscular preadipocyte differentiation plays a critical role in bovine intramuscular fat (IMF) deposition. However, the roles of different RNAs, including mRNAs, circRNAs, lncRNAs and miRNAs, in regulating the adipogenic differentiation of intramuscular preadipocytes remain largely unclear.

Results

In the present study, a whole transcriptome sequencing and analysis, including the analysis of mRNAs, circRNAs, lncRNAs and miRNAs, during different differentiation stages (0, 3, 6, and 9 d) of intramuscular preadipocytes from Qinchuan cattle was performed. All samples were prepared with 3 biological replicates. Here, a total of 27,153 mRNAs, 14,070 circRNAs, 7035 lncRNAs, and 427 miRNAs were annotated. Among them, we identified 4848 differentially expressed mRNAs (DEMs), 181 DE circRNAs (DECs), 501 DE lncRNAs (DELs) and 77 DE miRNAs (DEmiRs) between 0 d and other differentiation days (3, 6, and 9 d). GO and KEGG functional enrichment analyses showed that these differentially expressed genes were mainly enriched in cell differentiation, fat metabolism and adipogenesis-related pathways. Furthermore, weighted gene coexpression network analysis (WGCNA) and co-expression network analysis screened out multiple important mRNAs, circRNAs and lncRNAs related to intramuscular adipogenesis. Based on the competing endogenous RNA (ceRNA) regulatory mechanism, we finally identified 24 potential ceRNA networks and 31 potential key genes, including FOXO1/miR-330/circRNA2018/MSTRG.20301, GPAM/miR-27b/ciRNA489 and SESN3/miR-433/circRNA2627MSTRG.20342.

Conclusions

This study provides new insights into the differential expression patterns of different transcript types (i.e., mRNAs, circRNAs, lncRNAs and miRNAs) in intramuscular preadipocyte differentiation. Our findings provide data support for studying the molecular mechanism of key mRNAs and noncoding RNAs in IMF deposition, and provide new candidate markers for the molecular breeding of beef cattle.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12864-022-08911-z.