Effect of miR-29c and miR-129-5p on epithelial-mesenchymal transition in experimental biliary atresia mouse models

Genet Mol Res. 2016 Sep 2;15(3). doi: 10.4238/gmr.15037753.

Abstract

Biliary atresia (BA) is a destructive bile duct disease occurring in newborn children within a few weeks after birth. In this study, the effect of miR-29c and miR-129-5p on epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) in experimental BA was explored by constructing BA mouse models via Rhesus rotavirus vaccine infection. miR-29c and miR-129-5p expression was analyzed by real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction. EMT was established by induction with transforming growth factor (TGF)-β1. miR-29c and miR-129-5p were overexpressed and inhibited, respectively, by Lipofectamine transfection. EMT-related protein (formin-like 2, FMNL2; E-cadherin; vimentin; and cytokeratin-19, CK-19) expression was analyzed by western blot and immunofluorescent assay. The results indicated that miR-29c and miR-129-5p were downregulated and upregulated in BA mice. TGF-β1 induction caused a time-dependent decrease and increase in miR-29c and miR-129-5p, respectively. Additionally, TGF-β1 induced an increase in FMNL2 and vimentin expression and a decrease in E-cadherin and CK-19 expression (P < 0.05). Overexpression or suppression of miRNA-29c or miR-129-5p, respectively, induced the inhibition of FMNL2 and vimentin, and promotion of E-cadherin and CK-19 expression, in the test groups compared to the non-intervention group (P < 0.05). However, the FMNL2, vimentin, E-cadherin, and CK- 19 expression did not differ between the control and non-intervention groups (P > 0.05). Thus, miR-29c upregulation or miR-129-5p downregulation effectively prevented EMT in BA by regulating the expression of EMT pathway-related proteins. Therefore, miR-29c and miR-129-5p could be utilized as therapeutic targets for BA in the future.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Animals, Newborn
  • Bile Ducts / drug effects
  • Bile Ducts / metabolism
  • Bile Ducts / pathology
  • Biliary Atresia / etiology
  • Biliary Atresia / genetics*
  • Biliary Atresia / metabolism
  • Biliary Atresia / pathology
  • Cadherins / genetics
  • Cadherins / metabolism
  • Disease Models, Animal
  • Epithelial Cells / drug effects*
  • Epithelial Cells / metabolism
  • Epithelial Cells / pathology
  • Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition / drug effects*
  • Female
  • Formins
  • Gene Expression Regulation
  • Humans
  • Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins / genetics
  • Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins / metabolism
  • Keratin-19 / genetics
  • Keratin-19 / metabolism
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred BALB C
  • MicroRNAs / genetics*
  • MicroRNAs / metabolism
  • Primary Cell Culture
  • Rotavirus Vaccines / administration & dosage
  • Rotavirus Vaccines / adverse effects
  • Signal Transduction
  • Transforming Growth Factor beta1 / pharmacology*
  • Vimentin / genetics
  • Vimentin / metabolism

Substances

  • Cadherins
  • Cdh1 protein, mouse
  • FMNL2 protein, mouse
  • Formins
  • Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins
  • Keratin-19
  • MIRN129 microRNA, mouse
  • MIRN29 microRNA, mouse
  • MicroRNAs
  • Rotavirus Vaccines
  • Transforming Growth Factor beta1
  • Vimentin